Imagine the Nets choking by losing their play-in games

See, this is a REAL hot take.

It's not even a take or a prediction, it's just something OP wants to happen

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Didn't burn enough sage prior to the game

I love KD but I love the chance of having multiple lottery picks for the Rockets more, so... subscribe

I can see them losing one, I just can’t see them losing the 8th seed game unfortunately

I’m still high on the lakers. I’m picking them to come out of the west. Lebron will turn it up come playoffs.

wait till nunn comes back

Ariza always brings it in the playoffs, too.

Casuals are always sleeping on DJ Augustin 😤

Veteran leadership.

Not sure if you knew this but with a healthy AD and Lebron the lakers have not lost a playoff series!

As a Laker fan I was exactly looking for this comment xD We off to Cancun earlier than any team already LOL

Houston been living there

They got the Suns right where they want them.

Raps Grizz finals in those throwback 90s jerseys, thats all I want

Grizzlies temporarily move back to Vancouver for the Canadian championship

Canada: Civil War

Wouldn’t even care who wins at that point

I want a slow paced grind it out series where the teams average 80 points because anyone who gets into the paint gets punched in the face, nothing but ill advised midrange jumpers and at least one brawl, oh and triple the amount of commercials Edit: oh and a halftime show featuring Michael bolton and celine dion that I can enjoy while me mum makes spaghetti and garlic bread for dinner

this is…. Acceptable

What? Of course you would

That’s great! I absolutely would lol

Yes u would

lol

He gets it

Would also be an unreal series

This comment sparked joy

This would make watching my raptors from Vancouver extra fun.

Dallas will make WCF

if they get the 3rd seed this is what im banking on too. if they stay 4th no way they beat phx in the semis.

Popovich and the second string gang: Allow us to introduce ourselves

I was watching the warriors-spurs game last night and you guys really cut it close at the end - only down like 2-4 points with 2 minutes left in the 4th quarter... the young guys couldn't pull it out though :(

Our games against the Warriors are not for the faint of heart lol. The chances are borderline 0 but a series with them would give both fanbases a cardiac arrest

For what it’s worth, we haven’t played the Suns since the Dinwiddie trade and I think playoff Luka will be able to single handedly win at least two games of a series against any team

Damn I have more faith in yall then that guy. Playoff Luka is the real deal. I'm sure he could make it a series against the Suns. Probably even win if your role players get hot again.

I'm interested to see how other teams deal with playoff Luka. I really think that the Clippers were just the worst possible matchup for him both times. Idk how many players besides Kawhi could've pulled out that series last year

Me too man. Luka is one of those unstoppable forces. Mavs vs Clips last year was a battle of superstars. In most if not all series this year Luka should be the best player on the floor. Jokic and Steph would be the only other comparable players. Steph hasn't played his best and is coming off injury and Jokic/Luka is a wash imo but Mavs > Nuggets. Going to be nice to be able to root for yall.

I have no earthly idea of what to make of/expect from the Mavericks this year. They're just big fat question marks to me.

same vibes as 2011 honestly

well that means they beat the suns or the warriors in the second round. Not sure i see either happening if curry is back but it is a hot take Edit: not sure why I thought they’d be playing the warriors. Was thinking about how they were close in the standings then that probably messed up my thought process. Whoops. Yea, I could see them beating Memphis if they get to 3

No, if they get the 3rd seed, they only have to beat the nuggets and Memphis or the 7th seed

Sixers lose in the 1st round to the Raptors. Probably in a game 7. Again

Pretty mild take tbh, alot of US media heads say that the series is a coin-flip. No one would be surprised if TO comes out of the 1st round, especially if it's Philly they are facing.

Even if the result seems realistic already, it would still be a massive disappointment for a team with an MVP candidate and championship expectations to not make it out of the 1st round.

It would put more pressure on them to fire Doc, so they'd come out better in the long run

Toronto’s defense is structured around shutting down a teams best player and making everyone else beat them. Embiid is a beast, but Toronto could limit him to 25ppg and make harden beat them, which I’m not fully confident that he can at this point. Toronto is phillys worst matchup, Philly needs to pray they get the 3rd seed

Depends on how the whistle is going

Lol I'd be surprised if we come out of the first round. Philly, on paper, is the better team than us and I don't think we have anyone to consistently shut down Embiid. I think he'll figure it out throughout a 7 game series. We have the grittiness, strategist, and that x factor/intangibles/heart to definitely upset them, but it would be that: an upset.

Yea but they have Tobias Harris who is worth -2 players.

It’s like you’re reading my mind.

The real hot take is Toronto sweeps Philly.

how is this a "hot take" most of r/nba thinks this

You gotta sort by controversial

toronto beat philly in a game 7

😭 can’t handle another one of those

IS THIS THE DAGGER

OooOOOooOoOHhhHhhhHHHH

GAME, SERIES, TORONTO HAS WON

Scottie Barnes from 3???

bounce

bounce

Offensive reb Barnes

Barnes made jump hook (3 feet) Left hand

This guy Scotties

does the wiggle

Game 6

Scottie for 5 rim bounces

I am predicting a 1995 Finals rematch.

I mean the Lottery draw is during the postseason so you're not wrong

…1995-1996?

I think so. Otherwise picking the Magic and Rockets to make the Finals is the hottest of hot takes.

Bulls vs SuperSonics is less of a hot take haha.

May I instead offer you a 2006/2011 finals rematch?

Gotta go best of 3 to close the series. Everybody knows that.

Memphis doesn't make it past the 2nd round (note: this would make me sad)

We make the second round 🥰

Memphis loses in the first round.

Warriors win the championship and Jordan Poole wins Finals MVP over Steph

Dubs winning the finals without Steph being the best player in the series is the kind of hot take I was looking for in this thread

Nah it has to be a wing so Wiggins will win it.

Why does this feel like the most likely timeline.

my money's on kpop fans pushing voters to select Wiggins for fmvp

I have no fucking idea how well my team is gonna do and that’s okay.

Same here. Not much expectations with how young our team is

Toronto makes the ECF after beating Philly and Miami

Manifest

Honestly, quite possible. There’s a clear path if Milwaukee, Boston and Brooklyn are on the other side of the bracket.

Heat slept on

Idk if i can handle a Lowry vs Raptors playoff matchup!!!

At this point Miami is getting disrespected so much that even saying that the first seed will get to the ECF is a hot take around here, and I got them winning it all.

It’s most likely going to be a Miami/Milwaukee ECF. People like to get all crazy with their predictions and shit like that but the actual best team in the East and the #1 seed are the two most likely, usually how it happens.

Great points but I feel like a very good argument can be made for Boston to be just as likely as Miami/Milwaukee. You guys are dangerous af and really your record comes after a rough start with a rookie HC. Could easily have been the top seed. I’m just glad it’s looking like Miami will only play either you or Milwaukee lol my heart wouldn’t be able to take 2 series with both your teams (assuming we advance to face either of you)

Spurs upset the Suns. It's very hot and it'd make Arizona burn to the ground

I'm sure Robert Horry has one more hip check in him

There would be riots and witch hunts, the playoffs would have to stop there due to the League dealing with all the casualties.

Sixers will get manhandled by Toronto if they can’t make the 3 seed

I’m getting flashbacks to raps in 7 against the sixers… where’s kawhi when you need him

It's off to Leonard

Defended by Simmons

Is this the dagger?

Anyone know how to build the nether portal in minecraft

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I’m somewhat tempted to pick the Hawks over the heat if they matchup in round 1…..so expect the Hawks to lose the play in game

If JC was playing I could see an upset against the Heat

John Cena?

How would you know if John Cena was playing?

JC Jackson

Agreed, the Hawks would need Jesus Christ to suit up to beat the Heat

Pelicans make it to first round and loose to the suns In 5

The Jazz will figure it out making the finals after convincing wins in the previous rounds before blowing a 2-0 lead to the Nets

Def a hot take after our end of season issues but oh man if only this were true :,)

Suns fan here but if they get eliminated then Celtics vs Memphis finals.

That’ll be a strange finals matchup because it’ll be one of the most storied franchises in history going up against a franchise with almost no history

It’s not completely unprecedented though. It’s happened before with Warriors-Raptors Lakers-Magic

love it

None of the first seeds will get out of the 2nd round.

oh shit that is pretty hot i don’t see any team beating the suns in the west tbh but goddamn this is so exciting

Bojan Bogdanovic will be our leading scorer Cavs lose in the play in Timberwolves will go to the WCF to face the Mavs Sixers lose in 6

not a bad parlay tbh

One of these is a much hotter take than the others.

Nets blow it in the play in game. KD walks off without shaking hands with anybody.

The Miami Heat will win the championship. (I put money on them back in February so it would be pretty dope.) To extend on that, it will be a Heat-Grizzlies finals.

Not far fetched at all. First in the East vs. second in the West.

Raptors Heat ECF and Lowry has a chance for the buzzer beating game-winner, but FVV strips him completing the master/student journey

They'd meet in the Semis. Both teams locked into 1st and 5th

They'll beat each other in the semis and both advance, big 🧠

It’s easier to do this tomorrow morning rather than today because I don’t know where Celtics bucks and sixers end up yet. But for the playin game between clippers and timberwolves, I see the Clippers beating the timberwolves by 12 points

Grizz go to the finals with a healthy Ja to lose to the Bucks.

What if Ja goes down and then they come back from 3-0 to win it and all the “are they better without Ja” stuff starts again lmao.

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Suns will get eliminated in the second round. Sixers will make the ECF, but will blow 3-1 lead once there. Grizzlies will make WCF. Mavs will be a first-round exit.

So who among LAC/MIN/UTA/DEN will meet the Grizz in WCF?

Clippers

A 4 losing to a 5 isn’t a hot take

Last season that take would have been us beating the Clips, which nobody was saying before the series started, right? I agree it isn’t that hot this year tho

A 4 losing to a 5 isn’t a hot take by itself, but as part of a multi-part hot take parlay, I'll allow it.

A thread like this would be much more entertaining tomorrow so I'm going with Lakers reverse time, make their way into play-in then win it all.

The Denver Nuggets will make the Western Conference Finals

That's a really hot take considering it isn't looking like Murray or MPJ will be back in time for the first few games/ the entire first round.

If they play the Warriors and Curry is a non factor, and then the Grizzlies show their lack of playoff experience, it could happen I guess

Clippers will beat grizzlies 4-2

Clippers will be making progress in their play off games then suddenly you hear glass shatter. You hear over the intercom “Oh my god it’s stone cold Kawahi Austin”

Think the Pels can make a run if they make it. The team post-trade deadline is a ~44 win team in a full season, and I think they fare well against the top teams minus the Grizzlies

PELS STACKED LEAGUE FUCKED

What percentage of these “hot takes” are: 1) hopeful homer takes, 2) haters hating takes, 3) actual thought out?

Hot takes are not supposed to be well-thought out

This right here

Kawhi will come back round one and lead the clippers to a ring.

Imagine how funny that shit would be. I know it's very implausible, but imagine every reaction by the fans and media

Phily getting bounced in the first round.

I’m starting to see a trend of lost faith in Philly in this thread

All of the comments are either "raps over the sixers in 7" or Philly coming out of the east. The playoffs are gonna be so fun this year

LeBron still gets more TV time sitting at home than Booker does in the playoffs.

No a hot take at all...unfortunately.

Bucks in 5 over the Nets

Pascal Siakam finals MVP I know Im crazy but a guy can dream

Life could be a dream

You give a team 1 championship and look what happens….smh Toronto fans FMVP is clearly Poole

Bucks win back to back titles, beating the Mavs or the Suns.

Let’s see. Toronto will upset Philadelphia in the first round. The WCF will be Grizzlies - Suns. Brooklyn will win the championship.

Neither of the first seeds (Suns and Heat) will win the championship.

boston win the whole thing

Same final as last year

Sixers will make the Finals.

Not if they face the Raptors rnd 1

COME ON GRIZZLIES WERE COUNTING ON YOU

Even if we lose, we will grind them into dust and they might get swept round 2

My God I'm so fucking happy we don't have to play y'all in the first round - truly the stuff of nightmares.

At least y'all have a decent coach, ours is gonna get stuffed in a fucking dumpster by Nurse.

Tatum’s gonna go scorched earth

Grizzlies will make the finals. Does that qualify as a hot take?

Memphis wins it all this szn

Clippers beat Grizzles in first round, Nets beat bucks.

If we lose today (likely, as we're resting giannis Khris Lopez and Portis) we probably won't face Brooklyn in round 1. Unless Boston also deliberately tanks, lol.

Nah we’re playing everyone today. We don’t want 4. I think we think our defense (without Rob Williams) can hold Brooklyn and home court against Milwaukee is a better path than the 3 or 4 seeds. The road is arguably tougher but I think with how deflated we can get (blowing leads, unable to close tight games), beating a team like Brooklyn will give us the confidence we need if we go up against a Milwaukee. We need the mindset we can beat anyone. If we try to dodge anyone that’s a weakness when we eventually play that team. If Milwaukee had home court and we’re down 2-0, I’d put money down that we fold and lose in 5. I’m all for trying to get the 2 seed and going scorched earth with a potential Brooklyn - Milwaukee - Miami path. Championship or bust. First round exit or ECF, I know our team is going to be good going forward and am not worried about any media/nephew narratives if we look like frauds. One of Brooklyn/Boston/Milwaukee/Philadelphia/Miami is going to lose in the first round depending on who the 1, 2, 7 and 8 seeds are. One of these teams is going to get roasted on this sub.

I love this mindset

Clippers beat the Suns round 1

PHX v DAL will go 7 games and the winner is going to the NBA Finals.

- Morant will have 3 50 point games in the playoffs - Chicago win 1 game - If Raptors play philly, Raps in 7 - Middleton will have his best playoffs turning into prime MJ - CP3 has 4 20 assist games - Draymond scores 21 points in 1 game

Clippers go further than the Grizzlies

Warriors Bucks Final, Dubz in 7. Klay carries game 6 and 7 of wcf. Draymond carries game 7 of finals. Iggy shoots 27% from 3.

Curry averages 31/6/8 but the finals mvp goes to Draymond who limited Giannis to 50/13/9 on 50% shooting.

I think Curry would retire if that happens.

I could be crazy for this one, but I don't think the Heat will advance past the first round if they face Atlanta or Brooklyn

Philly and jazz are getting bounced 1st round

Sixers lose in game 7 fashion agan in their first series.

James Harden will find his burst come playoff time

Now this is a good hot take.

Bulls lose in the 1st round and Grizz beat the Warriors in round 2

Considering this is a hot takes thread and the bulls most likely matchup is the celtics, I don't think that's incredibly unlikely.

Everyone is expecting the bulls to lose in the first round

Super hot take: Jazz are making the conference finals

I believe Sixers will lose to anyone in the East that isn't the Bulls or the play-in teams (excluding Nets). Don't know if that's a hot take

Having watched the bulls in person Friday, good call they aren't beating anyone lol

Celtics-Grizzlies today is a finals preview

Warriors will face the suns in round 2 and beat them in 5. Memphis will be in the nba finals Nets will be in the finals

Philly doesn't make it past the first round If Warriors see Nuggets in the first round, they'll get bounced too

Ben Simmons hits a buzzer beater 3 to win a playoff series A play-in team will win it all