I dunno if ya'll have realized this, but with Golden State's loss to Utah yesterday it actually puts THEM behind the 8 ball. Now if they win and lose all the ones they are projected to win and we do the same, then we should end up with a better record than them per the Hollinger Playoff Odds Meter. We'd be 47-35, and they would be 46-36. Remember that we own their tiebreaker, so that essentially would give us a two game cushion. Like the rest of ya'll I know that Denver is a bad matchup to be avoided. Nevertheless, even worse would be a matchup against the best team in the league, strictly speaking by points differential. Plus their is the emotional component of sticking it to their old teammate who willingly broke up the "Big Three" in their eyes. A Houston OKC matchup would be entertaining to the rest of the country. To us it would be a bloodbath. The Denver matchup regardless of the disadvantage we would have against them is preferable, strictly speaking from a wins standpoint. What say you? Should we stay pat at 7 or make the push all the way for 6? Because I think it's in our grasp now after that loss last night.
I think it's best to go for 6th. The Nuggets have handled the Rockets easily, but they are still without two of their best players, and guys like Brewer/Chandler could go cold in the playoffs. Our biggest disadvantage is with our big men. Against the Thunder we have an edge at the 5 position and also Brooks could be outcoached. It's a team we could win some games against. But I can't go so far as to say that we're more likely to beat the Thunder than an injured Nuggets.
I think its very important besides how well we are playing leading up to the playoffs and getting our team mentally prepared is who actually finishes in the 2nd seed. People are saying that Spurs will drop off due to injuries however if you examine the remaining schedule of both, it isn't a given that Thunder can over take. Thunder @ Utah @ GSW @ Portland (B2B) Sacramento Milwaukee Spurs @ Denver Sacramento LAL @ GSW Minnesota Spurs are currently 1 game up and season series is at 2-2. However I think the Thunder have the tiebreak due to conference record. Thunder need to go 4-1 or better in my mind to overtake. At all costs we need to avoid Thunder in the first round, however if Spurs do fall to number 2 then it can be debated whether we should push for 6th or stay at 7th. My personal preference is for us to remain healthy and have the team playing well and getting ready for the playoffs and be mentally prepared and bring out the energy for each game and hope that we avoid the Thunder.
What about clinching the playoffs 1st? Newsflash: The Rockets are not in a position to think about matchup. We could still go on a 5 game losing streak and miss the playoffs.
With the injuries they've had and despite them mopping the floor with us last time around, I would still prefer the shorthanded Nuggets over OKC. Having said that, I think I would rather play the Ginobili-less Spurs than the shorthanded Nuggets. I really like the way Asik matches up with Duncan. We won't stop Parker from doing what he wants, but there's really no one else on their team (other than their coach) who worries me. They, on the other hand, may have to let Lin and Parsons score at will if they dedicate too much of their perimeter D to Harden. I think Lin and Parsons are both capable of 20-30ot nights if ignored. However, I would still rather just win every game. I think I'd rather get swept as a 6th seed than win one game as a 7th seed and that seems to be what we're looking at. Finishing 6th in the West is a massive accomplishment, everything else is bonus experience for our young guys. Going up against George Karl in the playoffs would be invaluable experience.
Why would you want to face Denver? Ideally we'd want to face the hobbled Spurs, but the Thunder are fine as well. We definitely won't advance, but we'd make for an interesting series against them.
Omg, please no...not the nuggets...we get outplayed in our own game every single time...id much rather play the spurs or thunder..both would be more exciting games in the sense of being close...even if we only win one or two of the series...
I'll second that... It would be a great experience for our team... Those who fought the hardest, learn the most..... we got nothing to lose if we go against Nuggets... all the sweeter if we can win... we must get respect by going against the only team in the west we haven't beaten yet...
Nuggets play the same style, they are 2nd in pace so we have no advantage against them. Their bigs are just too much for ours, their role players are more consistent and they have a great coach. Against the aging Spurs we have the speed & youth advantage plus we match up pretty well. The Thunder is just terrible all around, they will murder us. I don't mind falling to 8th to play the Spurs but #6 might be helpful if the Grizzlies can overtake them.
Reason is simple: Denver will be without their top two players. Even if lawson returns in time, I don't expect him to be 100%. In short spurts, everyone can step up and carry the extra load but on a long run, they are a lot worse. Without their top two scorers and playmakers, Nuggets are not going anywhere this PO. Don't let the loss of b2b lingers in your mind. Nuggets played out of their mind. We were without Parsons and Delfino who could defend Iggy a lot better than Garcia. Garcia and tired Harden were recipe for perimeter defensive disaster. That was where our defense caved. We have a better chance with depleted Nuggets than OKC. If Spurs are without Parker, they are just an above-average team. He is the engine that runs the team. It's no big secret in the league. If you can contain Parker, you can beat them. People questioned about my optimism earlier post when I stated we have a 40% chance of winning against Parker-less Spurs and Gallo-Lawson-less Nuggets, OKC 15%. I still stand by those percentages.
Please stay at 7..We cannot handle Denver even with two of their best players out with injuries..by the way Iguodala has OFFICIALLY become Harden's Kryptonite!!!
AGREE! GREAT ATTITUDE! dont knee jerk it was a single game on our b2b without parsons and delfino.. in short spurts everyone can step up...in 7 games it will not be so easy for fournier to step up... REPPED
Agree with the above. We can take the Nuggets in the playoffs. The last game wasn't a fair indication of what we will be like once Parsons and Delfino are back. But if we can afford it we need to rest Harden as much as possible till then. He looks tired and jaded.
