I understand an awful lot of you won't even watch the playoffs given that they're Blazerless, but for those of you who will, what team will be your Blazer-replacement? I'm torn: I actually like the Clippers (and don't hate Norm or RoCo just because they're no longer Blazers), and their superpower of miraculous comeback wins should make them a fun watch (plus, Kawhi might actually come back). I think they have a chance to make it much further than most people might think. But there's also the Grizzlies, who have built a team the way I think you should build it (and taken a lot of the players I've really liked in recent drafts). They're reminiscent of the Larry Brown Sixers (pre-Mutombo trade, with Ja as Iverson), only the supporting cast is actually more talented. I will be rooting for Dallas to lose, which means I'll probably be disappointed a lot.
Re: Grizzlies and my recent comments about building round Dame. We COULD have a really good young supporting cast for Dame IF WE'D KEPT OUR DRAFT PICKS LIKE THE GRIZZLIES DID and picked as wisely as they did (for the most part). But it's pretty much too late now, given Dame's age. (But I will be happy to take Xavier Tillman off their hands, as he's clearly surplus to their requirements but we could certainly use him if we're reduced to signing Reggie Perry.)
I’ll probably root for the Grizzlies in the West and the Bucks in the East. Both play a fun style of basketball and seem to generally have good guys on their squads. I mean, Brooks is an asshole, but he’s the kind of asshole I would like to have on the Blazers.
A- do any of these games effect/affect us? 2- What about the playoffs is general? Which games have playoff implications and teams will actually be trying to win!!??
The Blazers have clinched the No. 6 spot going into the draft lottery, so none of the games really mean anything as far as their own pick goes.
A.) The Lakers are eliminated so no, the games don't affect them. The Blazers are locked in, they can't move further down in the standings or up so no it doesn't affect them either. 2. BRK is trying to get the 7th spot in the east to host the Play-in so they will try to beat IND. CHA is trying to get 7th so they are trying to win. CLE is trying to get 7th, MIL is trying to secure 2nd from the Celtics so both teams will be trying to win. ATL is trying for 8th or 9th in the east playin so they will try to beat HOU who is eliminated. BOS is trying to get 2nd in East. MEM already locked into 2nd in West...BOS will try to win. TOR - NYK doesn't really matter as TOR is locked into 5th and NYK is eliminated. MIA - ORL doesn't matter. MIA is locked into #1 in the East and ORL is eliminated. PHI is trying to get 3rd in East so they will try to beat DET who is eliminated. CHI is locked into 6th and Minnesota into 7th so that game doesn't matter. DAL is trying to get 3rd over GSW so they will try to beat SAS who is locked in 10th. DEN may try to win to get 5th, but it depends who they want to play, Dallas or GSW. They are in 6th and could stay there with a loss to LA. The LAC/OKC team doesn't matter as LAC is locked in 8th and OKC is eliminated. GSW will try to beat NOP to get third place, NOP who is set in 9th doesn't care. SAC/PHX doesn't matter as PHX is set at 1st and SAC is eliminated. POR who can't get any lower will try for a win against UTA who may or may not be going for 5th and can finish in 6th with a loss depending on whether they want the GSW or DAL in the playoffs.
Not trying to get too technical because @Chris Craig did a fantastic job with 2 but with A, while @THE HCP 's second us the Lakers can't be affected (yes it's affected not effected) by any of today's outcomes the Knicks and the Pelicans games can affect the team all of us identify as us. If the Knicks win, the Pelicans lose and the Pelicans miss the playoffs then that will move the Pelicans pick up one spot to 11 or in the event the Spurs make the playoffs to 10 which would affect the lotto odds and if the Pelicans don't get really lucky in the lotto that gives us a higher pick. I don't know if that will make the Pelicans want to actively lose to the Warriors today or if they'll try to stay in winning mode... if I was NOLA I'd rest my guys getting ready for the Spurs and also keeping my lotto odds at least at a coinflip with the Knicks since they entered the day tied or possibly ducking under the Knicks for better lotto odds if the Knicks beat the Raptors. Maybe CC didn't bother mentioning all of this because neither the Knicks or Pels have any incentive to try and win these games.
In the Play Ins I'll definitely be rooting for the Spurs because I'd gamble it and hope they make the playoffs and move our Pelicans pick up one spot despite increasing their lotto odds. Once the playoffs begin, I'll just be watching for great basketball, great performances, dramatic ending to games and big plays... maybe even a new star to emerge.
