Updated: May 9th 5th Seed - Magic Number = 5 Portland wins or Dallas losses 6th Seed - Magic Number = 3 Portland wins or Laker losses 7th Seed - Magic Number = 1 Portland wins or GSW/Memphis losess Remaining Schedules: Dallas @ Memphis New Orleans Toronto @Minnesota Portland Houston @ Utah @ Phoenix Denver Lakers New York Houston @ Indiana @ New Orleans
Dallas has a pretty easy path to the 5th seed. It would be surprising if they lose more than 1. If LeBron can play, only the Suns and maybe the Knicks games look like possibles for a loss. If the Lakers don’t lose one, then the Blazers have to beat Houston and two of the Jazz, Phoenix and the Nuggets to clinch the 6th spot. Ouch. Avoiding the play-in is going to be tough.
Cool! This helps quite a bit! Seems like that 6th seed is pretty obtainable. They need those three days off.
I don't like "Conspiracy Takes" but i kind of think the Lakers would rather avoid the Clippers. I don't think they have a chance at catching Dallas. The guys on TNT last night were talking about a Laker vs Clippers series in the first round. They said it would be a great series to watch but that doesn't seem like a good thing at all for the league when you start talking about money. I'm not educated on the amounts of money those markets make or the possible downsides but it just seems like a missed opportunity for the league right now?
I think the Blazers getting three wins out of their four remaining games is a tough row to hoe given the quality of the opposition, the compressed schedule and the fact that the Jazz and Suns games are on the road. If James and AD are reasonably healthy, I think the Lakers winning 4 of their final 5 games is pretty likely. It could come down to whether some of the teams on the Blazers’ remaining schedule decide to rest their stars.
I wouldn't even consider this a conspiracy take. The #1 team the Lakers should want to avoid in the 1st round is the LAC (and the same is true for the LAC). If the Clippers aren't going to tank for the 4th seed, the Lakers would actually be wise to stay in the 7th seed.
I just looked at the Mavs schedule. They play Sun, Tues, Wed, then again Friday. 4 games in 5 days with the game Tuesday in Memphis and Wed in Dallas. The Pels will have a day off after playing in Memphis on Monday. This season is crazy.
That’s partly because I don’t know whether LeBron’s ankle is going to keep him out of more games or not, and partly because I can’t stand saying yes about the freaking Lakers.
If we beat Rockets on Monday, Blazers can clinch on Tuesday if Suns and Knicks beat Lakers. Then we can rest Dame for final 3 games of season.
I think we're unlikely to rest Dame if there is still a possibility of us obtaining the 5 seed and playing Denver. Unless resting Dame for 2 weeks turns him in a 6'8" All-NBA defender, I would rather go for the 5 seed.
We only need to win on Monday to clinch. Knicks and Suns will beat Lakers. Remember, Kings beat Lakers with LeBron. LeBron has only played with Drummond twice all season. Lakers are disorganized. LeBron said he’ll never be 100% again. Father Time beats everyone.
I think for the Lakers to obtain the 6th seed they need the following to happen: Beat Phoenix & NYK LBJ gets healthy AD stays healthy No rust/chemistry issues for Lakers All of the Blazers final 3 opponents want to win badly It's possible all those things happen, but I think the Blazers finishing 6 is more likely.
Oh is LeBron "old" again. I think you were saying this last year as well. Remember how old he looked during the FINALS?
Just cuz we rest Dame, it doesn’t mean we can’t still try to win the games with Simons, CJ, and Powell. We beat Sixers without Dame. Resting Dame (and keeping him safe from freak injury) is more important than 5 seed though. Clippers are weak mentally.
Even LeBron would say he is old. He was old last year. He’s older this year. He himself said he’ll never be 100% again. Frankly, the Lakers should be the team everybody wants to play.
You used the term in a derogatory manner and boy were you proven wrong. Of course he's "older this year", but he still brings it at a Top 5 level. He has been resting waiting for the playoffs. They don't care about the play in or what seed their in. I can promise you this. NOBODY wants to play them in the first round and those top 4 teams' coaches are NOT sleeping thinking about what would happen if they have to face them in round 1.
