http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/8397173/1 Weekly Essentials: Dreaming of a No. 6 seed Tony Mejia April 18, 2005 By Tony Mejia CBS SportsLine.com Staff Writer Very early this season, the Seattle Supersonics assumed control of the newly formed Northwest Division, emerging as one of the league's biggest surprises. They dominated the way Minnesota was supposed to, leading by double-digit games for much of the way until Denver hired George Karl, caught fire and closed the gap. Strong basketball minds such as Hubie Brown and Scottie Pippen endorsed Seattle as their Western Conference champ, and CBS SportsLine.com at one point even considered Nate McMillan and Ray Allen for postseason accolades. They Sonics play an exciting brand of basketball in which every player has a role to execute, and when all the particulars are healthy and willing, they're tough to stop. Taking all that into account, it's a little strange that as the regular season enters its final week, the Sonics have fallen to most-wanted status. Teams in the bottom half of the Western Conference bracket are clamoring for the No. 6 seed, opposite Seattle's No. 3. "I think everybody wants to play us," McMillan said. "We dropped six straight games and we've had some injuries, so we're probably the team everybody wants to face. We're the underdogs in the playoffs." Seattle snapped out of its funk with wins over New Orleans and Minnesota over the weekend, strong showings that can partially be attributed to Rashard Lewis' return from a leg injury. But the Sonics are still considered the weak link among the top group that includes Phoenix, San Antonio and Dallas. As the week begins, the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings are tied at 49-31 and split their four regular-season meetings. By virtue of a better conference mark, Houston currently owns the No. 5 seed and would lock it in with home wins over the Clippers -- and Sonics. That makes Wednesday's season finale very interesting, particularly for you conspiracy theorists out there. The reward for Houston finishing the season strongly would be Dallas, which just happens to be the conference's hottest team, having won seven straight and nine of its past 10. A series that would keep the Rockets in Texas would certainly minimize travel time, but they won both regular-season meetings in Seattle, the latest coming only last Monday, a commanding 90-78 decision. So what is Jeff Van Gundy to do? Does he tank the game in the hopes Sacramento wins out and picks up the No. 5 seed? While many Rockets supporters would have him do just that, know that even suggesting it would draw one of Van Gundy's trademark eye-roll/scowls. In reality, his hands are tied. He can't very well sit Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming on Wednesday or even limit their minutes to give Seattle an advantage because they, and now all of us, would know precisely why. Seattle would have enough bulletin-board material to last an eternity. All he can do is foster his team's improved, aggressive attitude and make sure they're ready for the playoffs, regardless of who the draw is. Besides, there's no guarantee Sacramento can defeat likely top seed Phoenix at home Wednesday, and since the games will be going on virtually simultaneously, there will be no way of knowing beforehand. Denver remains in the picture for the No. 6 seed, but will need to win both of its remaining games and hope the Rockets or Kings slip up twice. Those possibilities are as remote as San Antonio's chances of catching the Suns for No. 1, which means that a meeting between Karl and his former team would have to take place in the second round if it comes at all, requiring the Nuggets to upset the Spurs. Projected Western Conference matchups: No. 8 Memphis vs. No. 1 Phoenix; No. 5 Houston vs. No. 4 Dallas; No. 6 Sacramento vs. No. 3 Seattle; No. 7 Denver vs. No. 2 San Antonio. ------------------------------------------------------------ I have to agree with this guy--Tanking a game is pretty obvious and will become great bulletin board material for an opposing team....
We really should just play our ball, take the 5th seed and play Dallas. Us tanking a game against Seattle just to play them would give them confidence in playing us in the playoffs and they would've won both times in our gym. Add that to the fact that they have most of their players back and won conviningly the last two games, any confidence we give them will just ignite them against us. Lets really close out the season playing like playoff contenders, and enter the playoffs on a high note. If we play to our potential against Dallas, we might can take them in a six or seven game grind-out series. It'll be tough though, but if we get the free pass against Seattle, we'd face TD and the Spurs in the second round. So pick your poison. but this team is capable of beating any team where our offense is flowing and our bench is producing some halfway decent numbers.
I say win as many as you can and let the seedings fall as they may. Worry about taking control of your own destiny, not squeaking into the soft schedule.
Yep. As JVG has said several times, "be careful what you wish for." Tanking to try to draw one opponent or another is sure to f*** with team chemistry and unity. We should go into the playoffs on a 7-game winning streak and playing our best basketball of the year. If we do that, then we have the best chance of making it out of the first round no matter who we play.
This team plays its best when they aren't expected to win, anyway. The wins against Phoenix, Miami, Denver... I didn't think the Rockets could win any of those. And let's not forget the McGrady Miracle. These Rockets really rise to challenges, especially when they're counted out.
Giving it your all, is all well and good, but it won't be good sitting at home after getting swept by Dallas.
Swept? You think? I'd take an extra loss and a series vs. Seattle, but I wouldn't count us out of a Dallas series. We have clear advantages at the 3 and 5, and I really think Sura and James can hold their own versus Jason Terry.
It has happened too often in sports history, that one tried to lose games intentionally and get "better" schedule or opponents, too many of them ended up losing control, poise, and respect. Rockets are good this year, but not as superior as some of us claimed that we could take certain opponents for sure. Remember? We lost twice to an expension team! In my opinion, we just keep the desire to win each game out there, and get ourselves ready to beat any team we face, be it Marvs or Sonics, be it Spurs or Suns in the second round. If you don't want to win it all, you won't win anything.
I would love to meet Seattle in the first round but I could care less about meeting Dallas first. When we roll we are unstoppable and im glad Yao is not matched up with Shaq this time around. I think Yao will prove to be much more valuable this time in the playoffs. J
Well, you play to win, but why play T-mac 40 minutes and Yao 35 minutes to win a meanless game? I say play T-mac 25-30 minutes, and Yao 20-25 minutes and rest them for the playoff.
They shoulder try as hard as they can to catch 5th spot,. If they can not overcome Dallas, they are far from ready to be a contender. If they win, they will probaly go to WC final agains Spurs. That will be exciting match.
