Chapter 175: Duel.
Before the playoffs began, 'Octopus' Stan made his usual first-round predictions.
This year, he called for two upsets, both in the Eastern Conference, predicting the 76ers would topple the Bulls and the Hawks would eliminate the Celtics.
In the West, the Grizzlies and Mavericks matchup was the most uncertain, with Stan predicting the Grizzlies would ultimately come out on top, even foreseeing a Game 7 showdown.
However, his predictions were a bit off this year—the Celtics knocked out the Hawks, and the Grizzlies won more easily than expected.
Yet Stan retained his status as a top analyst by correctly predicting an eighth-seed upset for the fourth time in history!
He noted that Rose's lingering injury risk could easily resurface in the playoffs, and sure enough, in Game 1, with the outcome already decided, Rose stayed on the court and ended up out for the season.
Thibodeau's system was built around Rose, and with him gone, it was like the 2001 Sixers losing Iverson—it transformed into an entirely different team.
After this, fans swarmed Stan's social media, urging him to predict the Grizzlies-Lakers Western Conference Semifinals.
Stan didn't hesitate—he boldly predicted the Grizzlies would knock out the Lakers! His social media exploded with reactions.
The Lakers were this season's top title contenders, with even more buzz than the Heat's Big Three. Predicting the Lakers to lose in the semifinals? Outrageous!
However, many fans supported Stan, some even bringing up the Heat. With the Bulls upset in the first round, the Heat had no significant challengers in the East.