I believe so. If GSW wins tomorrow and the Lakers lose, the Lakers will drop to 8th and play the Mavs in the first round. I hope GSW stays 8th because I think Mavs/Warriors would be one hell of a series.
clippers screwed themselves. if you want to be first round fodder then you need to beat the kings when it's a must win.
There is a fine line between fair to the game and not harm your team's interest. Yeah, playing your starters limited minutes is still not fair to the game but that's more acceptable because at least you show your minimum effort. What Avery does is nothing but throwing a white towel from the beginning of the game. Another kind of tanking job. It's quite interesting that tanking is widely acceptable and supported by NBA fans for their own "teams' interest". Teams cant make playoff tank for lottery picks. Teams make playoff tank to keep healthy and matchups. But tanking is not as common in other sports. In NHL, New Jersey vs New York in the last game. At least New Jersey showed its effort to tie the game into a shootout. Yeah, New Jersey is not serious about the shootout but there's not too much others can complain about. Sigh! NBA is really kind of sucks.
In football, playoff teams rarely play their starters much, if at all, in Week 17 of the season. In baseball, no team starts its top starters the last few games of the season, and often rest many of their regular position players as well. For playoff teams, it's no different in those sports than the NBA.
I think Cuban did this because there is a lot of talk in Dallas about the danger of facing the Warriors in the first round. Cuban is saying he aint scared. It doesn't matter who they play in the first round because they are going to roll them. Pride comes before the fall.
Uh no Popovich won't play his starters limited minutes just to be fair to the game. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili didn't play a single minute against the Grizzlies. Not a single minute. Fair to the game? Life's not fair...you have to work and go get what you want because it's not given.
This is very true. The Grizzlies and the Clippers were battling for the 5th seed last year. Problem was 5th seed got a 1st round matchup against the Mavs who had homecourt. 6th seed got a 1st round matchup w/ the Nuggest, but the 6th seed would get homecourt because the Nuggets had a crappy record. The Clippers were 44-30 after a blow out win vs the Suns on April 5th of last year. At the same time, the Grizzlies were 43-32, sitting pretty in 6th place and prepared to beat the Nuggest in round 1. But by Tuesday, April 18th when the Clippers and Grizzlies were to face off, the Clippers then had a record of 46-34 (losing 4 out of 6) while the Grizzlies were 47-33 (winning 4 out of 5). And that night the Clippers lost to the Grizzlies, securing the 6th seed and a homecourt advantage matchup against the Nuggest. The Grizzlies secured the 5th seed and a 1st round matchup against the Mavs. Grizzlies got swept 0-4 vs the Mavs and the Clippers beat the Nuggest 4-1 in the playoffs. What the Clippers did was tanking and they deserve no sympathy. Elton Brand was averaging 24pts and 10 rebs last year, and he played 22 minutes in that decisive Grizzlies game (only had 2 fouls). Sam Cassell played the game before, but not this one. Chris Kaman was healthy but also sat out the game. The Clippers freakin started Vin Baker for that game...Vin Baker!!! Basically, while it sucks that Dallas didn't try, the Clippers deserve every piece of bad luck for totally tanking last year and screwing the Grizzlies. They can deny it all they want and say that the game was competitive, but that's what happens when you play scrubs...I don't think the players tanked, but the Clippers coaching/management definitely did.
I don't think Avery is being unfair, why would you put your team at risk just because someone else is fighting for a playoff spot. Imagine what would happen if Avery played all his regular starters 30+ mins, and one of them gets hurt. Avery will be the one taking all the blame for playing starters in a meaningless game. With the fairness issue aside, in all honesty, I would rather watch GSW against DAL or PHX, rather than Clippers getting swept in 4. At least GSW has a chance for an upset even if its slim. Clippers will simply play 4 games, and get dominated 4 games in a row.
F#$@#$ you people who want Golden State to win cause you think they can beat Dallas. That has NOTHING to do with the Rockets. I'd rather have THE ROCKETS BEAT DALLAS. I want revenge on them hos! Go CLIPS! Go SAM! Go Cuttino
I don't know who you are directing the comment to, but for myself, I want GS to make it because it would be more entertaining than Clippers vs Dallas. NOT EVEN FOR 1 SEC, did I wish for GS to win because that might mean an easier 2nd round match-up. It's simply because I enjoy watching any good/competitive/intense basketball games, rather than a team getting destroyed 4 times in a row on national TV. Of course, I want ROX to play Dallas in 2nd round, beating them would make the victory that much sweeter. Like some people put asterisks on the 94-95 championships, beating Dal would erase all doubts in peoples' mind, and that is exactly what I wish for.
Agreed. And I think Sac might be licking their chops to try to embarass the Lakers tongiht. As does Avery. MDA has coached like a idiot the last 2 games. Playing your starters regular minuntes against teams clawing for playoff positions. Particularly when you key guy has a history of wearing out late season? Dumb, dumb, dumb. Let's hope JVG coaches from the Pop/Avery book tonight. Give lots of minutes to Snyder (especially--because at some point we might need some breif minutes), JL3 (ditto), Jake (filler), VS (filler), Hayes (because he is young can use some rythum/practice), & Head (ditto). The seasoned vets should see very little PT, Tmac shouldn't hit the floor period!!!
Did you guys watch when GS dropped 50 points in one quarter against the Suns? They are a fun team to watch when they are on. And they are on right now. Dallas will probably win in 6. But in one of those games, the Warriors are going to hammer them. That's going to be fun.
Depends on the circumstances. Both the coach and Nash said they didn't feel like they were in sync right now and wanted to be or floor to get their chemistry right. They'll have 3 or 4 days off between now and the first playoff game. Sure, they've been worn down in previous years - they were also injured and shorthanded both of the last two years for various parts of the playoffs. That doesn't necessarily apply now though. It's always the rest vs. rust argument, and there's no "ideal" way to handle it - just depends on your team and its needs.
I'd rather have GSW play Dallas, so Im rooting for them. I think Golden State can take Dallas to atleast 5/6 games.
They were 7-1 in April when they were desperately trying to hold off the Spurs. 5 of those wins were against teams in the playoff mix and the 1 loss was a 7 point loss at SA. The Suns were playing well, and very hard. What might hold the Suns down in the playoffs is their ability to defend. And they certainly didn't practice much of that their last 2 games. I really don't know what MDA was thinking, but whatever it was I think he was misguided and took big unneccesary risks.
