If you're Steve Kerr, are there any negatives to this game plan:

You'd probably destroy the psychology of your team that would just be horrendous if OKC managed to get 7th

 

Well, if they **** their pants about OKC and tank the end of the season, they will probably kill their morale, chemistry, and they won't get past round 2, if they get that far.

 

The Spurs limited their starters to no more than 10 minutes a game with about 20 games left on the schedule? With a specific intention to avoid a certain playoff matchup? And they did it for years? How did I miss that?

 

The spurs did it at the beginning of the season. By the time the playoffs rolled around, they were going at full steam. You can tell the spurs are playing totally different this week than they played just two weeks ago. Anyone expecting to spurs to get rolled over in the first round will be in for a rude awakening. They aren't going down easily.

 

It's never really been done before so why mess around and do that now? Plenty of 1 seeds have gone on to win titles without experimenting with their team in some strange fashion as the season ended. Backing your way into the playoffs is weird.

 

They want to be champions and they're supposed to be afraid of their first round match-up?

Not to mention that the Spurs, Mavs, and Clippers aren't really cupcake teams either -- and they're so close together you won't know which one you'd get.

 

All of them.

 

If I was the Warriors, I would rather take on a Scott Brooks-led team vs. a Gregg Popovich one. Despite whatever talent disparity exists between the Thunder and Spurs, I wouldn't want to take on the reigning champions in the first round. If you're the Warriors, with as well as they have played all year, you have to feel confident about beating any team in the West. Of course things change in the playoffs, but when you're the clear-cut number 1 team (at least record-wise) in one of the most balanced 1-8 races in recent memory, you gotta think you're pretty good. Confidence goes a long way, and there aren't any weak teams in the West. I think it's well known that Pop fiddles with his rotations towards the end of the season and randomly throughout the season, but it's not like they've walked to the finals when they've made it -- they've won many tough series against some really good teams.

 

The #1 seed changing their game plan to match up against the #8 seed? Sounds like Dallas vs Golden State in 2007.

 

That reminds me of a few years back (2010-2011 season) when MEM tanked (because they wanted to get the #8 seed) and defeated SA (as the #1 seed) in the 1st Round.

 

Yeah, when did that happen OP? I must have missed those years too.

 

Last time they played anyone decent they got rolled over.

Playing an easy schedule.

 

They get rusty

 

this is a good plan AFTER you lock up #1.

if they believe they are the best team in the league then you can't be scared to play against anyone. especially if you have HCA.

 

The big negative is that you would lose home court in the conference finals and the NBA finals. Plus I'm not sure I would rather play the spurs instead of OKC.