2021 Western Conference race to the playoff

[NuggetsWY]

Laker lost AGAIN tonight, down to the 7th seed (vs UTH right now), could they get bounced and miss the playoffs ? They have a murderers row their next 5 game (DEN, LAC, POR, PHX and NYK) not inconceivable that's 5 lossing their last 3,

LBJ just came back and AD has been back those last 3 games, could the reigning Champs miss the playoffs ?? Anyone else love to see that ?? Of course it they do, seems predictable the LAL would "conveniently" move up into the high lottery, didn't the NBA gift them 3 #2 picks in a row ??

36y old LeBron is not interested in anything else than "winning now" with basically the same team which won the title last season. Even if they drop as bad as #7 or even #8 they can miss the playoff only if losing both play-in games (vs GSW and Memphis probably) which would be a miracle if LBJ and AD stay healthy. Both stars have enough time to be back into TOP10 mode, which will actually make them favorites against Utah or Phoenix in the 1st round. If they start to play on a high level already this week they will finish RS 5th or maybe 6th.

I doubt the Lakers are concerned with where they finish. They've played so long without their two stars that it's going to be hard to work them back into the lineup. I have no doubt they will get it together - and if they do, they will be dangerous. As you say Joker, their team is built to contend NOW!

[The Rebel]

I have said for over a year that the Lakers were the biggest beneficiaries of the 3 month shut down last year, it allowed them to get healthy just as the injuries were starting. Between that and the help from the refs they were never going to lose in the bubble. This year is different, for the 1st time since the WCF I watched a few minutes of their game (that did not include the Nuggets) last night, and Lebron and Davis both do not look healthy at all. Falling into the playin games is going to take another weeks of rest that they could have really used, and I am not sure that they will be able to overcome the injuries and get through that week. I expect them to come out and play hard this week including in our game tonight, but if they don't get healthy, the chemistry doesn't matter.

[THE J0KER]

There is some bizarre bug on CBS projections right now, https://www.cbssports.com/nba/standings/ so they somehow calculate 42.5 overall wins for the Nuggets despite we have already 43 wins while for Lakers they calculate 44.3 wins at the end despite they can reach a maximum of 44 wins if they win all 8 remaining games, so just ignore that CBS section.




Denver for the first time this season reached the TOP3 spot after beating the Clippers, right in time. But our goal is actually not #3 seed but to escape the Lakers in the 1st round of the playoff. Right now there are big battles for #1 seed between PHO and UTA, for #3 seed between DEN and LAC, and fight for #5-#6 direct playoff entry between LAL DAL and POR.

Potentially helpful detail can be fact that we are scheduled to play the last game vs Portland, so if the same result outcome will help both teams to escape teams from LA in the 1st round that result will probably happen (which means also probably Denver-Portland 1st round).

[Richard Miller]

36y old LeBron is not interested in anything else than "winning now" with basically the same team which won the title last season.

It's not the same team though. They lost several hard-playing veterans with a long track record of winning and replaced them with washed up Gasol and big question marks like Drummond and Harrell. Doesn't help also that LeBron is a year older and starting to struggle with injuries.

I doubt the Lakers are concerned with where they finish.

LeBron blasting the play-in tournament would suggest they are concerned where they end up. Can't imagine they are looking forward having to win against either Memphis or GS (or maybe even both) just to make it to the playoffs.

[skywalker33]

36y old LeBron is not interested in anything else than "winning now" with basically the same team which won the title last season.

It's not the same team though. They lost several hard-playing veterans with a long track record of winning and replaced them with washed up Gasol and big question marks like Drummond and Harrell. Doesn't help also that LeBron is a year older and starting to struggle with injuries.

I doubt the Lakers are concerned with where they finish.

LeBron blasting the play-in tournament would suggest they are concerned where they end up. Can't imagine they are looking forward having to win against either Memphis or GS (or maybe even both) just to make it to the playoffs.

LeBron has already tweeted he thinks "he'll never be the same" after this high ankle sprain, at his age he may be right but it happens to us all, he just needs to deal with it . AD has also not looked the same yet, doesn't surprise me as he's the type of guy that needs a Batman to his Robin, really lost a lot of respect for AD since he went to LAL.

And regardless of whether it's 7th or 8th those play-in games just add wear to their bodies, harder to recover from possible injuries, LBJ is such a whiner, though I really don't feel sorry for him one bit.

[skywalker33]

After watching the game last night, very apparent how talented UTH's bench is. Easily something we'll have to address, we surely could use some more firepower off the bench.

And for Gosh Sakes, when are Morris and Barton gonna be back,I'm get the feeling Barton is gonna disappear going into the playoffs again.

[NuggetsWY]

After watching the game last night, very apparent how talented UTH's bench is. Easily something we'll have to address, we surely could use some more firepower off the bench.

And for Gosh Sakes, when are Morris and Barton gonna be back,I'm get the feeling Barton is gonna disappear going into the playoffs again.

I'm sorta' laughing at myself. I thought it was crazy for us to carry 8 guards and 9 forwards/centers. Never did I realize that we'd have half our guards injured at the same time.

[skywalker33]

Looks like we will have HCA in the 1st round, still could be 3rd or 4th seed but also appears our opponent will be DAL or POR with an outside chance of the Lakers.

So who do you want ?? POR has been making a strong run as of late seems Dame is "feeling" his playoff run coming around. DAL on the other hand looks to be adding Porzingas back before the playoffs, the Unicorn along with that other guy could make like difficult for us.

[NuggetsWY]

Looks like we will have HCA in the 1st round, still could be 3rd or 4th seed but also appears our opponent will be DAL or POR with an outside chance of the Lakers.

So who do you want ?? POR has been making a strong run as of late seems Dame is "feeling" his playoff run coming around. DAL on the other hand looks to be adding Porzingas back before the playoffs, the Unicorn along with that other guy could make like difficult for us.

Both the Mavericks and the Lakers will be a little out of sorts. When stars sit out a lot of games, it changes rotations and mindsets and it takes time for players to adjust. I think we can beat either one in the 1st round. --- We've had players out, but the only star is Murray and he won't be coming back for the playoffs, so we shouldn't have that same issue.

I'd rather not face Portland in the 1st round. As you say, "making a strong run as of late" and even worse, we tend to struggle against the better guards and they are playing Lillard & McCollum & Powell.

[FilNugsFan]

I actually prefer facing Dallas over Portland in the 1st round for several reasons:

1. Dame Time
Lilliard I think is still more DAMEgerous than Luka especially come clutch time. And with our backcourt woes due to injuries, Dame and CJ should be a tougher matchup for our guards.

2. Bosnian Beast
Nurkic seems to have given our MVP fits whenever we face POR. Nurk poses a threat on both ends compared to the DAL bigs. I also feel like he will always have that extra motivation against us for obvious reasons.

3. Depth, Experience and Health
POR I believe has the advantage on all these factors over DAL. The additions of Covington, Kanter and Powell not only made their roster deeper and more balanced, but these guys are battle-tested and are proven playoff performers with their previous teams, not to mention Melo. And then Porzingis' health. If KP won't be 100% in the playoffs, then DAL could be an easier prey.

4. Lastly, I simply wouldn't want another playoff exit at the hands of POR.

[THE J0KER]

Our only RS goal is to escape the Lakers in 1st round. If we stay #4 chances are over 90% that we are going to escape Lakers, but at #3 our chances to meet Lakers in the playoff rise to 33%.

Possible Wild Wild West playoff possible scenario is that #8 seed GSW#8 will beat UTA#1 without Mitchell while Lakers#7 beat PhoenixX2!

Tie-Break: DAL>LAL, POR>LAL, DEN>LAC, POR>DAL

[skywalker33]

Well, does DEN get to pick their 1st round matchup in the 2021 playoffs ? Experts say that POR is our best matchup as we're 2-0 (one game remaining) against them but that was when we had a much different back-court. We're 1-2 against DAL but with Porzingas still nursing a knee ailment, they could be more advantageous for us. LAL remains on the outside looking in, they're currently in the play-in game but could potentially pass up DAL (who have a likelier path to a higher see) or POR (two tougher games) but LAL loses both tie-breakers so they're probably stuck in the play-in game

[The Rebel]

Well, does DEN get to pick their 1st round matchup in the 2021 playoffs ? Experts say that POR is our best matchup as we're 2-0 (one game remaining) against them but that was when we had a much different back-court. We're 1-2 against DAL but with Porzingas still nursing a knee ailment, they could be more advantageous for us. LAL remains on the outside looking in, they're currently in the play-in game but could potentially pass up DAL (who have a likelier path to a higher see) or POR (two tougher games) but LAL loses both tie-breakers so they're probably stuck in the play-in game

To me the Dallas series comes down to how much better Jokic and MPJ are than Doncic and Porzingis. While Gordon is the 5th best player in the series, I think overall the talent is pretty level between the role players for both team. To me it seems like our biggest issue with Dallas has been the bench though. Harris has always done well against Luka, Millsap has always done well against Kristaps, it has been the backups at PF that seem to kill us. When Porzingis or Boban goes to Center and Finney smith or Kleber are at PF we cannot seem to do anything to stop them. I think getting Javalle will help, but Green was inconsistent against the Mavs at best, and it is going to depend on either him or Millsap to stop the bench PFs. If Morris, Barton, and Dozier are back than I think our role players are slightly better than theirs and it will not depend so heavily on our stars, but I also expect Malone to get out coached by Carlisle.

I actually would rather avoid Portland. While we win the talent battle in the front court, we really lose the backcourt talent battle, and I think they have a bigger advantage with guard talent than we have in the front court. Especially with Simons off the bench, who do we really have that can even come close to matching their production? I also do not believe that we can keep Barton from trying hero ball again (reports are that he will be back), he was booed off the court 2 years ago when he tried it in that Portland series.

Hell the truth is I think our best matchup is against the Lakers if the Refs called the game fairly, but we all saw last year and games against the lakers this year. Even with Drummond they will struggle with our front court, and their guards are not any better than ours. It will come down to MPJ and Jokic versus Davis and Lebron still trying to come back from a hamstring. I think we can win a series against them.

Since we all know what will happen with the refs, I think I prefer to matchup with Dallas. I would however like to get to the 3rd seed if we could, I would rather not face a healthy Jazz team or Warriors team, I think we are in the Clippers heads and I am not sure the Lakers make the 2nd round if Lebron isn't close to 100%. Even if they win their way in I do not see the Spurs, Grizzlies, or Kings getting past the 1st round.

[Oscar9992]

Guys, will you try to beat Blazers in the last game of the regular season & play us in the 1'st round of Playoffs or you prefer rest your players and play Blazers instead?

[THE J0KER]

Portland has the lead and the ball 5 seconds left vs Suns, but unfortunately, they somehow managed to lose the game, so Denver-Lakers 1st round scenario is theoretically still possible if we beat Portland (+Detroit) in the last game, Lakers beat Pacers and Pells both, and Clippers tanking one of their last two games vs lottery teams (Houston or Oklahoma).

[skywalker33]

Portland has the lead and the ball 5 seconds left vs Suns, but unfortunately, they somehow managed to lose the game, so Denver-Lakers 1st round scenario is theoretically still possible if we beat Portland (+Detroit) in the last game, Lakers beat Pacers and Pells both, and Clippers tanking one of their last two games vs lottery teams (Houston or Oklahoma).

So both POR and DAL: hold the H2H tie-breakers so Lakers have to win out to surpass either. DAl has a couple of cupcakes in TOR/MIN while POR has incentive to beat us (no going to the play-in game), Doesn't both Joker and MPJ need rest ??

[psimanic1]

Portland has the lead and the ball 5 seconds left vs Suns, but unfortunately, they somehow managed to lose the game, so Denver-Lakers 1st round scenario is theoretically still possible if we beat Portland (+Detroit) in the last game, Lakers beat Pacers and Pells both, and Clippers tanking one of their last two games vs lottery teams (Houston or Oklahoma).

So both POR and DAL: hold the H2H tie-breakers so Lakers have to win out to surpass either. DAl has a couple of cupcakes in TOR/MIN while POR has incentive to beat us (no going to the play-in game), Doesn't both Joker and MPJ need rest ??

They will have 6 days of rest after rhat game, so does that one more day off help, if you can directly choose DAL if you beat POR for example

[TunaFish]

Portland has the lead and the ball 5 seconds left vs Suns, but unfortunately, they somehow managed to lose the game, so Denver-Lakers 1st round scenario is theoretically still possible if we beat Portland (+Detroit) in the last game, Lakers beat Pacers and Pells both, and Clippers tanking one of their last two games vs lottery teams (Houston or Oklahoma).

So both POR and DAL: hold the H2H tie-breakers so Lakers have to win out to surpass either. DAl has a couple of cupcakes in TOR/MIN while POR has incentive to beat us (no going to the play-in game), Doesn't both Joker and MPJ need rest ??

They will have 6 days of rest after rhat game, so does that one more day off help, if you can directly choose DAL if you beat POR for example

I'm surprised that the Nuggets are playing any of Jokic, MPJ and Gordon. Why take the chance in meaningless games?

[psimanic1]

So both POR and DAL: hold the H2H tie-breakers so Lakers have to win out to surpass either. DAl has a couple of cupcakes in TOR/MIN while POR has incentive to beat us (no going to the play-in game), Doesn't both Joker and MPJ need rest ??

They will have 6 days of rest after rhat game, so does that one more day off help, if you can directly choose DAL if you beat POR for example

I'm surprised that the Nuggets are playing any of Jokic, MPJ and Gordon. Why take the chance in meaningless games?

Gordon is out vs Detroit tonight, MPJ should be back, and without Jokic games would finish with like 40pts from Denver
Just take a big look when Jokic is off the floor, it also doesnt help that Murray and Barton are out

[THE J0KER]

So both POR and DAL: hold the H2H tie-breakers so Lakers have to win out to surpass either. DAl has a couple of cupcakes in TOR/MIN while POR has incentive to beat us (no going to the play-in game), Doesn't both Joker and MPJ need rest ??

They will have 6 days of rest after rhat game, so does that one more day off help, if you can directly choose DAL if you beat POR for example

I'm surprised that the Nuggets are playing any of Jokic, MPJ and Gordon. Why take the chance in meaningless games?

I think it is OK for Jokic to finish this season with a "he didn't miss any single game" remark, so when Joker is going to take the 2021 MVP award nobody will complain.