Standings Watch: Race To The Playoffs

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by JSM, Feb 24, 2023.

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  1. Weezy

    Weezy Moderator Staff Member

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    That’s fair. I’d personally rather play them later than sooner, because Paul always breaks down as the playoffs go deeper, as does Durant in recent times. I don’t want a freshly healed and ready to go Durant in round 1. But, if you want to win it all you have to beat the best, so if that’s the goal, and it’s not looking like a crazy one if this team remains healthy, so we’d just have to beat them. It would no doubt be an exciting as hell series, would love to see LeBron beat Durant after Durant cowardly got multiple titles over him on a free ride in GS while LeBron carried his mediocre team.
     
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  2. sirronstuff

    sirronstuff - Lakers Legend -

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    stuff is getting real

    [​IMG]
     
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  3. Kenzo

    Kenzo - Lakers All Star -

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    Facing Suns in the 1st round is a nightmare. I would try to avoid that.
     
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  4. wcsoldier81

    wcsoldier81 - Lakers All Star -

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    Lakers , Clippers , Warriors and Pelicans will all play their last game at the same time ... gonna be some weird stuff happening during these games
     
  5. alam1108

    alam1108 - Lakers Legend -

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    Do whatever it takes to avoid the play in.

    Don’t piss off the basketball gods by trying to get cute with the standings.
     
  6. KobeJeterKaep

    KobeJeterKaep - Rookie -

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    Again - 5th is like 8th in terms of championship odds. Playing the Suns, then the Nuggs, then GS/Memphis/Clips would be the ultimate death path.

    Needs Clips to play Suns. Winner plays Nuggs.

    Need GS to play Memphis.
     
  7. sirronstuff

    sirronstuff - Lakers Legend -

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    I want all of them

    :Hungryfordoom:

    no more bubble excuses

    "we had the hardest path and dominated" is just fine by me
     
  8. karacha

    karacha Moderator Staff Member

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    I think we should just play our best ball and continue to develop chemistry. I don't care who we play in the playoffs.
     
  9. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    yeah, you want phx or the clippers in later rounds, as kawhi and cp3 in particular don't tend to play 30 consecutive games at a high level.

    but as someone else said, there's no room for getting cute. just try to win every game. our last game is with utah, and if we win the next three ahead of that, we may be in position to consider how seriously we take that game. but more than likely, we'll drop at least one (my bet is two) of the upcoming games and will have to win that one just to keep favorable play-in position.
     
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  10. SamsonMiodek

    SamsonMiodek - Lakers 6th Man -

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    I'm also against losing games on purpose to meet another team in the playoffs, for many different reasons. I also don't fear the Suns, if we can remain healthy and AD plays as he has been recently, I'm feeling pretty good about that matchup.
     
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  11. sk2408

    sk2408 - Rookie -

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    Seems like the determinative game will be Warriors @ Kings on Friday. If the Warriors win that one, it seems like we’ll be 5th or 7th. If the Warriors lose, we can win 3/4 (losing one of the B2B) and finish 6th. I suspect the Suns may rest against us after they beat the Spurs tomorrow and the Nuggets on Thursday.
     
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  12. LakerFanIam

    LakerFanIam - Lakers 6th Man -

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    This Team has no businesses tanking to try to avoid certain matchups in the Playoffs...
    Keep taking care of business & let things fall where they may..
     
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  13. JSM

    JSM - Lakers Legend -

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    What a disaster
     
  14. Panko

    Panko - Rookie -

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    'What a disaster' is exactly right. One of them goes off for 40+ and both combined for 60+ in each of the past 2 games, and they still can't beat play-in level teams in the East.

    And it's even worse than in the tweet above. When both Kyrie & Luka play, they are 4-11 for a 22-win pace.
     
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  15. ZenMaster

    ZenMaster - Lakers All Star -

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    Good, good. Come Luka, come!
     
  16. Panko

    Panko - Rookie -

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    Question for those who want Phoenix in the 1st round: in 2017 & 2018, would you have wanted GSW in the 1st round?
     
  17. JSM

    JSM - Lakers Legend -

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    Personally: GS was the best team in the league, proved that and it wasn't based on a tiny sample size. They had and still have two of the best shooters of all time. Phoenix ain't that. I don't want Phoenix, but I don't believe in ducking or dodging anyone. Basketball gods don't like that. KD is unstoppable. Vando guards BI better than anyone in the league (that's from NO people) and KD is the richest version of BI that's ever existed. BUT that at least shows Vando can succeed against that type. Booker whines about double coverage in a pickup game. I'll never fear a whiney entitled chump like that. CP is old and losing steps by the day. His body doesn't get along with him any longer, either. Ayton was essentially shutdown by the coach and the team the last time they played significant basketball. Healthy AD hulk smashes this team. Who can cover him? Who's guarding Bron? They've traded away their best defenders. If KD covers Bron, he's doing it only for the 4th.
     
    Last edited: Apr 3, 2023
  18. gcclaker

    gcclaker Moderator Staff Member

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    We have the personnel to go toe to toe with them or anyone. From deflating losses against Dallas and Houston to this. I was not comfy with this squad given it's uneven performances and availability issues but we are picking up steam. We'll be a handful for any opponent.
     
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  19. Panko

    Panko - Rookie -

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    I agree, Phoenix isn't nearly what GSW was, and we have a chance to beat Pho this year.

    That's not what I was getting at though - my point is, it's okay not to want someone in the 1st round. In 2017&18, it would have been okay to not want GSW in the 1st round, even if you have to go through them in the WCF. It's okay to want a regular or easier 1st round matchup, and then go through the best in the WCF and the Finals.

    Like, if there were cross-conference seeding, it would be okay to not want Milwaukee in the 1st round but want to face them in the Finals.

    Personally, I want to see the most Lakers basketball possible, and to face the best at the end and win the championship. Taking the hardest road possible just for the sake of it, doesn't do much for me, esp w highly increased odds of being out in the 1st round.
     
  20. JSM

    JSM - Lakers Legend -

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    I'll take anyone in the West before the Bucks or C Bags. If we can beat the Suns in round 1, that would give them confidence in buckets about the rest of the journey before they get to the East matchup under best case scenario. Again, I'd love to dodge the Suns but I do not support the team doing anything to sway the outcome of a game before the play-in or post-season.


    Regarding our Jazz game
     
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