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

Chris Paul could not even make the WCF I think with Blake and DA Jordan......Currently assembled Denver is a tad worse.

Last time it was with a younger Anthony Carmelo.

 

It's hard for me to think of anything but this when thinking of the situation. OKC was supposed to be a superteam with Durant, Russ, and Harden and never went back to another finals. You've got the 2nd seed wrapped-up, take a shot now...you never know what might happen.

Plus, what do your players think and what will they think next week, this offseason, or next year when things get tough?

What will players that you'll be courting in free agency think?

 

Tilman makes more money if we make it to the WCF.

 

Just a quick correction. They got to the finals in Dream's second year.

 

Utah can't catch Portland, #5 is the best they can do. Portland holds the tiebreaker (better division record).

You're right though, Utah could still drop to #6 if they go L L and OKC goes W W (OKC holds tiebreaker). The OKC/HOU game is at 8:30pm on Tuesday, so Utah @ 8pm will be forced to play for a win against Denver, IMO.

Utah is 2-1 against Denver this year.

 

And it was beautiful, despite the loss to an all-time great Celtics team.

 

Utah has tiebreaker over Portland.

 

would they rest again ? why are they trying to tank the 2 seed ?

Denver is deeper and more balanced. The clippers never had a bench and always had a big gaping hole at small forward. That and injuries to cp3 or Blake was common in the postseason. It’s hard to compare the two since they are constructed so differently. I still can’t figure out how Denver is so good defensively with such a slow footed center and small guards.

 

Well they did trade Harden after making the finals. It isn't as if they gave that trio a chance to do more.

Denver is not beating us and Golden St.. Could they pull off one monumental upset, possibly, but 2, no f**king chance. They are doing what gives them the best chance to win a title this season. Hope we play each other off then possibly have a no pressure match up in the conference finals with the winner.

It isn't as if they just gave up on the postseason.

 

True but that Clippers team had some underachieving postseasons for sure.

I have not dissected their Defense (Denver) yet but they must play a slower pace and swarming the perimeter with their guards, closing the lanes really well too.

 

Maybe I'm wrong, but head to head is tied 2-2. Division record comes next and Portland has a 3 game lead there.

 

I hope we met denver in 2nd round and beat them so bad

 

1. Warriors
2. Rockets
3. Nuggets
4. Trail Blazers
5. Jazz
6. Thunder
7. Spurs
8. Clippers

Shorter travel is Spurs

Matchup wise Clippers

 

This whole tanking thing by Denver is just funny. They have not really beaten any big dogs all season long. They got better compared with last year but not as impressive as the Bucks. They are like 7 or 8 games better than last year thanking to the schedule. So it’s not like they will be going anywhere in the playoffs. And they will be back to mediocre next season like the Hawks. So tank my azz.

 

Pretty risky move for the Nuggets to potentially give away home court against the Rockets.

Jazz are 2-1 against the Nuggets this year, and they also just threw away a game against the Lakers so they could be coming in hot against the Nugs in their upcoming game.

 

It almost looks like Blazers and Nuggs have a pact to split those 2 games which just keeps the picture in balance.

 

Utah will definitely play for a lose against the Nuggets. They can't catch Portland, so No.5 or No.6 only differs in the first round match up. If they win, they will clinch a No. 5 seed, and still have a possibility to face the Rockets in the 1st round. On the other hand, if they lose, they can still decide whether they go No. 5 or No. 6 depending on whether Rockets beat Thunder or not.

That's why they lost to the Lakers in the first place, they don't want to clinch 5th seed before they know Rocket's seed.

Assuming Jazz lose to Nuggets, here are the possible outcomes:

1.Rockets beat Thunder, Rockets lock 3rd seed, Jazz lock 5th seed.
2.Rockets lost to Thunder. Rockets have a high probability to go 4th seed, Thunder will beat resting Bucks(they have to because otherwise they will drop to No. 8), Jazz can lose to Clippers on purpose and go to No. 6.

 

I don't think you guys get it: this has nothing to do with the Rockets and the second round. Denver is aiming for the Spurs in the first round, this is what this is all about. Denver beat them pretty handily last week and decided that's their best match-up, which is probably correct. The Spurs are pretty much a lock for the 6th spot, they only need a win against the Mavs. If Denver losses to Utah, that eliminates the possibility of Utah dropping to 6th.

Between Spurs, OKC, and Clips, rightfully Denver would want to play the Spurs. OKC has more top-heavy talent, they'll be dangerous. The Clips have found some magic potion chemistry after the Tobias trade: they probably have the best record in the NBA in that span, in games in which PatBev plays, and he'll be ready for the playoffs. The Spurs? They play tough and smart during the regular season, but they don't seem to have much room for improvement for the playoffs. Basically, they are what they are, while OKC and Clips are better than their record indicates.

For this Nugs team, getting out of the first round is going to be a huge success, so that's rightfully where their focus should be. They obviously waaaay overachieved during the regular season. Before the season started, I expect them to be good, PROVIDED, that they get some meaningful contribution from IT and/or Micheal Porter. If you told me that this team would have home court with zero from IT/MPJ, in addition to injuries to Murray, Harris, Burton, I would have been "no way!". So they got the home-court, if they get out of the first round, it's a smashing success of a season for them. That's what this is.

 

Pop and his spurs are going to spank them pretty hard if that’s what they are aiming for. I don’t want the rockets to play the Spurs in any round.

 

Wild speculation continues. CF staple.