The 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs

adam

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Here we go folks! It's all set. League just released the bracket, but dates are not locked in. Probably due to venue conflicts.

Screenshot 2019-10-06 20.12.31.png
 
Here we go folks! It's all set. League just released the bracket, but dates are not locked in. Probably due to venue conflicts.

View attachment 10340
LAFC has a tough route in. Minnesota and LAG dropping to the 4/5 was about as bad as it could have gone for them. Really opens up the possibility that the West may not host MLS Cup.

That said, if we can get past Tor/DC, the bottom half could eat itself apart.
 
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LAFC has a tough route in. Minnesota and LAG dropping to the 4/5 was about as bad as it could have gone for them. Really opens up the possibility that the West may not host MLS Cup.

That said, if we can get past Tor/DC, the bottom half could eat itself apart.

That's why I liked NJ in the 6. I think they can both win @ PHI and give ATL one hell of a time, maybe even pick up a ton of cards & injuries. I don't either TOR or DCU, but we're home & should have our whole roster available. I'll take those chances.

Agree that West is wide open if LAG play LAFC in round 2. If POR play SEA in round 2 as well, MLS will be drooling over those matchups.
 
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LAFC has a tough route in. Minnesota and LAG dropping to the 4/5 was about as bad as it could have gone for them. Really opens up the possibility that the West may not host MLS Cup.

That said, if we can get past Tor/DC, the bottom half could eat itself apart.

I really think the Western Conference Final will be hosted before the Eastern Conference Final. And if LAFC makes it and loses on Matchday 1, PRO will do everything in their power to make sure if NYCFC makes it that we don't advance to MLS Cup.
 
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I really think the Western Conference Final will be hosted before the Eastern Conference Final. And if LAFC makes it and loses on Matchday 1, PRO will do everything in their power to make sure if NYCFC makes it that we don't advance to MLS Cup.
Lol.
I just want some clarification. Do you truly believe PRO has some active agenda to manipulate the outcomes of games, or is this just a running joke?

Either way, im fairly certain MLS, if given the choice, would choose to have the final in NYC regardless.
 
Lol.
I just want some clarification. Do you truly believe PRO has some active agenda to manipulate the outcomes of games, or is this just a running joke?

Either way, im fairly certain MLS, if given the choice, would choose to have the final in NYC regardless.

Anyone who thinks MLS referees are skilled enough to manipulate an entire postseason to allow a certain team -- the best team in league history, by the way -- to advance to the Cup Final is wildly off base.

MLS referees are far too incompetent to manipulate these games in that fashion. LAFC is really good, if they advance to the final it's because they're the best team and they took care of business.

That being said, I think they get knocked off; as good as they are, are they playoffs good? Can they win in the playoffs? They've been a little poor lately and just seem like they're not playing their best stuff.
 
Anyone who thinks MLS referees are skilled enough to manipulate an entire postseason to allow a certain team -- the best team in league history, by the way -- to advance to the Cup Final is wildly off base.

MLS referees are far too incompetent to manipulate these games in that fashion. LAFC is really good, if they advance to the final it's because they're the best team and they took care of business.

That being said, I think they get knocked off; as good as they are, are they playoffs good? Can they win in the playoffs? They've been a little poor lately and just seem like they're not playing their best stuff.

they were dominant throughout the first 3/4 of the season. i agree they've fallen off their record pace in the last 1/4 of the season. teams have started to figure them out and play better against them. not only that, but they do not rise to the challenge of big time games. they have yet to beat the LAG (one could argue zlatan has risen higher, making LAG better on that day) and they lost in USOC. They have supp. shield, which shows they killed the regular season. No one can argue that. But when it comes to big time games, single elimination.. i think they don't have what it takes. Especially, if they have to go up against Zlatan and the galaxy at the banc, where Zlatan has already said he WANTS to come back again because he LOVES to play there. Even if it's MU, it won't be an easy game for them (LAFC).
 
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they were dominant throughout the first 3/4 of the season. i agree they've fallen off their record pace in the last 1/4 of the season. teams have started to figure them out and play better against them. not only that, but they do not rise to the challenge of big time games. they have yet to beat the LAG (one could argue zlatan has risen higher, making LAG better on that day) and they lost in USOC. They have supp. shield, which shows they killed the regular season. No one can argue that. But when it comes to big time games, single elimination.. i think they don't have what it takes. Especially, if they have to go up against Zlatan and the galaxy at the back, where Zlatan has already said he WANTS to come back again because he LOVES to play there. Even if it's MU, it won't be an easy game for them (LAFC).

YES had a note during the game today that NYCFC has a better record than LAFC since April. LAFC is definitely the favorite, but for the reasons you've mentioned, I think they're not as big a favorite as some believe.
 
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they were dominant throughout the first 3/4 of the season. i agree they've fallen off their record pace in the last 1/4 of the season. teams have started to figure them out and play better against them. not only that, but they do not rise to the challenge of big time games.

This was a phenomenal comment when I thought it was about the referees.
 
Lol.
I just want some clarification. Do you truly believe PRO has some active agenda to manipulate the outcomes of games, or is this just a running joke?

Either way, im fairly certain MLS, if given the choice, would choose to have the final in NYC regardless.

MLS doesn't want MLS Cup hosted in Yankee Stadium or whenever we are capable of hosting it.
 
MLS doesn't want MLS Cup hosted in Yankee Stadium or whenever we are capable of hosting it.

The idea, though, that they will fix their postseason to make sure NYCFC doesn't host is preposterous. For one reason that if it were ever found out that they were engaged in something like that, it would do incredible damage to the image and integrity of the sport in this country.
 
The idea, though, that they will fix their postseason to make sure NYCFC doesn't host is preposterous. For one reason that if it were ever found out that they were engaged in something like that, it would do incredible damage to the image and integrity of the sport in this country.
Tim Donaghy. Hey, the NBA is doing fine.
 
One thing is for sure in this playoff season - things are going to get a little crazy, maybe a lot crazy. It's single elimination in a league that stresses parity. Think about all the crazy upsets in the NCAA Tournament. Yes, that tournament is played at neutral sites rather than the home of the higher seed, but college sports is decidedly not about parity, yet the upsets persist.

Looking at the 538 picks* for the first round.
  • Atlanta 75% - New England 25%
  • Toronto 73% - DC United 27%
  • Philly 69% - New Jersey 31%
  • Seattle 66% - Dallas 34%
  • RSL 65% - Portland 35%
  • Minnesota 62% - LA Galaxy 38%
Based on the above, there should be 1.9 upsets in the first round, with 4.1 games going according to seed.

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* - For some reason, probably laziness, the 538 picks include the odds that the game ends in a tie. I've taken the simple adjustment that a tie represents a 50-50 chance of advancing in a shootout, with a slight variation in favor of the home team since there will be some extra time played as well.
 
One ref betting on and fixing games, getting banned for life is nowhere even close to an entire league conspiring to fix its postseason.

i could of sworn i read that he alluded or some one alluded that other refs were betting with him too. or giving him the cash to bet. i mean one doing it already hurt the optics of that era. people will always give that asterisk to that lakers title run, even if they were the better team.

EDIT: that being said i dont think MLS's intention to fix anything, but the ineptitude PRO shows can easily fuel conspiracy theories.
 
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teams have started to figure them out and play better against them.
I think they figured out that when Carlos Vela doesn't play, LAFC isn't as good (2 points earned over 3 matches). After Vela returned, they earned 1.8 ppg for the remainder of the season, including 2 draws as he came back to form.
not only that, but they do not rise to the challenge of big time games. they have yet to beat the LAG (one could argue zlatan has risen higher, making LAG better on that day) and they lost in USOC.
I think you're looking at an incredibly small sample size. They have a record of 5-2 in the USOC, with one of those losses being in penalties. Outside of that, and their one playoff game last year, what else is your definition of "big games"? I see we are putting the 5th place Galaxy into that definition.
 
I think they figured out that when Carlos Vela doesn't play, LAFC isn't as good (2 points earned over 3 matches). After Vela returned, they earned 1.8 ppg for the remainder of the season, including 2 draws as he came back to form.

I think you're looking at an incredibly small sample size. They have a record of 5-2 in the USOC, with one of those losses being in penalties. Outside of that, and their one playoff game last year, what else is your definition of "big games"? I see we are putting the 5th place Galaxy into that definition.

of course a derby game is a big game. to say that el trafico isn't a big game would be saying the HRD isn't a big game. and yea, in USOC they have a good record, but for them, the big game was winning deep in the tournament. winning the first couple games when MLS first enters the tournament is no big deal cause it's usually a USL team. Losing on PKs for a team so dominant during the regular season shouldn't happen. Is it a matter of the opposition playing better? or LAFC dropping focus when it counts? I would think it's more the latter than the former.
 
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One thing is for sure in this playoff season - things are going to get a little crazy, maybe a lot crazy. It's single elimination in a league that stresses parity. Think about all the crazy upsets in the NCAA Tournament. Yes, that tournament is played at neutral sites rather than the home of the higher seed, but college sports is decidedly not about parity, yet the upsets persist.

Looking at the 538 picks* for the first round.
  • Atlanta 75% - New England 25%
  • Toronto 73% - DC United 27%
  • Philly 69% - New Jersey 31%
  • Seattle 66% - Dallas 34%
  • RSL 65% - Portland 35%
  • Minnesota 62% - LA Galaxy 38%
Based on the above, there should be 1.9 upsets in the first round, with 4.1 games going according to seed.

---
* - For some reason, probably laziness, the 538 picks include the odds that the game ends in a tie. I've taken the simple adjustment that a tie represents a 50-50 chance of advancing in a shootout, with a slight variation in favor of the home team since there will be some extra time played as well.
So, 538 has finally fixed its mistake. Below is corrected with their actual figures.
  • Atlanta 78% - New England 22%
  • Toronto 75% - DC United 25%
  • Philly 70% - New Jersey 30%
  • Seattle 66% - Dallas 34%
  • RSL 66% - Portland 34%
  • Minnesota 62% - LA Galaxy 38%
Based on the above, there should be 1.8 upsets in the first round, with 4.2 games going according to seed.

Interestingly, the 3 games where the higher seed is favored the most are all in the East.