GAME #78: MAVS (38-40) @ LAC (45-32)—SAT 4/5 7:30 PM, CHANNEL 5

[madmaxmedia]

Warriors and Clippers peaking at the right time

Better to be peaking with a week left in the season, than Christmas time LOL.

[Clemenza]

Last week of the season. We finally got something brewing. Thunder looked a bit fraudulent today against the Lakers.

[esqtvd]

Last week of the season. We finally got something brewing. Thunder looked a bit fraudulent today against the Lakers.

Read on Twitter

[KL2]

Why Denver lol.

[esqtvd]

Why Denver lol.

Russ is a team-worst minus-6.6 per 100 possessions since the ASB

I love the guy but he's just out of control

https://www.nba.com/stats/players/traditional?PerMode=Per100Possessions&SeasonSegment=Post%20All-Star&TeamID=1610612743&dir=A&sort=PLUS_MINUS

[Clemenza]

Why Denver lol.

No Jamal Murray, no bench, and an erratic Westbrook

[esqtvd]

Why Denver lol.

No Jamal Murray, no bench, and an erratic Westbrook

Erratic should be his first name.

I lived through the Allen Iverson era in Philly. Never liked that kind of game but damn he made the Finals with bunch of nobodies. Russ has played with Beal, Bron and Beard [THREE TIMES, in OKC, HOU and LAC], Durant, and now Joker.

Dude. Maybe it's you.

[LamarWho]

Man that Westbrick sequence against Minny, pretty much Russ in a nutshell. Remember Jokic actually wanted him on the team.

[KL2]

Still triggered by the bubble. Would love nothing more than to knock off Denver but you know …

[clipperlover]

Clips sitting in the #5 spot, but can still get the #4.

If all 5 teams were sitting in a tiebreak right now, Clips would be #4 because none of the teams are division winners, so the combined H2H tiebreaker is applied. Current H2H combined records:
Clips 8-5 (Best we can do is 9-5, worst is 8-6)
Min 8-6 (best they can do is 9-6, worst is 8-7)
GS 7-7 (best they can do is 8-7, worst is 7-8)
Denver 5-8 (best they can do is 6-8, worst is 6-9)
Memphis 4-7 (best they can do is 6-7, worst is 4-10)

Ideally, the best scenario for the Clips is for Milwaukee AND Memphis to beat Minny and Memphis to beat Denver. We own the tiebreakers over GS and Memphis whether H2H or 3 way. We can't end up in a tie with Minny unless it is a 3 way tie. Straight H2H, they take the higher seed.

Ideally, going into that last game, it would be nice to be able to play or sit based on whether we like the 4/5 or 3/6 match-up better. Any chance at the #4, they have to take play it out.

Appears our best case scenario for the 4/5 with us being the 4 is for us to end the season alone in 4 with Denver the 5 and Jamal Murray out for the start of the playoffs. Next best scenario is a 3 way tie with Minnesota and Denver with Jamal Murray being back and healthy. Minny would be the 5 in a 3 way tie.

Clear as mud right now.

[clipperlover]

Last week of the season. We finally got something brewing. Thunder looked a bit fraudulent today against the Lakers.

I wouldn't read too much into the OKC vs Lakers. OKC has nothing to play for other than stay healthy and stay sharp. If they had a shot at 70 wins, then they probably are playing all out. They lost that opportunity when they lost to Houston on Friday. No reason to not pull back a little after that loss.

If OKC beats Lakers Tuesday, then Houston may pull back vs us because they will have #2 clinched. If not, HOU will be coming at us with clinching #2 on their agenda.

[Ballings7]

Agree on the Lakers OKC win.. media is hyping it up all over the place like they won a series against them. Agenda for the chosen one duo going into the POs.

Example, here:

Watch on YouTube

"Scariest team in the West" ? C'mon.. This isn't Luka with 2024 Dallas warchest of defenders. Its just not even that close.

"No one's worried about the defense anymore because Luka and LeBron able to play together"

Safe to say that OKC has been playing down a half notch or more.. since probably right around when they clinched #1 seed which was games before the LAL game at home for them.

So, yeah, nice road win for Lake Show, but OKC is not showing all their cards anymore since last week.

[ERClips]

Lakers are media favorite team hands down. OKC definitely isn’t bringing full effort anymore. Still a good showing from Doncic and Lakers.

Clippers are in a good spot as long as they avoid OKC 1st round. Don’t wanna face Minny too soon either. Gonna be great out west in these playoffs!

[Ballings7]

Lakers are media favorite team hands down. OKC definitely isn’t bringing full effort anymore. Still a good showing from Doncic and Lakers.

Clippers are in a good spot as long as they avoid OKC 1st round. Don’t wanna face Minny too soon either. Gonna be great out west in these playoffs!

Yeah for sure. Just gotta expose the garbage haha

Aside from OKC, my concerns would be Minny and Houston (not because of their wins from earlier in the year).. but Clips probably don't face either of them till later, if advance.

[Clemenza]

Last week of the season. We finally got something brewing. Thunder looked a bit fraudulent today against the Lakers.

I wouldn't read too much into the OKC vs Lakers. OKC has nothing to play for other than stay healthy and stay sharp. If they had a shot at 70 wins, then they probably are playing all out. They lost that opportunity when they lost to Houston on Friday. No reason to not pull back a little after that loss.

If OKC beats Lakers Tuesday, then Houston may pull back vs us because they will have #2 clinched. If not, HOU will be coming at us with clinching #2 on their agenda.

OKC needs to beat the Lakers on Tuesday night just to shut people up. None of those guys have ever won anything nor made a WCF. The other side to this is the belief that their GM Sam Presti is nothing more than a glorified pick hoarder. He has all the assets to put the team way over the top but refuses to do so. Could've easily gotten Durant at the trade deadline and stacked the deck for title run. Remember Presti punted last season and helped facilitated the trade that sent Gafford to Dallas and that's the team who knocked them out of the playoffs last year. They get all the praise for getting SGA and a million picks, but it's time for them to show and prove.