Phil Jackson has already said he won't rest his starters against the jazz, so I think Lakers will beat the Jazz, then things will fall in place.
Good job Cannonball! Im thinking 2.Rockets vs 7.Hornets first round.. Lakers will beat the Jazz tonight!
In both scenarios when Rockets take on Utah, the Rockets will not meet the LAL until WCF. In fact, after winning Mavs, the Rockets will not meet the Laers until WCF. If you want to go deep in the playoff, let the Lakers fight with Portland/Spurs and then we will take on them in the WCF if they are still kicking. I'd say win the Mavs and see what happens.
For some reason, this is how I see it playing out. The spurs are just so lucky and will find a way to win. Portland is good at home and Denver is overrated. We're playing great right now, but dallas has a couple of bona fide Rocket killers and I will be pleasantly surprised if we come out of there with a win (please save the "YOU'RE NOT A REAL ROX FAN!!!!!!!1111" posts). I still think we beat dallass in a 7 game series, but I'd MUCH rather play NO or Portland. Not to mention not having to face the lakers until the conference finals. What I'm counting on is the lakers beating the jazz tonight and the mavepricks resting their main guys tomorrow night since they will have the 7 seed wrapped up. GO ROCKETS! Go lakers.
To me, I have to go to the scenarios that all home-teams win except the Mavs because the rockets are playing well, and the Mavs are not good on the defensive end. After that, I got to pick the all home-teams to win, then the rockets would be the seed#5, but hoping that is not the case. "Lakers beat Utah, Houston beats Dallas, San Antonio beats New Orleans, Portland beats Denver 1. LA Lakers 2. Houston 3. Denver 4. Portland 5. San Antonio 6. New Orleans 7. Dallas 8. Utah "
If Utah beats Lakers, then Dallas and NO games are must wins in their point of view -- a loss means a potential matchup against lakers in the first round.
Excellent thread! As long as L.A. wins we don't face Utah. I know who I'm cheering for tonight. (hint: It's not Utah)
Little bit of free time, eh? Good post though. I was thinking of doing the same thing, but I decided just to wait till after the game tonight. That way, my lazy ass wont have so many scenarios.
regardless of how everything shakes out, this year may be the best year of playoff basketball we've seen in a while. the matchups out west are going to be so sick, esp if jazz and lakers match up. i think jazz can take it to 6 or 7 games. i'm really excited about this year's playoffs. TNT better not screw us over with lame ass commercials about their stupid shows again. i HATE all of their shows solely because of their commercials during bball.
I just looked at the OP again and this would be my best-case-scenario: Jackson says he’s going to play his starters etc. but let’s be real – they have nothing to play for. I can’t see them being real up for this game, whereas utah will be playing hard so they don’t have to face them in the 1st round. I can see us beating dallass, and the other 2 home teams winning. In this scenario, I see us breezing to the Conference Finals without so much as breaking a sweat. Assuming no 1st round upsets, of course. Go utah (I feel dirty for saying that), go portland, go san antonio, and GO ROCKETS.
I think Kobe plays for pride. Maybe he doesn't bring his A-game, but he won't mail it in either. The role players are going to want to play. Usually bench players don't get too many minutes in the playoffs, so they are going to prove with this game that they want the playing time in the post season. Plus, the Lakers can secure a Jazz 1st round matchup if they beat them today. So thats something to play for.
