is this right? i think it's almost clinched links http://www.nba.com/standings/team_record_comparison/conferenceNew_Std_Cnf.html http://www.nba.com/jazz/schedule/index.html http://www.nba.com/mavericks/schedule/index.html Mavs play us and NO but the Jazz still play the Lakers once, which should mean they'll be facing each other. Maybe this was discussed in the GSW-Utah game but otherwise i didn't see a thread for it.
It's not clinched yet. They can still win out and hope for some loses by either Dallas or NO and still have an opportunity to reach up to 6th seed. I'm using this, btw. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/playoffscenario
Considering the Lakers have almost no chance of catching the Cavs for homecourt in the Finals, don't expect them to put much effort into that Jazz game. But hey, if the Jazz can lose at home to 7 Warriors, no reason the Lakers scrubs can't beat 'em in L.A.
Even if the Jazz aren't locked into the 8 spot yet, finishing 6th is now pretty unlikely. And while we still have a chance to finish 2nd, it will be tough for us to win out without Yao (Dallas has been playing pretty good recently and has everybody back healthy). In other words, we're likely to finish 3rd through 5th and end up playing some team other than the Jazz.
So, say Boston beats Cleveland tomorrow. Lakers would be 1 game down for HCA, correct? Lakers face Utah on Tuesday, so maybe they would try to win and hope that Cleveland loses to Philadelphia on Wednesday (the last day of the regular season). This might be a reach but hey, why not look at every scenario right now?
I agree with you. I mentioned this in another thread. If Lakers and the Cavaliers end up in a tie, Lakers would get HCA because they are 2-0 against the them.
lakers may be able to choose who they play in the first round. if they can lose the last game and get a weaker opponent in NO, i dont see why they wont rest their starters.
Someone just mentioned DWill might be out of two weeks. If it is true, the jazz will be the dream opponent for wc playoff teams (including the rockets).
^ Well on the Jazz forum they are saying it is a strained left oblique and he is listed as day to day.
now Kobe has the chance to let the Jazz tell him how it tastes to get frustrated in the first round, the only regret is Kobe is a laker but not a rocket.
It would be wonderful to avoid the Lakers and the Jazz by being on the total other sided of the bracket! [1 vs 8, 4 vs 5] [2 vs 7, 3 vs 6] Let's face the winner in the WCF!
We, as Rockets fans, would say that the Hornets are weaker than the Jazz because of our history with Utah. But would the Lakers feel the same way? Utah is limping into the playoffs. 1-6 in their last seven games including losses to Minnesota and Golden State at home. Everybody's trying to avoid the Lakers and Utah can't even win the gimme games. This is crunch time and the Jazz are already folding. They're a wounded duck and the Lakers might see them as the easiest option in the first round.
Wait, not so fast. If Utah wins in LA Tuesday, Houston beats Dallas Wednesday, Denver beats Portland Wednesday, Utah will move up to 6, NO will be 7, Dallas will be 8, and we'll be 3rd playing Utah in the first round. This is all assuming Sunday and Monday games go as expected, with NO beating Dallas (in New Orleans), Dallas beating Minnesota, Utah beating Clippers, Houston beating NO. Utah goes 2-0 (W vs Lakers and Clippers) NO goes 1-1 (W vs Dallas, L in Houston) Dallas goes 1-2 (W vs Minnesota, L's in NO and in Houston) Denver goes 2-0 (W's vs Sac, Portland; ensuring the #2 spot, locking Houston at #3) It's very possible. These projections are based on current "favorites", with the exception of Utah's win over Lakers. All I had to do was use the YahooTeamRanker and switch winner from Lakers to Utah in the link above. Waalaaa! Totally changes everything.
