As the All-Star break passes, teams gear up to make a final playoff push, or to sit on the couch at home. Today, the FPC NBA staff discusses which teams are in, which teams are out, and more.
Let’s Meet the Participants:
Ben Pfeifer: Head NBA Editor, Colts’ Managing Editor, AFC South Managing Editor
Brandon Ray: NBA Writer, Bills’ Managing Editor
Eduardo Monk Jr.: NBA Writer, Bears’ Writer
Michael Wesner: NBA Writer
Chris Simmons: NBA Writer, Raiders’ Writer
Question One: Which Eastern Conference sleeper team will make the biggest impact in the playoffs?
Ben Pfeifer:
The Indiana Pacers are in a point that nobody expected them to be in after the polarizing Paul George trade this offseason. Victor Oladipo went from a promising role player to a young star out of nowhere. The Pacers also have Myles Turner, who is 21, the same age as rookie of the year candidate Donovan Mitchell. This team also poses a solid bench and group of role players. If the Pacers can avoid the likes of Cleveland and Toronto, they could sneak their way into the Eastern Conference Finals
Brandon Ray:
The Indiana Pacers are a bigger threat than what most of us have expected. After trading Paul George, they are actually playing their best basketball. Currently, at number five in the Eastern Conference, they can easily go farther than expected in the playoffs.
Eduardo Monk Jr.:
Even though they are only in the seventh seed, the 76ers really have a lot going behind them as of right now. They have rocketed to an 8-2 record over the past ten games thanks to Ben Simmons’ 16.5 point, 7.9 assists, 7.4 rebound, 2.2 steals per game brilliance. Despite a rocky start to the year, the Sixers have steadied themselves enough to be considered a dangerous team come playoff time.
While they won’t be able to conquer the Celtics, Raptors, or even Cavaliers just yet, they are more than capable to give any team in the East a run for their money. If they can pull off rising to middle seed and see a team like the Bucks or Pacers in the first round, Philadelphia could end up seeing second round basketball for the first time since 2012.
Michael Wesner:
I genuinely think that the 76ers will have an unexpected impact on the playoffs. They qualify as a “sleeper” team because we have yet to see them in the postseason, whereas we’ve already seen what the top four playoff teams can do. They’ve shown that, if given the time to properly prepare, they can beat Boston, Toronto, and Washington. If they match up with one of these teams, I’m excited to see what they could do in the first round if they play up to their potential. Although I’m not exactly confident that they could win a seven-game series, I don’t see this team being swept. For a young team aiming for their first playoff appearance, I expect some exciting games.
Chris Simmons:
Question Two: Which Eastern Conference team currently in the playoffs will miss out?
Ben Pfeifer:
As much as I believe in Erik Spoelstra’s abilities to lead a team, I don’t believe in the Heat as a whole. They haven’t been playing great basketball as of late, and the Pistons are knocking on the eighth seed door. Don’t forget about Charlotte, who is quietly making a run at the eighth seed. If Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond can figure out how to better coincide, they will be a force to be reckoned with.
Brandon Ray:
Eduardo Monk Jr.:
Going 2-8 in the last ten contests is a great way to drop out of the playoff race and that’s the exact situation for the Miami Heat. After Dion Waiters went down, the Heat have struggled mightily on offense, currently 28th in the league in that category. Whether or not the tides overtake them lies with the Pistons and the longer Detroit stumbles, the more unlikely the Heat look to fall out of the playoff circle. Once Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond put things together (if they can, that is), Miami will find themselves tumbling off from the playoffs.
Michael Wesner:
I don’t think the Heat will make the playoffs. I see Detroit taking the eighth seed by the end of the season. The Griffin-Drummond frontcourt could go on a late-season tear, and they would only be aided by injured guard Reggie Jackson’s return. I believe Miami is overachieving right now, as they have recently slipped in the standings. If they continue to fall, that will give an easy opening for Detroit to slip in as the eighth or seventh seed.
Chris Simmons:
Question Three: The Pelicans are on a tear after Anthony Davis’s incredible week and his incredible month. Will the Pels make the playoffs, and if they do, could they escape the first round?
Ben Pfeifer:
I can’t see the Pelicans’ absurd hot streak continuing for much longer, but they undoubtedly will make the playoffs. They are only 1.5 games in the playoffs and could slip out at any moment. If the Pelicans can maintain the fifth or sixth seed, I could see them beating a team like San Antonio or Minnesota. However, I see teams like the Nuggets and Thunder leapfrogging them, giving them an almost automatic exit against the Rockets or Warriors.
Brandon Ray:
Eduardo Monk Jr.:
The second DeMarcus Cousins went down for the year, the Pelicans seemed to kaput. But New Orleans’ savior came in the form of Anthony Davis’s utterly unreal February. We’re talking 35.9 points, 12.8 rebounds, 2.6 steals, 2.4 blocks degrees of unreal here. So long as he continues these levels of numbers, the Pelicans will be contenders. Whether or not he will come back down to Earth is an article for another day, but if he can keep this or even a little less going, look out for the Pelicans in the first round.
-
Ep 38: Tyreek Hill Traded To The Dolphins
by Full Press Coverage on March 24, 2022 at 12:10 am
Michael Wesner:
If there’s one thing Anthony Davis has proved, it’s that he can carry a team to wins by himself. Right now, the Pelicans are in great position for him to carry them straight into the playoffs. He’s putting up historically great numbers and seems absolutely determined to force the Pelicans into the higher standings, even without DeMarcus Cousins. If the Pelicans can gain home-court advantage in the first round, I see Davis having more 40 point, 15 rebound games to push his team into the semi-finals.
Chris Simmons:
Question Four: With the injury to Jimmy Butler, do the Timberwolves have a chance to win games in the playoffs?
Ben Pfeifer:
The Jimmy Butler injury was absolutely devastating. There is a high chance that Butler will either not be fully healthy or not available for the playoffs. In that case, I don’t see Minnesota making it out of the first round. Their offense has taken major strides, and Karl Anthony Towns is a legitimate star. Andrew Wiggins hasn’t developed into the star he was supposed to be and is atrocious on defense. The Timberwolves simply do not have the defense or experience to contend with other teams.
Brandon Ray:
Whether Jimmy Butler is back or not, the Timberwolves have way too much talent to not win games in the playoffs. Even if they lose in the first round but it’s in Game 7, I don’t see them going out without a fight.
Eduardo Monk Jr.:
The West has been a complete bloodbath all season long. There is merely a five-game buffer in between the third seed and the ninth seed. To be perfectly honest, if the Timberwolves stumble for long enough, even at this point in the season, they will miss the playoffs entirely. Now, this is not to say the Timberwolves are in trouble, but without Jimmy Butler, there cannot be high expectations on them even at a high seed.
Butler owns the highest net rating on the team (+7.8) and the Timberwolves are at their worst without him (-7.3). This puts ungodly amounts of pressure on Karl Anthony-Towns and Andrew Wiggins. While Towns has been spectacular in his first All-Star season, Wiggins is the real x-factor on this team.
With one of the worst net ratings in the league, on par with Pat Connaughton and Ish Smith, and a pedestrian 15.6 points per game, Wiggins needing to be the offensive focal point turns the Butler injury into a much scarier endeavor. Especially considering how close the West has been, he will need to step up massively if Butler wants a playoff team to return to.
Michael Wesner:
Jimmy Butler was the de facto defensive leader on an offensively minded Timberwolves. The only way they can get past the first round is if we see a revival (or evolution) of last year’s Karl-Anthony Towns. Last season he averaged 25.1 points per game, nearly five points more than he’s averaged this year. If he can keep that scoring output up, while maintaining his unbelievable efficiency (41% from three), the Timberwolves have a real shot at winning some games in the playoffs on pure offense alone.
Chris Simmons:
Question Five: Will the Rockets be able to dethrone the Warriors, and reach their first NBA finals since 1995?
Ben Pfeifer:
Simply, no. The Rockets are in the midst of an unreal hot streak and are playing excellent basketball. James Harden is having an MVP season, leading their unstoppable offense. The Warriors haven’t been the 73-9 team they used to be as of late, but they are still the Warriors. The Rockets’ offense is masterful, but so is the Warriors’ ability to stifle teams defensively. The Rockets will struggle defensively with the Warriors’ firepower on offense. Houston is great, but I will not doubt the Warriors until they give me a reason to doubt them.
Brandon Ray:
Michael Wesner:
The Rockets have the best chance of beating Warriors of any team that has faced them since they added Kevin Durant. Their defense has improved since last year, and Chris Paul has turned them from a pretty great team to an elite contender. They have the best offensive rating of all time. Yes, of all time. Their rating of 116 tops both last year’s Golden State Warriors and the Showtime Los Angeles Lakers. To complement that, they need to focus all their energy on polishing their defense and scoring efficiency. If they do so, the Capela-Harden-Paul trio could make a serious impact and defeat the Warriors in a seven-game series.
Chris Simmons:
In a word: No. The Warriors are currently the gold standard of basketball, even if they have looked outright bored with the regular season. On balance, the Houston Rockets certainly have the best chance and, ignoring past playoff failures, have the best roster to attack the dubs weaknesses. However, when Golden State decides to care their already lethal offense elevates to Xenomorph acid-for-blood levels and their defense can absolutely grind any attack down. Until they lose players or coaches, this will be the Warriors’ league.
-
Ep 111: Joe Horrigan Returns To Remember Vietnam Veteran And Former Bills OT Bob Kalsuby Full Press Coverage on May 25, 2022 at 9:25 pm
As we approach Memorial Day, Joe Horrigan returns to the show to talk to […]
-
Ep 110: New Playoff Teams In 2022; Best Matchups On NFL Scehduleby Full Press Coverage on May 20, 2022 at 3:42 am
Clark, Ira, and Ian give their four teams that didn't make the NFL […]
-
Ep 109: Hall of Fame Voter Ed Bouchette Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on May 12, 2022 at 6:28 pm
Long time Steelers writer and current Hall of Fame voter, Ed Bouchette […]
-
Ep 108: Hall of Famer Bryant Young Returns To The Showby Full Press Coverage on May 6, 2022 at 1:45 am
Pro Football Hall of Famer Bryant Young returns to the show to talk with […]
-
Ep 107: Pro Football HOF President Jim Porter Returns To The Showby Full Press Coverage on April 27, 2022 at 6:58 pm
Clark and Ira are once again joined by the Pro Football Hall of Fame's […]
-
Ep 106: Remembering Pat Tillman w/ Former Cardinals Coach Dave McGinnisby Full Press Coverage on April 21, 2022 at 12:43 pm
Former Cardinals head coach Dave McGinnis joins Clark and Ira to remember […]
-
Ep 105: Who Are The Top 5 Quarterbacks of All Time?by Full Press Coverage on April 15, 2022 at 12:46 am
Who is the most underrated quarterback of all time? The most overrated? […]
-
Ep 104: John McClain Joins The Show To Talk Retirement and Houston Sportsby Full Press Coverage on April 8, 2022 at 2:50 am
Former Texans beat reporter for the Houston Chronicle, John McClain, joins […]
-
Ep 111: Joe Horrigan Returns To Remember Vietnam Veteran And Former Bills OT Bob Kalsuby Full Press Coverage on May 25, 2022 at 9:25 pm
As we approach Memorial Day, Joe Horrigan returns to the show to talk to […]
-
Ep 110: New Playoff Teams In 2022; Best Matchups On NFL Scehduleby Full Press Coverage on May 20, 2022 at 3:42 am
Clark, Ira, and Ian give their four teams that didn't make the NFL […]
-
Ep 109: Hall of Fame Voter Ed Bouchette Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on May 12, 2022 at 6:28 pm
Long time Steelers writer and current Hall of Fame voter, Ed Bouchette […]
-
Ep 108: Hall of Famer Bryant Young Returns To The Showby Full Press Coverage on May 6, 2022 at 1:45 am
Pro Football Hall of Famer Bryant Young returns to the show to talk with […]
-
Ep 107: Pro Football HOF President Jim Porter Returns To The Showby Full Press Coverage on April 27, 2022 at 6:58 pm
Clark and Ira are once again joined by the Pro Football Hall of Fame's […]
-
Ep 106: Remembering Pat Tillman w/ Former Cardinals Coach Dave McGinnisby Full Press Coverage on April 21, 2022 at 12:43 pm
Former Cardinals head coach Dave McGinnis joins Clark and Ira to remember […]
-
Ep 105: Who Are The Top 5 Quarterbacks of All Time?by Full Press Coverage on April 15, 2022 at 12:46 am
Who is the most underrated quarterback of all time? The most overrated? […]
-
Ep 104: John McClain Joins The Show To Talk Retirement and Houston Sportsby Full Press Coverage on April 8, 2022 at 2:50 am
Former Texans beat reporter for the Houston Chronicle, John McClain, joins […]
-
Ep 231: Sons of Dynasty Draftsby Full Press Coverage on May 19, 2022 at 9:28 pm
-
Ep 230: Early Rookie Draft Seasonby Full Press Coverage on May 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm
-
Ep 229: Fantasy Fallout From the NFL Draftby Full Press Coverage on May 6, 2022 at 10:52 pm
-
Ep 228: Pre-NFL Draft Dynasty Rookie Draftby Full Press Coverage on April 27, 2022 at 2:52 am
-
5/11 - Patriots Depth Chart, Contract Issues, Smoked Meat, and Ernie Adams With Matt Chathamby Full Press Coverage on May 11, 2021 at 7:54 pm
Matt Chatham joins Steve, Murph, and Clare to talk Patriots depth chart, […]
-
5/4 - Good, Bad, and Ugly From NFL Draft With Evan Lazarby Full Press Coverage on May 4, 2021 at 7:39 pm
Evan Lazar of CLNS Media joins Steve, Murph, and Claire to recap the […]
-
5/27 - RIP Ray Liotta; Golden State Advances; Celtics On The Vergeby Full Press Coverage on May 27, 2022 at 7:00 pm
Ian and John discuss the passing of actor Ray Liotta, the Warriors Game 5 […]
-
5/25 - Texas Tragedy; Celtics/Heat Game Fiveby Full Press Coverage on May 25, 2022 at 7:21 pm
Ian and John react to the tragic school shooting in Texas. In addition, […]
-
Which Athlete Do You Want To See Roasted?by Full Press Coverage on May 24, 2022 at 2:40 pm
Ian and John discuss the upcoming Tom Brady roast and which athlete they […]
-
Warriors Take Commanding Lead; How Can The Celtics Rebound? (5/23)by Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2022 at 3:37 pm
Ian and John discuss the Warriors commanding 3-0 series lead over the […]
-
5/23 - Red Sox; NBA Playoffs; Tom Brady Roastby Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2022 at 3:32 pm
Ian and John discuss the Red Sox recent surge, the Warriors lead over the […]
-
Celtics Rebound In Game Two; Series Heads To Bostonby Full Press Coverage on May 21, 2022 at 11:00 am
Ian and John discuss the Celtics big game two win over the Heat as the […]
-
Lightning On Way To A Three-Peat? (5/20)by Full Press Coverage on May 20, 2022 at 4:18 pm
Ian and John discuss the Tampa Bay Lightning and their 2-0 series lead […]
-
5/20 - Tampa Bay Lightning; Celtics Blow Out Heatby Full Press Coverage on May 20, 2022 at 1:41 pm
Ian and John discuss the Tampa Bay Lightning's quest for a third-straight […]
-
Ep 38: Tyreek Hill Traded To The Dolphinsby Full Press Coverage on March 24, 2022 at 12:10 am
Ian and Braden react to the trade of Tyreek Hill from the Chiefs to the […]
-
Ep 37: Matt Ryan Traded To The Colts; Jameis Returns To NOLA; Mariota to ATLby Full Press Coverage on March 23, 2022 at 6:00 pm
Ian and Braden react to the trade of Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts […]
-
Talkamania Episode 226by Talkamania on May 16, 2022 at 11:23 pm
-
Talkamania Episode 225by Talkamania on April 2, 2022 at 3:03 pm
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 184 "Sasha and Naomi"by Boot 2 The Face on May 26, 2022 at 1:01 am
Marty and Rucker are back talking about the hottest topic in wrestling, […]
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 183 "The Streets Been Waiting"by Boot 2 The Face on May 15, 2022 at 4:59 pm
Sponsored by athleticgreens.com/EMERGING
-
Ep 115: Kelly Kellyby Full Press Coverage on May 28, 2022 at 2:00 pm
-
5/27 - RIP Ray Liotta; Golden State Advances; Celtics On The Vergeby Full Press Coverage on May 27, 2022 at 7:00 pm
-
Battle of Alberta Comes To An End; Goal or No Goal... History Repeats itself for Calgary?by Full Press Coverage on May 27, 2022 at 5:25 pm
-
Ep 132: Packers Fan Series with Jamie NoLastNameby Full Press Coverage on May 26, 2022 at 8:08 pm
-
Which Professional Athlete Would You Want To See Roasted?by Full Press Coverage on May 26, 2022 at 3:00 pm
-
Ep. 254: The Mo Showby Full Press Coverage on May 26, 2022 at 2:57 am
-
Ep 111: Joe Horrigan Returns To Remember Vietnam Veteran And Former Bills OT Bob Kalsuby Full Press Coverage on May 25, 2022 at 9:25 pm
-
Mavericks Avoid Elimination; Celtics Head To Miamiby Full Press Coverage on May 25, 2022 at 8:26 pm
-
5/25 - Texas Tragedy; Celtics/Heat Game Fiveby Full Press Coverage on May 25, 2022 at 7:21 pm
-
5/27 - RIP Ray Liotta; Golden State Advances; Celtics On The Vergeby Full Press Coverage on May 27, 2022 at 7:00 pm
-
5/25 - Texas Tragedy; Celtics/Heat Game Fiveby Full Press Coverage on May 25, 2022 at 7:21 pm
-
Which Athlete Do You Want To See Roasted?by Full Press Coverage on May 24, 2022 at 2:40 pm
-
Warriors Take Commanding Lead; How Can The Celtics Rebound? (5/23)by Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2022 at 3:37 pm
-
5/23 - Red Sox; NBA Playoffs; Tom Brady Roastby Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2022 at 3:32 pm
-
Celtics Rebound In Game Two; Series Heads To Bostonby Full Press Coverage on May 21, 2022 at 11:00 am
-
Lightning On Way To A Three-Peat? (5/20)by Full Press Coverage on May 20, 2022 at 4:18 pm
-
5/20 - Tampa Bay Lightning; Celtics Blow Out Heatby Full Press Coverage on May 20, 2022 at 1:41 pm
-
5/16 - Celtics Advance; Jayson Tatum; Golden State; NBA Playoffsby Full Press Coverage on May 17, 2022 at 4:35 pm
-
NFL Schedule Release Reaction (5/13)by Full Press Coverage on May 14, 2022 at 10:45 am