Kekai

So the ideal situation is to get that #3 spot, and have a first round matchup with the 1st round virgin Tmac led Rockets. Lets do it.

Aylwin

I think this is only ideal if the Hornets drop down to #2. Otherwise, we face either the Spurs or the Lakers in the 2nd round. I'd rather we face the Jazz and then the Hornets than the Rockets and then the Spurs/Lakers.

We need to think championship this year. No point getting an easy 1st round if we can't get past the 2nd. I'm not saying we can't beat the Spurs or the Lakers in a 7-games series though. I'm just saying that I'd rather we face them in the Conference Finals. And I'd prefer it if we only face one of them during the playoffs.

If we move up to 3rd seed, it's likely we'd have to go through both the Spurs and the Lakers on the way to meeting up with the Celtics or Pistons in the NBA Finals. That's going to be a tiring road both physically and mentally.

Kekai

Nice post aylwin.
The only team in the west I'm scared of really is the Lakers. Led by Kobe, and with the two big men up front, just makes me a bit nervous. I think we can finally take the Spurs, and the Hornets...I'm not too sure how good they will do come playoff time. Jazz..eh..a bit..but their road record, not so great.

I really hope this is our year...would be somethin else.

Aylwin

By the way, we need Kobe to get a technical. If I understand correctly, one more and he gets a one-game suspension.

Jammin

^Yep, but if he gets it in the last game of the season, he will be suspended for the 1st game of the playoffs.

Dissonance19

As I've said before, if they're going to lose, I want it to be with Kobe.

Aylwin

In the playoffs, I'd agree. But if Kobe misses a game during the regular season and they lose, then I don't mind if it improves our seeding. At least from the Lakers' point of view, it's better they lose him for a game due to a suspension rather than an injury. With the race this tight, I'd be happy with any small advantage.

All Net

I get what you are saying, but I think you are understimating the Hornets and the Jazz, these 2 teams are very strong dude(Jazz raped the Spurs last week and manhandled the Hornets last night). The way I see is that Hornets, Lakers, Spurs, and Jazz are all very strong, so if we can get a little bit easier match up in the fisrt round to keep our legs fresher for the second round would be a good thing. After the first round there will be no easy teams...

Aylwin

That's a valid point about keeping our legs fresher. But...

It's not that I'm underestimating the Hornets and Jazz. It's just that I'm more concerned about the Lakers and Spurs. The top 9 teams in the West this year are all strong. The playoffs are a different ball game. The Jazz are tough but they struggle on the road. If the fifth seed has home court advantage over them, I don't think they're getting past the 1st round. The Hornets are having a great season but they have no playoff experience. And I think that's very important.

By contrast, the Lakers and Spurs are former champions. Both are disciplined and well coached. They're tough and battle tested. Regardless of how their season goes, you know they're going to turn it up a few notches come playoff time. This is especially true for the Spurs. Every year, the road to the Finals has gone through San Antonio and I don't think that's going to change this year either.

It's still possible for us to get that 2nd spot. That would probably ensure that we get home court advantage until the conference finals as I don't see the Hornets getting that far. If we do end up 3rd then it probably means the Lakers are 2nd and the Spurs are 5th. I guess I'd rather face the Lakers in the 2nd round than Spurs (even though we just gave them a good spanking).

Dissonance19

You know the procedure. There are two big games tomorrow; Denver @ Golden State, Dallas @ Utah.

On Friday, two more with PHX @ Houston, NO @ Lakers

Oh and btw, when I post the final standings at the end of the regular season, I will be turning this into Playoff Discussion thread, so we can talk about the other series' going on.

: @ Lakers, @ SAC, vs Clippers, @ Dallas

: @ @ Clippers, vs NO, vs San Antonio, vs SAC

: vs Seattle, @ Lakers, @ SAC, vs Utah

: @ Dallas, vs Denver, vs Houston, @ San Antonio

: vs PHX, @ Denver, @ Utah, vs Clippers

: @ Houston, vs Golden State, vs Portland

: vs Utah, @ Portland, @ Seattle, vs NO

: @ Golden State, @ Utah, vs Houston, vs Memphis


: vs Denver, vs Clippers, @ PHX, vs Seattle

Aylwin

Damn! It would've been great to get that win over Dallas. We're still within striking distance though but we need to win our remaining games. If we do, then we're guaranteed 5th. And if the Spurs lose one more game then we get 3rd. If the Lakers lose to the Hornets and Spurs, and the Spurs lose to the Jazz, then we move up to 2nd.

These scenarios are very possible but they all depend on us beating the Rockets, Warriors and Blazers. I'm optimistic that we can.

Seuss

Warriors will be the biggest challenge.

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Dissonance19

Mavs knocked off the Jazz. They're in. I was wrong about them.

And the Nuggets beat the Warriors. Doesn't look good for them with 3 games left. It's not technically over, but they need Denver to lose 2 games (they go @ Utah and vs Houston, vs Memphis). Probably have to win out, too. But with the way the Warriors have been struggling last couple weeks, it might be better that Denver gets in because of that. They probably would give NO more of a series.

Aylwin

I was way wrong about the Mavs. Dirk came back sooner than I expected and it looks like he's back with a vengeance. It also seems as though they're finally getting adjusted to playing with Kidd.

And the Nuggets appear to be dead serious about making the playoffs. I'm expecting them to give the Hornets fits.

I guess there really won't be any easy matchups in the 1st round this year.