Race for the West Playoff seedings

[DelaneyRudd]

God damn it, everything has sucked the last two days. It's the curse of the Durrant shot.

[Sean Reynolds]

I'm starting to think Utah won't ever be better than fourth in the west. This season feels so much like 2008 it isn't even funny. Jazz hold the third seed in their hands heading into Texas and lay a huge **** egg and fall all the way to fourth (record wise, they were sixth, I believe).

Granted they got out of the first round then, but that was because Houston was limping into the playoffs and the Jazz took advantage of a team that probably was going to lose in the first round regardless of who they played.

So now we've got to hope they finish fourth (record wise) and get home court in the first round.

But even that isn't a given.

I'm starting to wish Utah had lost to Oklahoma City and fallen to seventh. I mean, I don't really see much difference between Dallas/Denver/Phoenix, so at least they'd be able to avoid the Lakers in the second round if they were to get beyond the first round.

I hate, HATE that 4th seed. Outside of the 8th seed, it has the least amount of progression in the playoff ladder.

[Denizfeital]

Unfortunatelly, that seems to be the diference between The Jazz and the other teams: Unlike The Jazz, those teams win when they need it most.

Can The Jazz win the last three? Of course. Will they do it? I dont know.

At least in the end, everybody will be fighting for position, and that will help the team who keeps winning.

About Dallas/Denver/Phoenix I want to be as far as possible from Denver, specially if they get HCA against us.

Regards

[seejaydeja]

You don't win the games you're supposed to, you don't get a good seed. That's what separates the men from the boys. Jazz better kill the hornets tonight.

[Sean Reynolds]

Have the Mavs and Nuggets won, down the stretch, the games they were supposed to? Denver has had some bad losses the last month. So has Dallas. Utah has been playing unbelievable basketball, for the most part, since January 1st. It's what got them back into this thing.

I wouldn't say their problem is necessarily that they aren't winning when it counts the most (I mean, they are), it's that they burned themselves way too much in November/December/early January and it is costing them now.

We all conceded there was a good chance the Jazz would probably lose to Houston. It was a trap game and they lost. However, I think we did get a bit overzealous with our expectations after the OKC game and didn't look at the potential for Denver or Dallas to do what they're doing.

For starters, the Mavs haven't played anyone since Utah grabbed, then lost, that second seed. So it remains to be seen if they have what it takes to win the hard games when it counts the most. Beating Memphis at home doesn't fit into that. They go on the road and knock off Portland tonight, you can add them to the list. If they lose and then falter at home to the Spurs, well we'll know they have the same issues we think Utah has right now.

Secondly, Denver was always going to be our toughest challenge. I've said it throughout this thread because they owned the tie-breaker over Utah (if you want to speculate when our chances at #2/3 were lost, it was lost when Utah fell to the Nuggets in SLC months ago). They also have been lucky the last two games. I mean, they got an OKC team that was coming off a thrilling OT loss and when that game came down to the wire, it became clear the Thunder just didn't have anything left in their tank. THEN they face L.A. without Kobe. Even then, they still almost lose.

Sure, those were two must-win games. But they're no more miraculous or impressive than Utah's victory over the Thunder earlier this week - which was a must win. We forget that it was only a couple weeks ago that Denver dropped a couple winnable games that got Utah back into this thing. Had they not, this is would be all moot because the Jazz would have no shot at claiming second, or even third, in the west.

So no, I disagree there is much difference between the Jazz, Nuggets and Mavs and how they approach must wins. Our problem this season was that we had to spend 90% of the season playing catch up and it ultimately cost us.

Not losing in must-win situations. Utah has been pretty much in must-win mode since February and they've had some damn good wins. And since we know you can't win 'em all, they've at least done a good job of balancing out the WTF losses (even more so than Denver and the Mavs lately, in fact).

Unfortunately, it won't be enough. We built too big of a hole for ourselves and then relied on others to get us out of it. Well they're not. So we're screwed. Oh well. Maybe next year Utah will finally realize you can't start the season poorly and expect to grab a decent seed in the playoffs.

[carrottop12]

Dallas @ Portland tonight is a huge game.

[FJS]

Jazz wins, Suns Losses... we are over them another time!

[carrottop12]

3 point game at half. A Portland win would really give the Jazz some life to get the 2-3 seed.

[Sloanfeld]

Damn, no help from other teams lately. Hopefully the Spurs don't let us down.

[outerspacefella]

Ok... season finale most probably will be HCA tie breaker with Suns...
Of course, Jazz MUST win @Warriors to avoid to open a window for the Thunder to claim the fifth spot... Jazz still can end up facing a first round @Nuggets...

[Jampod]

Dallas losing to Sacramento and Denver losing to San Antonio tonight would be big for us.

[seejaydeja]

Dallas is going to annihilate Sac. Spurs better win.

[carrottop12]

We all have to be huge San Antonio fans. A lot of our fate rests in their hands. Denver tonight, Dallas to end the season.

I'd be satisfied with a W tonight.

[Sean Reynolds]

I'm not worried about the Mavs. If they get the 2nd seed, so be it. I just want to finish ahead of Denver and grab that third spot. I'd feel okay about taking on Dallas in the second round without home court. Obviously the Jazz would be underdogs - but they'd stand a helluva better chance against them than the Lakers.

So go Spurs!

[carrottop12]

K-Mart returning tonight for the Nuggets which should help, he's a good defender against Duncan. Lets hope he's rusty.

The Nuggets really haven't been playing well, 5-5 in their last 10 and one of their wins was by 2 points over the Lakers with out Kobe. The Spurs are up and down. Beating Orlando and LA last week, and losing to Memphis at home last night. Hopefully they have a bounce back game tonight and kick some ass. Last night was a costly loss for them so you better believe they'll be playing their hardest tonight. They sit in 8th and you better believe they don't want any part of the Lakers in the first round either.

GO TIMMY!!!!!

[Efernand]

Spurs helping us out!

[Sloanfeld]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAA Melo just fouled Bonner on a three and got two techs for bitching about it, LOL! Spurs up 21!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Efernand]

Jazz gonna be tied with Denver, both teams will have 1 game they should win (Den vs Memphis, Jazz @ Golden State) and both teams then face Phoenix though the Jazz do so at home.

[Reckless]

finally we get some help, we still need another loss from denver

[Sloanfeld]

Finally, I was so pissed off on Friday because of the Nuggets win, I hope their **** fans feel the same way when we take the division title! Hopefully the Spurs can pull another one off in Dallas too!