No.. We can still get the 2nd seed. If Denver loses to Portland, we have the tiebreaker over Denver and we would get it. But we will have to win both games against New Orleans and Dallas.
another "at all costs", errr... which one is better scenario for us, playing the blazers without the hca and playing the lakers in the 2nd rd., or playing the jazz with hca and not having to play the lakers until the wcf? thought the choice (if there is any) was obvious...
If we drop a game, it's very possible we end up #5 and lose home court advantage. If we drop 2 then that's a virtual certainty. I'd rather have HCA vs. the Jazz (especially this year when they suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck on the road) than play Portland or SA without it.
But you are under the assumption that we can simply walk over the Jazz like that. History says otherwise. And again, they are a monkey on our backs.
#1 - Screw losing on purpose to try and get a certain matchup, that's weak. We don't tolerate weakness around here. #2 - Tell everyone in the west: You bring yours. We'll bring ours. And ours will be better than yours. F Kobe. F the j*zz.
Priorities: 1)Get HCA 2)Win division 3)Move up to 2nd seed 4)Tank games to avoid facing the Jazz...bka "making sure our rotation guys are well rested before the playoffs" #1-#3 are not locks yet so why do we want to worry about match making for other teams? I do agree that we don't want to face the Jazz but not at the cost at losing HCA. We may get a better idea before the Dallas game on Wednesday but not before that.
for one, i never said (or thought) the jazz would be a walk for us. they're obviously a bad match-up for us. but they're not unbeatable, far from that. and you don't get the monkey off your back by avoiding the monkeys. that, plus you have to consider the overall situation. everything considered, winning both remaining games and hoping the best (i.e., the #2 seed) is the most reasonable thing we should do.
If we can get the 2nd seed, that would be great. But who says Denver will lose or we will win both even if we tried? Let's say we lose 1 of these last 2 games...I certainly won't mind dropping 1 on purpose to get the Jazz out to 8. I am just not confident in Yao if we play the Jazz. And he is the main guy who will carry us. I really wish I was as confident as some of you. Of course, if we meet the Jazz in the 2nd round or deeper, that's a series I would welcome as much as any other.
One thing I am paranoid about is another 1st round exit. If we can make it pass the 2nd round, something that I think is more possible if we avoid the Jazz, then this season would at least have some meaningful success. It would be something that we can build on for next season. We might even tolerate McGrady's return. But if we gamble on and take on the Jazz in the hopes of having an easier 2nd round, we might not even get there to take advantage of that. Look at 2007. Beat the Jazz. Beat the Warriors. That's WCF. That's something we can't even imagine on Yao or T-Mac's resume. Imo, first thing is first. Jazz is a horrible match-up for us.
Is that why they whupped the Rockets ass in Houston all season long? If you're Houston you don't want to face the Utah in the playoffs if you can help it. HCA or not.
arguments aside, since the nuggest play the blazers AFTER we play dallas, can you give me an idea about just how we make sure we avoid the jazz?
Jazz holds the tiebreaker with Mavericks. Two questions: 1) Who has the tiebreaker between New Orleans and Utah? 2) Who has the tiebreaker between New Orleans and Dallas? Again, there's no guarantee Nuggets will drop one or that the Rockets would win both remaining games. Even at 2nd, Jazz is possible. Disgusting how sensitive the seeding can be to 1 game!
What are you pride chest pounders going say after we are bounced out of the 1st round this year if we face the Jazz? Some of you people have too much pride. If we end up facing the Jazz with or without come court, we are NOT going to beat them. Where have you people been the last 2 years? It isn’t a different team, we just CANT beat this team. Both in the playoffs and regular season. I would want to avoid the Jazz at all costs, but not at the expense of home court. What is really important right now? Home court advantage, or being able to almost pick our match up and FINALLY getting out of the first round? You people are worried about facing the Lakers in the 2nd round. Well if by some act of miracle we do get out of the 2nd round, then either way we will probably still have to face them. 2nd round or WCF. Pick your poison. Losing to them in the 2nd round or losing to them in the WCF is still losing. But I guess whatever makes you feel good inside. To have any type of success this post season, we need to NOT face the Jazz. Facing the Lakers is inevitable, whether 2nd round or WCF. And granted that’s if we even make it there.
Hell no! We have the opportunity to clinch the 2/3 spot and that means the opportunity to face Denver in the 2nd round. That also mean the Conference Final
While I understand it's still not a guarantee we avoid Utah, that game isn't the ones that will determine Utah's position. Our goal, at least in this thread, is to send Utah to 8. We aren't aiming for seed 1 at the same time.
