Denver throwing a game away to Portland on purpose in hope of Houston falling to #4 seed!

This works out. I want the clips and portals to to split and hopefully Utah can beat Denver and we get the two seed

 

Maybe it has something to do with the possibility that if we do jump up to number 2, it means OKC added another loss and would fall to number 7. And if we lose we stay at number 3 and OKC likely to jump up to 6.

Those aren’t the only outcomes obviously, still more games and Spurs/3 way that plays into it but I bet the probability is highest for it to play out this way.

 

Exclamation point.

 

Or maybe they're just resting their guys to get ready for the PO.

 

Denver knows what they're doing, their only chance of getting out of the 2nd round is if we fall to 4.

Only way that happens is if Portland passes us. Home court against us doesn't mean anything.

 

Maybe their starters are hitting the weight room to avoid muscle atrophy

 

i dont like this one bit. im thinking utah might rest players as they might be stuck in the 5th seed. if this is true portland is now likely to win out.

its a smart move by the nuggets tbh... god i hate that team

 

All we have to do is win both of our games and none of this matters.

 

If they’re trying to manipulate the standings means they’re afraid. They know they won’t get past the 2nd round. Bring any team against us it doesn’t matter. This is our year

 

If Portland passes us they most certainly will get past the 2nd round. They know this is the only chance that happens, and they get some rest for their top players as well.

They're most definitely scared of the Rockets, but's it's hard to argue that it isn't smart.

 

Portland winning out won't mean squat if we win out too - we control our own destiny for 3 seed now.

Denver playing this means as long as they lose one of Utah/Minny games, we win out and get the 2 seed.

 

That sucks. Portland is a real threat to steal the 3 seed.

Probably should have beaten teams like Cleveland, New Orleans, and Washington instead of no-showing and hurting our seeding.

 

But yeah, smart move overall by Denver. They push Portland higher, give them a better chance to finish above Houston, and potentially push GS and HOU both out of their own bracket, and also nail Utah into 5 seed so they will rest players against them.

I think it has always been their plan - to split this b2b. If they lost the first game, they would go all out in 2nd. If they won the first game, they tank the second.

 

i realize that but that OKC game will be tough. they will likely be playing to AVOID the warriors in round 1. i remember they beat us late in the season last year as they couldve been in danger of missing the playoffs altogether if they lost since all the teams were so bunched up.

if portland beats denver, utah may as well rest their guys after they beat the lakers. denver will then easily win their last two.

it really puts a lot of pressure on the rockets to win out damn.

 

They are giving up, they know they have little experience in the playoffs.

It does not matter who they play other than Clippers, I dun see many favorable matchups for them.

They might play Blazers and OKC well enough.

 

4 seed ain't that bad actually. we will avoid okc in the first round. and face worriers in the 2nd round with fresher legs.
we will need to go through worriers in order to win the ship anyway. don't matter when we gonna face them.

 

This doesn’t sound like a smart strategy if they want the #2 seed. The Jazz are playing well.

 

there are just too many scenarios right now. well at least we have the home court in the first round