WhatIfSports.com simulated the NBA playoffs 10,000 times…. and they came up with a less than desirable result
Utah has the highest chance of winning the tournament at 21.2%. After the Jazz, four other teams, Boston (12.8%), Phoenix (10.9%), Orlando (10.2%) and Denver (10.0%) are in the double-digit percentages for championship likelihood. The top-seeded Lakers win it all 6.3% of the time, while the defending champion Spurs do it just once every 30 or so times. Every team, including Atlanta, wins the championship at least 0.4% of the time – or at least 40 out of 10,000 tries.
I’m not big into these simulations. But I hate anything that suggests we aren’t holding a parade in June. Also from the “F-You files”…. which was brought to light by PerkIsABeast.com: Bill Simmons picked the LAKERS over Boston in the NBA Finals in his aptly named BS Report. Am I the only one that sees that the Lakers DON’T PLAY ANY REAL TEAM DEFENSE?? Aren’t the Celtics the best defensive team in the league? Isn’t that rule #1 in the playoffs? Bad defensive teams get upset… good defensive teams advance.
The lesson here: The pressure of the NBA playoffs applies to analysts too. They try to over-think things… and they end up talking themselves out of making the smart pick.
I started to crucify Upside And Motor for declaring the C’s won’t win it all this way:
Paul Pierce has a tendency to dominate the ball and stop the offense, which can spell death for a team in the playoffs. Kevin Garnett consistently disappears late in games because he has no real low block post game, and resorts to shooting turn-around fadeaway jumpers almost every time he shoots the ball. Ray Allen is reduced almost to a three-point specialist on this team, and his ball handling abilities aren’t properly spotlighted because of Pierce. Rajon Rondo can’t shoot, Perkins can’t make anything besides a dunk (and sometimes he misses those), and the rest of the cast is overrated.
But then he emailed me to let me know he was doing a whole series of pieces on “why (contender) won’t win the title”… and that’s the best he could do. So in reality… the best argument against the C’s is a totally BS one. That’s nice. Unfortunately… many other people, like me, thought he was really making an argument against the C’s… and many people out there agree with that crap.
So once again Celtics… you are being doubted. May I suggest ripping the Hawks apart tonight to remind them of your dominance?
Denver, Phoenix and Orlando have better odds than the Spurs or Pistons? That simulation is more flawed than the Democratic platform.
Dam I am So Freakin excited right I can hardly drink, Having a huge party tonight (me and 18 friend’s (miller lights)) for the C’s opener. I’m like a Kid at X-mas…….Wow!!!!!!!!it’s here and John said for the record he did not like the KG trade!!!!!! I’m glad you not right about everything, you sounded like the other Greek who was wrong a few Decades back. Take to the bank C’s by 24!!!!!
Sounds like your party is bigger than mine. I only have 10 (LeBatts) over here!
PS – John is always wrong.
I know I wasn’t the only one who thought we gave up too much for 1 player… but I never knew the broad impact KG would have.
Honestly… did anyone know he’d have THIS much of an impact? Did anyone honestly think “this guy is going to come in and completely change the attitude of the entire franchise?”
Not to defend him (because he’s pretty annoying sometimes), but I’m sure Simmons thinks he jinxed the Patriots on some level by praising them before the Super Bowl and he doesn’t want to do the same thing with the C’s.
Actually Jon.. that’s an excellent point. He’s incurring the wrath of the Celtics fans for the better of the team.
Or he’s a pussy who needs to get kicked in the nuts.
or… there’s that