We took a brief timeout to let the college kids have their moment, but after some seriously busted March Madness brackets, Triple Double Trouble is back on the floor! After 174 days and 2,460 games, the ‘Full Flight’ is officially refilled.
The Brew View
…three league-wide stories weāre sampling as the regular season closes!
The Surprise Flight: Charlotteās 10-Year Itch. The biggest shocker on the menu? The Hornets. Not expected to even sniff the postseason, theyāve gone 32-16 since a rocky start. Led by Miller, Ball, and Knueppel, theyāve secured home court for the play-in. Itās their first taste of the postseason in a decadeādefinitely a “high-ABV” surprise!
The Sour Note: Memphis & The Blowout Blues. On the flip side, Memphis has been the biggest disappointment. Even before Ja Morant went down, they lacked cohesion. They even suffered the season’s worst lossāa 46-point blowout to Utah. With 90 games league-wide decided by 30+ points, weāre hoping the playoffs remind everyone to actually play some defense!
The Injury Report: Achilles & Icons. Itās been a rough year for the stars. Weāre still feeling the loss of Lillard and Haliburton from their Achilles injuries last year, but the “MIA” list grew to include Giannis, Luka, Zion, and Tatum. Itās a trend thatās affecting the quality of the game, and one weāll be watching closely in the postseason
The Twin Taps
…two teams heading straight to the lottery ā our Mavs & Bulls!
Tap 1. Dallas Mavs: Planning For The Draft! š
Itās officially draft-scouting season in Big D. With the playoffs out of reach, the focus has shifted entirely to the lottery and securing our future with all eyes on the recovery of Cooper Flagg. While itās been a bitter pill to swallow watching the playoffs from the sidelines, seeing Flagg back on the court in limited action was a bright spot in a tough season. Weāre heading into the lottery with high hopes and a lot of draft math!
Tap 2. Chicago Bulls: A Very Long Road Ahead! š
While the Mavs are scouting the lottery, my Bulls are busy trying to learn each otherās names! After the trade deadline cleared out the core, the roster is a total mishmash. With only six guaranteed contracts for next year, it feels less like a team and more like a high-stakes audition. Itās a painful way to finish the season, but at least the “Wait ātil next year” mantra is already in full swing in the Windy City.
The Chaser
…one high-proof prediction to finish the round!
Weekly Topic: Who Actually Has a Chance?
Andy: If weāre being honest, only four teams have a realistic shot: OKC, San Antonio, Detroit, and Boston. While New York or Denver could be wild cards, the top four have been dominant. Since 2000, only four teams have gone back-to-back, and I think OKC makes it five. They are healthy, deep, and have home court. Iām picking OKC over Boston in 6 games.
Leesl: I agree with Andy that the “Big Four” look tough to beat, but I have to follow my heart on this one. Since my Mavs are taking a lottery nap, Iām heading back to my San Antonio roots and pulling for the Spurs. With the way theyāve played this season, they arenāt just a hometown favoriteātheyāre a legitimate threat.
Iāll take the Spurs to win it all, mostly because Iād love to see the look on Andyās face when a Texas team hoist the trophy while his Bulls are still trying to figure out which locker room is theirs!
The Tab š³
Andy: Congrats to OKC for the top record and Detroit for taking the East. The road wonāt be easy, but with their health and depth, I think experience wins out. Iām sticking with my Thunder pick!
Leesl: The “Playoff Push” is officially on and the silver and black are calling me home. Iām ready to see if the Spurs can turn the West upside down. Now, we want to hear from you:
Your Round:
- The Final Four: Do you agree with Andyās “Big Four,” or is there a sleeper team weāre missing?
- The “Alamo” Odds: Can Wemby and the Spurs actually derail the OKC back-to-back train?
- The Injury Bug: Has the league-wide injury trend ruined the “vibe” of the season for you, or do the playoffs make it all worth it?
Drop your take in the comments below! ššš
Cheers, Leesl & Andy š»
Leave a Reply