Does the Lakers series prove that you should always manipulate 1st round playoff matchups?

Shock Defeat · Post #1 » by **Shock Defeat** » Fri Apr 26, 2024 8:39 pm

The Lakers had a chance to lose to the Pelicans in the play-in game to beat Sacramento and face OKC (winnable matchup)

Instead they let their pride get in the way, beat New Orleans, and now are getting embarrassed by the defending champs which everyone predicted.

Instead of a successful year, it's now become a failure season because they chose to win a game.

Should the Lakers have ducked Denver? Is Darvin Ham going to lose his job because he coached to win?

LaLover11 · Post #2 » by **LaLover11** » Fri Apr 26, 2024 8:40 pm

No because they still would've had DLo as their starting Point Guard vs SGA lmao

He is unplayable

Lenneth · Post #3 » by **Lenneth** » Fri Apr 26, 2024 8:42 pm

I don't see the Lakers beating the Thunder either. Maybe they would go 1-4 instead of 0-4, but that doesn't make much of a difference in the end.

Bornstellar · Post #4 » by **Bornstellar** » Fri Apr 26, 2024 8:42 pm

What difference does it make if they play DEN in the first round, second round, or WCF? They would have lost either way. Every single non-Lakers fan knew they weren't making the Finals this season anyway

You don't lose on purpose especially if it puts you into a single game elimination position. The Lakers are not good enough to be trying stuff like that

RSCD3_ · Post #5 » by **RSCD3_** » Fri Apr 26, 2024 8:42 pm

Shock Defeat wrote:The Lakers had a chance to lose to the Pelicans in the play-in game to beat Sacramento and face OKC (winnable matchup)

Instead they let their pride get in the way, beat New Orleans, and now are getting embarrassed by the defending champs which everyone predicted.

Instead of a successful year, it's now become a failure season because they chose to win a game.

Should the Lakers have ducked Denver? Is Darvin Ham going to lose his job because he coached to win?

I love how them beating the pelicans is framed as "They let their pride get in the way" because they didnt lose a game on purpose and then win the next one? Besides that being incredibly cowardly for all involved and unprecedented, there's a decent chance they just lose vs the kings anyway and dont even get a chance to play any team.

brutalitops · Post #6 » by **brutalitops** » Fri Apr 26, 2024 8:43 pm

Unlike OP, I'm glad the Lakers have a sense of pride and shame.

Yoshun · Post #7 » by **Yoshun** » Fri Apr 26, 2024 8:44 pm

Bornstellar wrote:What difference does it make if they play DEN in the first round, second round, or WCF? They would have lost either way. Every single non-Lakers fan knew they weren't making the Finals this season anyway

You don't lose on purpose especially if it puts you into a single game elimination position. The Lakers are not good enough to be trying stuff like that

This x1000

What's the point of manipulating match ups?

brutalitops · Post #8 » by **brutalitops** » Fri Apr 26, 2024 8:44 pm

RSCD3_ wrote:
Shock Defeat wrote:The Lakers had a chance to lose to the Pelicans in the play-in game to beat Sacramento and face OKC (winnable matchup)

Instead they let their pride get in the way, beat New Orleans, and now are getting embarrassed by the defending champs which everyone predicted.

Instead of a successful year, it's now become a failure season because they chose to win a game.

Should the Lakers have ducked Denver? Is Darvin Ham going to lose his job because he coached to win?

I love how them beating the pelicans is framed as "They let their pride get in the way" because they didnt lose a game on purpose and then win the next one? Besides that being incredibly cowardly for all involved and unprecedented, there's a decent chance they just lose vs the kings anyway and dont even get a chance to play any team.

It's sad that some people clearly were not raised correctly

KembaWalker · Post #9 » by **KembaWalker** » Fri Apr 26, 2024 8:44 pm

This new “Lakers would beat everyone but Denver, so unlucky” cope is so goofy. 8th seed for a reason

jkvonny · Post #10 » by **jkvonny** » Fri Apr 26, 2024 8:45 pm

Shock Defeat wrote:The Lakers had a chance to lose to the Pelicans in the play-in game to beat Sacramento and face OKC (winnable matchup)

Instead they let their pride get in the way, beat New Orleans, and now are getting embarrassed by the defending champs which everyone predicted.

Instead of a successful year, it's now become a failure season because they chose to win a game.

Should the Lakers have ducked Denver? Is Darvin Ham going to lose his job because he coached to win?

Who's to say that they'd beat the Kings?

The Kings have matched up well (quicker guards and Sabonis owns AD) and owned the Lakers the past few seasons.

If it played out. Could have been the ls at 7 seed Pels against the Nuggs. Kings at 8 seed vs the Thunder.

Lakers out of the playoffs.....

Yall need to quit with this already.

DonaldSanders · Post #11 » by **DonaldSanders** » Fri Apr 26, 2024 8:50 pm

Nah, they had a serious risk of not even making the playoffs. And if you're going to face the best team with an old star, might as well do it early before he is even more worn out. The Lakers just aren't even close this year.

Same story as last year, they need some kind of major change to be a contender.

lambchop · Post #12 » by **lambchop** » Fri Apr 26, 2024 8:50 pm

jkvonny wrote:
Shock Defeat wrote:The Lakers had a chance to lose to the Pelicans in the play-in game to beat Sacramento and face OKC (winnable matchup)

Instead they let their pride get in the way, beat New Orleans, and now are getting embarrassed by the defending champs which everyone predicted.

Instead of a successful year, it's now become a failure season because they chose to win a game.

Should the Lakers have ducked Denver? Is Darvin Ham going to lose his job because he coached to win?

Who's to say that they'd beat the Kings?

The Kings have matched up well (quicker guards and Sabonis owns AD) and owned the Lakers the past few seasons.

If it played out. Could have been the ls at 7 seed against the Nuggs. Kings at 8 seed vs the Thunder.

Lakers out of the playoffs.....

Yall need to quit with this already.

That injured kings team wasn't going nowhere. Anyway, I'm not a fan of avoiding teams in hopes of them getting injuries etc. Imo it's better for the Lakers to lose now. That way they know what changes they could potentially make for next season. In addition, it gives LBJ and AD ample rest for the Olympics.

jkvonny · Post #13 » by **jkvonny** » Fri Apr 26, 2024 8:51 pm

lambchop wrote:
jkvonny wrote:
Shock Defeat wrote:The Lakers had a chance to lose to the Pelicans in the play-in game to beat Sacramento and face OKC (winnable matchup)

Instead they let their pride get in the way, beat New Orleans, and now are getting embarrassed by the defending champs which everyone predicted.

Instead of a successful year, it's now become a failure season because they chose to win a game.

Should the Lakers have ducked Denver? Is Darvin Ham going to lose his job because he coached to win?

Who's to say that they'd beat the Kings?

The Kings have matched up well (quicker guards and Sabonis owns AD) and owned the Lakers the past few seasons.

If it played out. Could have been the ls at 7 seed against the Nuggs. Kings at 8 seed vs the Thunder.

Lakers out of the playoffs.....

Yall need to quit with this already.

That injured kings team wasn't going nowhere. Anyway, I'm not a fan of avoiding teams in hopes of them getting injuries etc. Imo it's better for the Lakers to lose now. That way they know what changes they could potentially make for next season. In addition, it gives LBJ and AD ample rest for the Olympics.

Ya, next round they weren't going anywhere (vs the Thunder).

Special_Puppy · Post #14 » by **Special_Puppy** » Fri Apr 26, 2024 8:52 pm

Bornstellar wrote:What difference does it make if they play DEN in the first round, second round, or WCF? They would have lost either way. Every single non-Lakers fan knew they weren't making the Finals this season anyway

You don't lose on purpose especially if it puts you into a single game elimination position. The Lakers are not good enough to be trying stuff like that

Easy to see Denver losing in the second round this year and then you wouldn't have to face them if you were on the other side of the bracket

Bornstellar · Post #15 » by **Bornstellar** » Fri Apr 26, 2024 8:56 pm

Special_Puppy wrote:
Bornstellar wrote:What difference does it make if they play DEN in the first round, second round, or WCF? They would have lost either way. Every single non-Lakers fan knew they weren't making the Finals this season anyway

You don't lose on purpose especially if it puts you into a single game elimination position. The Lakers are not good enough to be trying stuff like that

Easy to see Denver losing in the second round this year and then you wouldn't have to face them if you were on the other side of the bracket

I don't think it's easy to see at all. They're the defending champions for a reason. Nuggets have the best player in the NBA, they're not losing to the T-Wolves imo

Raps in 4 · Post #16 » by **Raps in 4** » Fri Apr 26, 2024 8:56 pm

The Lakers would have lost to Sacramento.

jkvonny · Post #17 » by **jkvonny** » Fri Apr 26, 2024 8:58 pm

Raps in 4 wrote:The Lakers would have lost to Sacramento.

True.

Exp0sed · Post #18 » by **Exp0sed** » Fri Apr 26, 2024 8:59 pm

1.) if they'd lost the 2nd play-in game, they would have been ridiculed for eternity (and rightfully so)
2.) while OKC is def a somewhat better matchup for them - they would have lost that series too, probably not in a sweep but still
3.) even if we assume that somehow they manipulate their way and beat OKC, big whoop..they're still not going anywhere, they can't beat any of the team that will make it to the 2nd rd, so what difference does it really make? especially to guys like AD and LBJ who have won it all

madskillz8 · Post #19 » by **madskillz8** » Fri Apr 26, 2024 9:07 pm

Shock Defeat wrote:The Lakers had a chance to lose to the Pelicans in the play-in game to beat Sacramento and face OKC (winnable matchup)

Instead they let their pride get in the way, beat New Orleans, and now are getting embarrassed by the defending champs which everyone predicted.

Instead of a successful year, it's now become a failure season because they chose to win a game.

Should the Lakers have ducked Denver? Is Darvin Ham going to lose his job because he coached to win?

You are completely overlooking the impact of the uncertainty they will face in the second round of play-ins at the expected outcome calculation.

Let's accept your premise that Lakers is good enough to decide winning or losing against NOP, and give up the game at the moment when they are winning by 90%. In the second round, they were 50-50 vs Kings. And say that they have 25% chances vs OKC and 10% vs Denver.

It eventually turns out -
50% no playoffs - 37.5% first round exit - 12.5% second round

But assume that they tried winning (90%), to face with Denver
- 10% second round of play-ins - 90% Denver series (with 10% chances of winning)
- %5 no playoffs - (3.75 + 81 = 84.75%) first round exit - (1.25+9=10.25%) second round

You decide...

DonaldSanders · Post #20 » by **DonaldSanders** » Fri Apr 26, 2024 9:08 pm

Special_Puppy wrote:
Easy to see Denver losing in the second round this year and then you wouldn't have to face them if you were on the other side of the bracket

If Minnesota can beat Denver, and Denver swept the Lakers, why do you think the Lakers would have much of a chance vs. Minnesota? They'd have to play one of the two if they made the WCF. Minny was 3-1 vs. the Lakers this year as well. There's nothing indicating they would have faired better this route, they'd just be taking a risk vs. a team they've struggled vs. in Sac.

I don't get the idea that they should prefer to go to a single elimination game intentionally vs. a team they are 0-4 against, especially considering the above is also a factor.