To give a bit more meaning to the later games, I’ll increase the scoring to 2 points for picking the correct team and 2 extra for the correct games. It’ll go to 3 each for the Conference Finals, and 4 for the Finals.
Not that it mattered much last round, outside of Lakers-Rockets the only one of us to get any points at all was Jarrod picking the Celtics.
So the leaderboard is currently:
Jarrod: 14
Dan, Jesse, Troy: 13
We didn’t get the much anticipated Battle of Los Angeles in the West, with the Clippers not making the Conference Finals for the 50th time out of 50. And we didn’t get either of the top 2 sides making it in the East for the first time ever apparently. Don’t blame it on the sunshine, don’t blame it on the moonlight, don’t blame it on the good times, blame it on the bubble?
Western Conference
1 Los Angeles Lakers v 3 Denver Nuggets
Troy Goostrey: Nuggets are playing too well for a sweep or gentleman’s sweep. So 6 it is. Lakers in 6.
Dan Kelly: Not an easy series but just think Lakers will have done their homework and surely these Nuggets are getting tired. Have been very impressed with both Jokic and Murray these playoffs. Lakers in 5.
Jarrod Cotton: LA will lose first game and Denver won’t get in a hole this time. Lakers should win this series with two of the top five players in the league on their team, but the Nuggets are peaking at just the right time. Nuggets in 6.
Jesse Cotton: The Lakers with two consecutive douchebags and the Nuggets with two consecutive 1-3 comebacks. Who will your money be on if the Lakers drop game 1 and then win the next 3? The Lakers, that’s who. Lakers in 6.
“I’ve done so many stupid things on the court, I’m the all-time Shaqtin’ MVP” – JR Smith
“Ahem. Excuse me?” – Javale McGee
Eastern Conference
3 Boston Celtics v 5 Miami Heat
Troy Goostrey: I still don’t rate Boston! Tatum and Brown playing really well but expect one or both to fall off soon? Heat in 7.
Dan Kelly: Toss a coin on this series, I think it could go 6 or 7 games and either team could win. Although I have Heat in 6, I’m expecting a close and hard fought series all the way. Heat in 6.
Jarrod Cotton: Two wing heavy sides matching up well. Should go the distance but, Boston wins game 7 with a big game from Smart. Celtics in 7.
Jesse Cotton: Based on last round, I’m giving up trying to predict the East. But one thing I know for sure is that the NBA would absolutely love to see both the Celtics and Lakers back in the Finals again. They’ll find a way to make that happen. Celtics in 7.
“Well I’ve never done anything stupid on a basketball court” – Jae Crowder
“Me neither” – Kelly Olynyk
“What? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-Vf6In8Pdc What? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pg6xAmLoe8 What? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_-kz4dT19w What? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGog-bRz4XU” – Shaquille O’Neal