I am ready for the playoffs to start.

 

Lots of compelling stories this year.

 

How far can the Hawks actually get?

 

How far can LeBron lead the Cavs?

 

How will the Warriors do in the playoffs?

 

Can the San Antonio Geezers really repeat?

 

Will there be new fresh team in the finals this season?

---

I survived the Gus Bradley Error.

Interesting potential 1st round matchups ...

 

Cleveland vs Miami -- Miami can't be happy with this but it will get a lot of attention.

 

Houston vs San Antonio or Dallas --- I'd like to see Houston (at full strength) take on San Antonio.

---

Let's go Trail Blazers!!!

This still!!!!!!!

---

Come on playoffs!!!!!! I'm waiting for you.

 

I sure do hope the Cavs and Bulls meet in the playoffs with all that talking the ponytail is doing.

---

I survived the Gus Bradley Error.

My Pistons are letting me down. Again.

---

My Pistons are letting me down. Again.

 

 I'm sure deep inside you knew this wasn't going to be their year.

 

Also, even after 11 years, I still smile when I think about the Pistons beating the heavily favored Lakers, and all those future Hall of Famers, in the 2004 NBA finals, 4 games to 1.

 

I remember being very surprised at the way the Pistons handled that Laker team, despite the Lakers having home court advantage AND all those future Hall of Famers.

 

Larry Brown out coached Phil Jackson in that series.

---

I survived the Gus Bradley Error.

I'm sure deep inside you knew this wasn't going to be their year.


Also, even after 11 years, I still smile when I think about the Pistons beating the heavily favored Lakers, and all those future Hall of Famers, in the 2004 NBA finals, 4 games to 1.


I remember being very surprised at the way the Pistons handled that Laker team, despite the Lakers having home court advantage AND all those future Hall of Famers.


Larry Brown out coached Phil Jackson in that series.

I thought they could sneak in the playoffs. Taking the last spot. They were playing really good until Jennings went down and we traded for Reggie Jackson. Then we kinda tanked. Maybe next year.

---

As a Raptors fan, I hate the form they have been in late in the season. Wrong time of the year to be playing your worst basketball.

---

The fight for the last 2 playoff spots in the Eastern Conference helps illustrate why I don't want the NFL to expand their playoffs.   The focus on the Eastern Conference playoff race is on 4 teams that are going to end up with losing records:  Boston,  Brooklyn,  Indiana,  and Miami.

---

The fight for the last 2 playoff spots in the Eastern Conference helps illustrate why I don't want the NFL to expand their playoffs.   The focus on the Eastern Conference playoff race is on 4 teams that are going to end up with losing records:  Boston,  Brooklyn,  Indiana,  and Miami.

To many teams make the NBA and NHL Playoffs. Over half of the league makes it. It's not quite the honor to make the playoffs when it's set up like that.

 

That being said, Go Pens :whistling:

---

TravC59, aka JacksJags. @TravC59 on Twitter
;
; "This is really good, you want a bite, Honey?"

To many teams make the NBA and NHL Playoffs. Over half of the league makes it. It's not quite the honor to make the playoffs when it's set up like that.

 

That being said, Go Pens :whistling:

 

 Agreed.   It dilutes the importance of the regular season in both sports.   That much more in the NHL,  a league in which lower seeds often pull of upsets in the playoffs.   The 2012 Los Angeles Kings,  which won the Stanley Cup as an 8th Seed in the Western Conference,  as the most prime recent example.  

---

 Agreed.   It dilutes the importance of the regular season in both sports.   That much more in the NHL,  a league in which lower seeds often pull of upsets in the playoffs.   The 2012 Los Angeles Kings,  which won the Stanley Cup as an 8th Seed in the Western Conference,  as the most prime recent example.  

I look at it the other way. The Kings were an 8 seed and managed to win the Stanley Cup that year. To me, that enhances the playoffs when you get the big time underdog to make a run and win it all.

---

Cleveland got a great draw in having to face Boston.  Definitely didn't want Indiana in round 1.

---

 Agreed.   It dilutes the importance of the regular season in both sports.   That much more in the NHL,  a league in which lower seeds often pull of upsets in the playoffs.   The 2012 Los Angeles Kings,  which won the Stanley Cup as an 8th Seed in the Western Conference,  as the most prime recent example.  

 

I agree 100%. It's also why I hate that the MLB added another Wildcard.

---

 Agreed.   It dilutes the importance of the regular season in both sports.   That much more in the NHL,  a league in which lower seeds often pull of upsets in the playoffs.   The 2012 Los Angeles Kings,  which won the Stanley Cup as an 8th Seed in the Western Conference,  as the most prime recent example.  

 

I used to think that way but now I really enjoy the extensive post-season.  It brings a different element to the game which usually leads to a few early upsets in the series.  Personally, I really liked the shortened NBA season that resulted from the strike.  This really made every regular season game important AND it was followed up with a great playoff.

---

Disaster season for Philly. Had a chance to have 4 first round picks this year, but gonna end up with just their own barring a miracle in the lottery.


Oh well. Hopefully the 2016 draft is good for when they should get them.

---

Well, Raptors get to kick of the postseason at 12:30 on Saturday. Glad they avoided Cavs in round 2, though in the end the Cavs will represent the East, so I guess what's one extra round?

---

I look at it the other way. The Kings were an 8 seed and managed to win the Stanley Cup that year. To me, that enhances the playoffs when you get the big time underdog to make a run and win it all.

 

 While I understand and respect the thought process of the playoffs being enhanced when a low seeded team goes on to win the Championship or closes close,  for my perspective the regular season being too devalued far outweighs the benefits of low seeded teams having major playoff success.  

 

 Even with a 7 team by conference playoff,  which the NFL appears headed towards in 2016 or soon after,   using the NBA Eastern Conference standings from 2015,  the 40-42 Boston Celtics would have made the playoffs.   And if the NFL eventually goes to an 8 team per conference playoff system,  which I believe will happen because of the inevitable complaints of some 1st seeded teams having an unfair advantage gained by being in a weaker division,  teams like the 8th seeded 38-44 Brooklyn Nets will get into the playoffs.   The same Brooklyn Nets team that lost games by 23 and 27 points in the last few days.  

---

I agree 100%. It's also why I hate that the MLB added another Wildcard.

 

While my preference would have been for MLB not to expand the playoffs,  the only benefit of having an extra Wildcard is that there's now more incentive to win the Division Title.   Being in a one game Wildcard playoff matchup can undo an entire 162 season because of an off night by a starting pitcher among other reasons.   Having said this,  it would be horrific if MLB expands the playoffs further.   

 

Ideally,  MLB would have kept the playoffs to 4 teams per league.  With the first round becoming the best 4 out of 7.   And the teams with the best two division winning records in each league getting an extra home game in the first round of the playoffs.

---

I used to think that way but now I really enjoy the extensive post-season.  It brings a different element to the game which usually leads to a few early upsets in the series.  Personally, I really liked the shortened NBA season that resulted from the strike.  This really made every regular season game important AND it was followed up with a great playoff.

 

  Part of what turns me off about the NBA and NHL is the combination of the long regular seasons, 16 teams getting into the playoffs,  and no byes.   Basically,  they play marathon seasons which don't provide enough incentive to be a top seeded team vs. a bottom seeded team.   At least for me,  when I watch a regular season game,  I want the outcome to have meaning. 

---