Are The Lakers Trying To Land The Fourth Seed?

WinningFormula · Apr 12, 2004

wc playoffs teams vs wc playoffs teams (standings):

1.twolves 17-10 (0.6296) -1 gm vs memphis
2.dallas 16-11 (0.5926) -2 gms vs memph/hous
3.memphis 15-11 (0.5769) - 2 gms vs dal/min
4.kings 15-13 (0.5357)
5.lakers 14-14 (0.5000)
6.spurs 13-14 (0.4815) -1 gm vs denver
7.denver 11-16 (0.4074) -1 gm vs san antonio
8.houston 8-19 (0.2963)-1 gm vs dallas

la is not even close to the best team in the wc. yeah, they have the history and the experience, but their age and off court problems will prove to be too much to overcome. good luck lakers bettors, you will need it.

WildBill · Apr 13, 2004

All I remember last year was how much the Lakers were supposedly happy with their matchups because the Wolves were the easiest spot for them and the Spurs were soft. Didn't exactly work out that well. If the Lakers are trying the same strategy maybe they ought to rethink it.

picasso · Apr 13, 2004

The Lakers playing for the 4th seed crossed my mind too. But even if they are trying to avoid the Spurs in the 2nd round, the plan could easily backfire. Minnesota getting the 1 seed is far from a given. They lead the Spurs by 1 game but would lose the tiebreaker. The Spurs host Denver Wednesday. Minnesota goes to Memphis. Let's say Memphis loses at Dallas. They're then locked into the 6 seed. Who would they rather play in the 1st round, San Antonio or Minnesota? I think Minnesota. If they beat Minnesota Wednesday, that would likely be their 1st round opponent. Memphis is tough at home and Gasol and Wells are expected to be back. The game's a tossup. It wouldn't surprise me to see the West seeded as:

1. San Antonio
2. Sacramento
3. Minnesota
4. Lakers
5. Dallas
6. Memphis
7. Houston
8. Denver

Also, I don't think Minnesota would be terribly disappointed with this scenario as it may be their best path to the Western conference finals. Even with a lower seed, they'd get home court in a 2nd round matchup vs Sacramento due to a better record. The alternative probably means a 2nd round matchup vs the Lakers. Despite the Lakers' saga, I don't think any of the top teams want to play them in the 2nd round.

winkyduck · Apr 13, 2004

with all this talk of the lakers finishing #4 - they STILl can win the division and get the #2 seed in round 1 - #3 seed in round 2.

lakers will beat GS tonite - then play portland wednesday - and with the blazers out of it - they will e-mail this game in. sacr plays @ GS and while it is B2B for GS - as much as they hate sac they will be up for this one.

it is not out of question lakers could win last 2 and sac could lose wednesday and LA could still win the division.

WildBill · Apr 14, 2004

No question about it with tonight's effort, the Lakers aren't trying to land the 4 spot on purpose. If they were they sure wouldn't have wasted their efforts on making a comeback and forcing 2 OTs when they have games to play this weekend, especially the over 50 minutes for Kobe and Shaq.

WildBill · Apr 14, 2004

Unreal ending to the game, Lakers pulled yet another out of the hat. Their reward is a probable 2nd round matchup having to win a road series with the Spurs. Maybe it was the Kings that quietly laid down to play Dallas in round 1 and possible the TWolves in round 2...

mrbox · Apr 14, 2004

WildBill,

You still picking the KINGS to win it all?

WildBill · Apr 14, 2004

Hard to say. CWebb came back and totally screwed things up. I still think they have the deepest team, but chemistry is everything when there are so many loaded teams. I am slowly coming to two conclusions. One is don't take the Pacers for granted if they get there. This will likely be a terribly tough slog for the West champ and with the first two at home I could see the Pacers getting a big early jump and possibly finding a way to win. Second is maybe we are all cutting the Wolves a little short here. They have won big games in everyone's house and responded well to the pressure when things got rough in the second half and the Spurs made a big run at them. This year really is one you just have to watch and see who pulls it out, I don't think any team can be called anything close to a clear favorite.