My sister Anne listens to games without the sound on if she cares about who will win.

Welcome to the Torg Stories Podcast. Anne and I are going to look back at the NBA Play-In games and ahead to the playoffs. After that, we’re doing a draft of the players we’d want for our own playoff run but first, Anne, you had questions for me about the start of travel basketball. Let’s hear ’em!

NBA Play-In Summary:

1. Opening night: Hawks upset Heat to get the Celtics in Round 1. Lakers beat Timberwolves to get Grizzlies in Round 1.
2. 9-10 games: Bulls beat Raptors. Thunder beat Pelicans.
3. For the 8th seeds: Heat beat Bulls to get Bucks. T-Wolves hammer Thunder to get Nuggets.

Anne, what were your thoughts on the play-in?

• The “break up the Heat” noise got loud. I was telling Megan that it could be fixed quick with a win and an upset of the Bucks.
• We had the DeRozan daughter screaming game in Toronto.
• Lakers coming together at the right time. Didn’t you have them done at one point? Does the buzz reach your apartment with the broken leg?
• The way it works for me: things getting so bad for Rudy Gobert that he is starting to become a sympathetic figure.

Sat Results:

• 76ers Hammer Nets. Celtics beat Hawks. Knicks upset Cavs. Kings beat Warriors.
• Coming back to the hotel room after a two-game Saturday. My first look at the Kings and De’Aaron Fox. He scores 38. Steph hits a ridiculous 3. Fox answers. Klay ridiculous. Fox again. Steph in the corner. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

Sun Results:

• Lakers get the on-paper “upset” over Grizzlies but look strong. Heat huge upset over Bucks. Giannis goes down with a back. Herro done with a broken hand. Clippers beat Suns. Nuggets demolish T-Wolves.
• Kawhi still has it. Heat vs. Bucks. Clippers vs. Suns.

Tonight’s games:

• Nets vs. Sixers. Warriors vs. Kings.

Series Predictions:

Finals Prediction:

Anne vs. Bill NBA Playoff Draft:

Guidelines:

• We’re drafting players as they are. If they’re hurt or maybe hurt, that’s part of the deal.
• All NBA players are eligible, even if not in playoffs.
• Your team needs to be able to play as a real team.
• Next week we’ll make the case of how the team we drafted wins.
• Anne gets first pick. We’ll pick a coach too.

Anne’s Team:

1. Durant
2. Jokic
3. Damian Lillard
4. Giannis
5. Devin Booker
6. De’Aron Fox
7. Joel Embiid
8. Luka Doncic
9. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
10. Domantas Sabonis

Coach: Steve Kerr

Bill’s Team:

1. Kawhi Leonard
2. Steph Curry
3. LeBron James
4. Anthony Davis
5. Jason Tatum
6. Jimmy Butler
7. Ja Morant
8. Jrue Holiday
9. Bam Adebayo
10. Evan Mobley

Coach: Nick Nurse

This podcast was recorded Monday night, April 17, 2023.

Thanks for listening!