This has been discussed, but the race for the 8th seed is getting closer and closer as the regular season is winding down. 4 games remain for Utah, and 5 games remain for the Lakers. Get your vote in before the end of the season. Utah remaining games- 1)vs Thunder 2 vs Twolves 3)vsTwolves 4)@ Grizzlies Lakers remaining games- 1) vs Hornets 2)@ Blazers 3) vs Warriors 4) vs Spurs 5) vs Rockets Things to consider: Lakers have 4/5 remaining games at home Jazz have 2/4 games that should be easy wins against Twolves MWP is back for Lakers and can play as early as Tuesday Jazz' final opponent(Memphis) may choose to rest their starters if they have their seed clinched before then.
I see jazz going 2-2 at worst, but likely 3-1 because Memphis won't be playing for anything. Lakers will have to go 5-0 which is not going to happen. Lakers are done.
I voted Lakers, but honestly it can go either way. I figure the Jazz will lose to the Thunder and Grizzlies. That means the Lakers can only lose one more game the rest of the way, and I'd expect that to be against the Spurs. I know they have trouble in Portland, but the Blazers are essentially shutting it down for the year as they've been dominated in back-to-back home games by the Rockets and Mavs. And there's no way they'll lose at home to New Orleans. So that leaves Golden State and Houston. Contrary to what others have said, I don't think McHale will play his starters heavy minutes in that finale regardless of whether or not the 6th seed is on the line. I think his priority will be keeping everyone healthy going into the playoffs. So it could all come down to that Warriors game.
http://forums.lakersground.net/viewtopic.php?t=157591 ".....I am concerned Dwight will sign with the Houston Rockets" (12 pages of comments)
I'm a fan of their reasoning. my favourite being the $400m adidas contract. I mean really, he'd be making more than the Charlotte owner does from his nike brand, which is just plain ludicrous....
Seems likely they'll end up tied at season's end, with the tiebreaker going to the Jazz. Note, though, that the Rockets might rest against the Lakers in the last game with their seed decided, depending on what happens.
I do expect Jazz to go 2-2. Nothing about them has demonstrated to me that they can sack up and get clutch wins. The Lakers are a viable threat for 4-1. Not the most likely scenario, but: Hornets are cake. Portland has lost 8 straight and won only 2 of their last 12. They look like doormats right now. The Warriors look like the big swing game....but that is the second game of a back to back for GSW. The Spurs look like they are going to sputter to the end of the season with Parker and Ginobilli both hobbling. Parker not being able to abuse Nash and attack their weak defense makes life a lot harder on SA. I love my Rockets, but like the Jazz, we haven't seen evidence that they're a "when the chips are down" type of squad yet. I think the best chance of the Lakers missing the postseason is Bryant shooting them out of it with a couple of his patented 12-40 nights.
Lakers gotta go 5-0. They can't rely on the Jazz losing. All their games are tough though. I hope they make it in and beat either the Thunder or Spurs.
Bottom line, if the Jazz manage 3-1 they get in. But I just can't imagine Utah winning 3 of those games. I'm not even sure they can win both Timberwolves games. I'm picking Lakers, but I hope I'm wrong.
