Welcome to the inaugural NBA Playoffs Podcaster Bracket Challenge! We’ve partnered up with a few other podcasts to share series predictions throughout the 2020 NBA Playoffs.
Each podcast has collectively chosen series winners and series lengths for each round up until the Finals, where they have predicted their 2020 NBA Champions.
Follow along as each podcast team makes their picks, brings you some crossover content (and tons of trash talk) on upcoming episodes of the podcasts below!
*Each podcast has agreed to collectively pick teams for each round
Leaderboard
Current as of 9/27/20
Podcast
Score
Sports on Tap
2100
NRQ Podcast
1600
Shoot or Pass Podcast
1500
The Close Up Magic
1100
The Dime
1100
Scoring System
Game Round
Points
First Round
100 points for each correct Series prediction (800 total points possible)
Conference Semi-Finals Round
200 points for each correct Series prediction (800 total points possible)
Conference Finals Round
400 points for each correct Series prediction (800 total points possible)
NBA Finals Round
800 points for a correct Series prediction (800 total points possible)
Series Length Prediction
100 points for a correct Series Length prediction (1,500 total points possible)
We present the Shoot or Pass Podcast’s version of NBA Playoffs Player Rankings – STUDS and DUDS!
A new episode of the Shoot or Pass Podcast is out now! Chevy, Gabe, and Rhoby share their version of NBA Playoffs STUDS and DUDS from the past week. Find out below who they picked from the 2nd round of the NBA Playoffs!
STUD – KHRIS MIDDLETON
Even though the Bucks are down 3-1 right now, Khris Middleton is a bright spot for this team. He is the one Bucks player who is effectively creating his own shots and playing consistently in the second round (NOT the first).
Without Middleton’s contributions, there is no chance Milwaukee survives to see Game 5. He can shoot from anywhere on the court – too elusive for the likes of great defenders like Jimmy Butler. Let’s see if he can keep this up and carry the Bucks without Giannis.
DUD – MIKE BUDENHOLZER
This is déjà vu all over again! Mike Budenholzer is doing to the Milwaukee Bucks what he did to the Atlanta Hawks. Mike, if you’re reading this: LOOK AT THE GAME PLAN! MAKE ADJUSTMENTS! DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT!
Every coach in the NBA makes adjustments after a loss and for the most part, you see their team rebound in the following game. We have not seen Mike Budenholzer do that with the Bucks. It appears that he has one level and that’s it. You play his way and win his way. Unfortunately, you cannot win consistently that way. I wouldn’t go as far as saying he is ruining careers. But, I can confidently say he is not setting them up for success either.
This is the Defensive player of the Year we are talking about here! He should be covering the best player on the court. That’s on coach Budenholzer.
STUD – MIAMI HEAT
We can no longer ignore the fact that the #1 seed in the East is on the brink of elimination thanks to some great collective performances by the Miami HEAT. This team continues to be overlooked as one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. In my opinion, they have the best transition defenses and are able to lock in down the stretch, when it matters most. There is no doubt, the “Goons of Dade County” are the most consistent team defensively in the playoffs thus far.
Sure, they can be a little shakey here and there. This was evident when an already desperate Bucks team lost their star, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Milwaukee rallied around each other to win Game 4 and stay alive in the playoff race, but the Miami HEAT is very good at maintaining composure and making adjustments. Expect them to seal the deal in Game 5!
DUD – MIKE BUDENHOLZER
Going to piggyback off of what Gabe said above. The Milwaukee Bucks are down 3-0 as a top seed. This is after leading the team to the best record in the NBA during the regular season! Not only is he the Defensive Player of the Year, Giannis will more than likely win his second consecutive MVP award.
This is professional basketball. Who in their right mind wouldn’t make the necessary adjustments? It really makes you wonder, is there something going on behind the scenes we are not privy to? Throughout the regular season, you can get away with playing your super star 30 minutes a game and still win. But, this is the playoffs.
Would I go as far as to say Mike Budenholzer is on the hot seat once the Bucks are inevitably beat in the playoffs by the Miami HEAT? Absolutely. This really makes you appreciate coaches like Nick Nurse, Brad Stevens, and Erik Spoelstra who are known for making adjustments CONSTANTLY to the benefit of their teams.
STUD – RAJON RONDO
Much to Chevy’s surprise, I am picking a Laker as my STUD this week. PLAYOFF RONDO HAS ARRIVED! I will admit, I do not know how long Playoff Rondo will be present for, so if he mysteriously disappears going forward – DON’T come for me!
Honestly, I thought it was a bit dramatic to criticize Rondo for his performance in Game 1. I mean, the guy is coming back from surgery on his right thumb and playing in an unfamiliar environment that is the bubble. With that said, no one must have been happier than Lebron because there was someone else on the floor handling some of the play-making load.
He was setting screens, active on defense, communicating on offense, and hit some shots (including that jumper to really seal the win for the Lakers in Game 2). While he only scored 10 points, he had 9 assists, 5 steals, and his +/- was at +28 in 28 mins! Rajon Rondo is the reason the Lakers did not fall 0-2 against the Rockets in the second round and if he continues to contribute in this manner, watch out for the Lakers!
DUD – STEVE JAVIE
Let’s address the elephant in the room. WHAT IS THE POINT OF HAVING STEVE JAVIE ON OUR TV SCREENS?!
He loves to double-down on whatever the refs call. If he isn’t sure, he just sits there and spews whatever pops us in his head until the refs make their decision. In those instances, he ask, what’s the call? Flagrant foul for a love tap on the butt cheek? Yep, definitely some excessive contact there.
Whenever he gets called out by the commentators, he just gives them the run-around. Perhaps, he will surprise me and go against ref calls in the future and I can name him a stud in the next edition of NBA playoffs STUDS and DUDS. But until then, stop insulting our intelligence, Steve Javie – you JABRONIE!
https://i1.wp.com/baselinetimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/STUDS-AND-DUDS-WEB2-1.png?fit=1210%2C483&ssl=14831210Rhoby Salahttps://baselinetimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/BTheader.pngRhoby Sala2020-09-08 17:48:162020-09-08 17:48:17NBA Playoffs STUDS and DUDS of the 2nd round
NBA teams eliminated from the playoffs left the NBA bubble in Orlando, Florida, after their final games.
To commemorate their seasons, the Shoot or Pass podcast crew serve as the NBA team Departure Coordinators and send the teams eliminated from the NBA Playoffs on their way with heartfelt NBA Bubble Eulogies.
BROOKLYN NETS
Despite entering the NBA Bubble with a depleted roster, the Brooklyn Nets exceeded expectations. They were playing with a lot of heart and hustle against a very strong Toronto Raptors team. Unfortunately, their lack of star power caught up to them. The Nets fell victims to the brooms, getting swept out of Disney World. They are one of six NBA teams eliminated from the playoffs.
This is a celebration of life for the Brooklyn Nets,
Who exceeded expectations with a depleted roster,
They defined the “next man up” mentality,
And are expected to continue to prosper.
While we don’t understand the need to go after Gregg Popovich,
Or why Tyler Johnson has been nicknamed “Meth Curry”,
We do wonder how KD, Kyrie, Dinwiddie, and LeVert will share the ball,
They’ve got a short off season to figure this out, so they better hurry.
Barring any injuries, this team is built to be a top contender,
Nets fans, you have no reason to cry or feel bitter,
But one thing you should probably worry about,
Is how to keep Kevin Durant’s cringey ass off of Twitter.
INDIANA PACERS
From the start, it was clear that the Indiana Pacers are no match for the red-hot Miami HEAT due to a few factors. First, they were playing without Domantas Sabonis. Second, (now former head coach) Nate McMillan would continuously refuse to make sufficient adjustments. Furthermore, the Pacers style of play on offense did not create enough opportunities and their bench did not help, scoring only three points in Game 4. Thus, they are eliminated from the NBA Playoffs in yet another sweep.
We are gathered here to say GOOD RIDDANCE to the Indiana Pacers,
Especially to T.J. Warren and the Bubble G.O.A.T. fever,
After another 4-0 sweep – we ask that you hold the brooms,
Because we’ve got THE VACUUM CLEANER.
You gave up too many offensive rebounds,
And were no match defending the HEAT at the 3,
Your bench could only muster up three points in Game 4,
Whoever bet y’all against the spread in Vegas lost A LOT of money.
Not sure what’s funnier – Domantas Sabonis FINALLY getting to the bubble,
Only to quarantine for two days and get sent back home packing,
Or firing Nate McMillan a few weeks after giving him a contract extension,
Regardless, HEAT fans are joining Jimmy Butler in celebrating this bushwhacking.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
Are the Philadelphia 76ers the most disappointing team in the playoffs? Many would say so after watching their performance against the Boston Celtics. Indeed, Ben Simmons’ absence was felt, particularly on the defensive end. But, Joel Embiid could not put a consistent game together. Even with Jayson Tatum in foul trouble in a couple of games, the Sixers kept failing to seize opportunities. Helpless and hopeless, it was inevitable that they find themselves packing to leave Orlando after a sweep.
Let’s state the obvious, the 76ers are a dumpster fire,
Bad contracts, terrible trades, no chemistry on this team,
We can’t even say that a new head coach hire,
Will give them the chance next season to redeem.
Trading away all their shooters only magnified the problems,
Should have known Ben’s injury would inevitably seal their fate,
Though he still wasn’t hitting any jumpers or attempting any threes,
And Joel Embiid did not use his size or ability to get in the post and DOMINATE.
Where the hell do they even go from here?
It likely won’t happen but they should clean house – literally,
Tonight we mourn with all of the broken hearts in Philadelphia,
For The Process has failed us all miserably.
ORLANDO MAGIC
So much for the ultimate home-court advantage! To be fair, the Orlando Magic deserve some credit. After surprising everyone with a big win in Game 1, many were wondering if the Bucks were a fraud. Unfortunately for the Magic, that was not the case. No Jonathan Isaac, Aaron Gordon, and lots of problematic plays from James Ennis so the Magic are going home. Even after the Bucks sat out the original Game 5 in protest, the Magic were unable to capitalize. Luckily, it is not a long ride there for most of their players.
We always knew the Orlando Magic were doomed,
No Isaac, Gordon, or Mo Bamba left them at a great disadvantage,
Not even a boycott could help them find a good groove,
So much for that ultimate home-court advantage.
Terrence Ross offered them an offensive punch,
But James Ennis was air-ballin and getting fined for his on-court behavior,
Wes Iwundu should’ve played more minutes but he’s on Cliff’s shit list,
Making it an impossible task for Vucevic the Magic’s savior.
There’s a few silver linings for this team,
The Bucks were exposed during their first-round series run,
Let’s end it on a positive note for the 45 min bus ride home,
They will always have the surprise victory against the top seed in Game 1.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
Ah, remember when everyone was predicting the Portland Trail Blazers would boot the Los Angeles Lakers out of Disney World? The magic of DAME TIME had us all in a daze! Of course, if you love chaos as much as I do, I am sure you were finding yourself rooting for Bubble Melo as he stepped up to play some defense against Lebron too. As it turns out, the Lakers could flip a switch and play like contenders. Lebron put his shooting woes behind him and bench play continues to improve. Therefore, the Portland Trail Blazers are are joining Damian Lillard back in Oregon after being eliminated from the NBA Playoffs.
We should have seen this one coming,
When LeBron started posting pics of himself “reading”,
The Portland Trail Blazers may have surprised us with a victory in Game 1,
Turns out the shooting woes for the intellectual King in LA were only fleeting.
It was a season plagued with injuries (aside from a global pandemic),
But it wasn’t enough to stop the Bubble MVP from renaming the 4th Quarter DAME TIME,
He had some help from Gary Trent Jr., Nurk, and CJ,
And a man named Melo who is playing like he’s back in his prime.
It was a magical run at Disney World,
Wonder what D.O.L.L.A’s new album will be about,
Even though the deep playoff run he vowed came up short,
This team made Uncle Cliffy very proud, no doubt.
DALLAS MAVERICKS
You read it here first – Luka Doncic will be regarded as one of the best to ever lay hands on a basketball when he retires! The Dallas Mavericks-Los Angeles series brought a ton of exciting moments to our TV screens. A good example of this, the crazy buzzer-beating three to end OT by Luka in Game 4. It was clear that he was going to need some help to dethrone Kawhi and company. Seth Curry, Tim Hardway Jr., and Boban stepped up. Unfortunately, the Unicorn (who got ejected in his first playoff game) could not make a consistent showing due to injury. Though the Mavs extended the series to six games, the Clippers hold strong and move on to the next round.
Tonight, we reluctantly part ways with the beloved Dallas Mavericks,
They weren’t expected to compete with the Clippers whatsoever,
But I’m willing to bet that when Luka hit that buzzer-beating three,
Pandemic P thought his chances at a ring were over forever.
An ejection and then a season ending injury sidelined The Unicorn,
Then in Game 5, Kawhi and company shot a whopping 62% from three,
At least it appears they’ve uncovered a new secret offensive weapon,
In PG13’s ex girlfriend’s new husband Seth Curry.
Cheer up Mavericks fans, you have so much to look forward to,
You’ve heard Mark Cuban loud, clear and with no remorse,
“If I had to choose between my wife and keeping Luka on the Mavs, Catch me at my lawyer’s office preparing for a divorce.”
More NBA Bubble Eulogies will be created as NBA teams continue to get eliminated throughout the playoffs – so TUNE IN!
Follow us:
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The Philadelphia 76ers have fired coach Brett Brown, the team announced Monday.
Brown spent seven seasons as the 76ers Head Coach and leader of the “Trust the Process” era with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons emerging as his top young prospects.
The firing comes a day after the 76ers were swept out of the first round by the Boston Celtics.
https://i1.wp.com/baselinetimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/NBABT1-1.png?fit=1210%2C423&ssl=14231210Chevall Kanhaihttps://baselinetimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/BTheader.pngChevall Kanhai2020-08-24 17:58:552020-08-24 18:00:10Philadelphia 76ers fire coach Brett Brown
We present the Shoot or Pass Podcast’s version of NBA Playoffs Player Rankings
Check out our Studs and Duds from the first round of the NBA Playoffs so far! A new episode of the Shoot or Pass Podcast is out! Chevy and Rhoby are joined by Josh from The Dime podcast to share their version of NBA Playoffs player rankings in a segment called Studs and Duds. Find out below who are the Studs and Duds from the first round of the NBA playoffs so far!
STUDS
Josh – Luka Doncic
I am picking the obvious here. The top player in the NBA Playoffs player rankings so far has got to be Luka Doncic, right? Especially after how he played yesterday against the Clippers. He hit a GAME-WINNING three as time was expiring. Furthermore, he was playing without his 2nd option, Kristaps Porzingis, who was out with an injury. He put on a show and is consistently putting up record numbers in his first NBA playoff series. This man is UNBELIEVABLE!
Honestly, his ceiling may just be as the best player of all time. In 15 to 20 years, we may be talking about Luka Doncic as the best player to ever touch a basketball. Frankly, there is no reason why a 21 year old should be THIS good. I thought I was decent at playing basketball growing up, but he makes me feel insecure. After this performance, I may never want to touch a basketball again.
Rhoby – Goran Dragic
I have been waiting very patiently for the right moment to name a HEAT player as my top ranked NBA player. The time is NOW. There is some BIG DRAGON ENERGY spitting fire in this HEAT-Pacers series. From coming off the bench and leading the 2nd unit off the bench during the regular season, to starting nod in place of Kendrick Nunn in the playoffs.
He’s had a couple of slow starts, but man has he been clutch for us at the helm as a shooter, facilitator, defender. He even brought Jimmy Butler back to life with CPR, a BONAFIDE LEADER! My stud of the week pick goes to the Dragon, the Slovenian Cockmeister – Goran Dragic. I cannot believe people out there were aiming to trade this guy before the season started. Sincerely, I hope he retires as a HEAT player. This man is the definition of STUD so far in the playoffs!
Chevy – Nikola Vucevic
I am going with a homer pick for my top ranked NBA player in the playoffs thus far. My stud of the week pick is the only All-Star on his team, Nikola Vucevic. Vuc, if you are reading this, I AM SORRY none of your teammates are stepping up to help you win another game against the Bucks. He is averaging 29 points and 9.7 rebounds per game in this series.
Furthermore, he is shooting 55% from the field and literally carrying this Orlando Magic team without their other star, Jonathan Isaac, who is out for the season with a torn ACL. With a healthy roster to help him, I am confident Vucevic can lead the Magic to push this series to 6-7 games. Unfortunately, it is looking the Magic will not make it past the first round of the playoffs.
DUDS
Josh and Chevy – Paul George
Josh
I picked the Los Angeles Clippers to win it all. Currently, they find themselves tied in this first round playoff series with the Dallas Mavericks. This is in large part due to Pandemic P, better known as, Paul George. Let’s go over the stats in his last three games:
In a Clippers loss to Mavericks – GAME 2: 4-17, 14 points
For a Clippers victory vs. Dallas – GAME 3: 3-16, 11 points
In another losing effort – GAME 4: 3-14, 9 points
OVERALL this series: 5-25 from beyond the arch
That is disgusting, especially for a man you traded for in an effort to lure Kawhi Leonard to Los Angeles. The point of bringing him there is to be the #2 option, to hit big shots and he is not doing either. Consequently, he is not spreading the floor and therefore, limiting the offense by not touching the ball.
Chevy
To add, Paul George expresses in an interview that he is no James Harden. We know you’re no James Harden! Pandemic P is averaging 11.3 points per game in this series. For a guy who is averaging 21 points per game and is still in his prime, this performance is unacceptable. He may be doing other things on the floor, but, that is not enough!
Rhoby – Mike Malone
Initially, I was going to go with Tobias Harris, but I cannot go after a guy who is injured and frankly, Philadelphia has enough takes from me.
My dud of the week pick is going to be Mike Malone. His team, the Denver Nuggets, have lost by 19 points in Game 2, and a whopping 37 points in Game 3. To top it all off, you can tell his players are frustrated, look dejected, and continuously make careless mistakes. What does he do? Sit on the bench and pray.
The Nuggets have been outscored 109-68 in the third quarter, and if it weren’t for an 8 sec violation by Donovan Mitchell in Game 1, the Nuggets would be facing a potential sweep Sunday night. Whoever he is praying to must be answering him with two words – MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.
You know your team is not great defensively, but you have an offense that is capable of beating the Jazz. So, where are the adjustments? Get the ball to Michael Porter Jr. Give us more BOL BOL. Find ways to get the lethal Jokic/Murray two-man game going. You worked so hard to position yourself to play the Jazz in this series. Do not let the Jazz outplay you!
The Toronto Raptors Head Coach Nick Nurse is the recipient of the 2019-2020 Coach of the Year award. He led the Raptors to a 53-19 regular-season record in the shortened season due to the pandemic.
Nurse comes in a year after winning the NBA Championship last summer and dealing with losing arguably one of the top players in the NBA in Kawhi Leonard.
While the Coach of the Year award is well deserving the Raptors can celebrate by closing out the Brooklyn Nets in Game 4 on Sunday, August 23rd.
https://i1.wp.com/baselinetimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/NBABT1-1.png?fit=1210%2C423&ssl=14231210Baseline Timeshttps://baselinetimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/BTheader.pngBaseline Times2020-08-22 13:44:422020-08-22 14:19:43NBA announces Nick Nurse wins 2019-2020 Coach of the Year
For more NBA content, check out the Shoot or Pass podcast – new episodes drop on Mondays anywhere you get your podcasts and right here on www.BaselineTimes.com
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Six categories. Five nominees in each. Vote for your favorite NBA players and coaches for their performances throughout seeding games.
Categories in our NBA Bubble Awards Poll:
Rookie of the Bubble
Most Improved Player of the Bubble
Sixth man of the Bubble
Defensive Player of the Bubble
Coach of the Bubble
Most Valuable Player of the Bubble
We will be featuring poll results for the NBA Bubble Awards in the next few episodes of the Shoot or Pass Podcast. New episodes drop every Monday – so get your vote on and tune in!
The NBA will be awarding several honors to reward players and coaches with top performances in Orlando. Awards include:
NBA Player of the Seeding Games
Coach of the Seeding Games
NBA All-Bubble First team
NBA All-Bubble Second team
These awards are separate from the 2020 NBA Awards. Select media members have been voting for their favorite players in six categories for performances throughout the regular before the lock down in March. These are the finalists:
MVP
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
James Harden, Houston Rockets
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
Kendrick Nunn, Miami Heat
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR
Montrezl Harrell, Los Angeles Clippers
Dennis Schröder, Oklahoma City Thunder
Lou Williams, Los Angeles Clippers
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks
Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans
COACH OF THE YEAR
Mike Budenholzer, Milwaukee Bucks
Billy Donovan, Oklahoma City Thunder
Nick Nurse, Toronto Raptors
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Get all your NBA content at Baseline Times and be sure to tune in to the Shoot or Pass podcast. New episodes drop every Monday!
The first play-in tournament game will be played Saturday, August 15 at 2:30pm ET. If the 9th seed gets the victory, a second play-in game will take place on Sunday, August 16 at 4:30pm ET.
What does a path to the playoffs look like for the four teams in the race for the 8th or 9th spots? Let’s take a look.
https://i1.wp.com/baselinetimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/NBABT1-1.png?fit=1210%2C423&ssl=14231210Rhoby Salahttps://baselinetimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/BTheader.pngRhoby Sala2020-08-12 17:00:002020-08-12 17:04:50Breaking down the race for the NBA play-in tournament out west
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