playoff matchup we would prefer

[ROballer]

Clippers just lost and Denver currently gets 3rd spot. If they beat Portland and Lakers win last 2, Lakers avoid play in by getting 6th as they now face the Murray-less Nuggets.
4th place Clips draw Dallas while Portland battles GSW.

In the scenario that Portland falls to 7-8 play in

Steph Curry is going to punk Dame on that court like he always has when the games matter. Then we get to see him send CP3 home and punk a team with no playoff experience . Draymond vs Ayton is going to favor Draymond too.

What I really want though is Portland to lose the 7-8 and then see Memphis. Let Ja send Dame home after last year when the Blazers got that undeserved playoff spot just because the league wanted to get Zion in only for ingram and ball to suck. Griz worked hard all last year to earn spot 8 and have it stolen by this play in concept so it would be great to see them get healthy and get their revenge game especially since they didn't have Jackson last year.

Derozan losing at spot 10 is great too because it sets up the narrative to leave the Spurs and head back to Toronto or somewhere. It also effectively ends Pop ever being mentioned next to Phil as a coach

----

If I am the Lakers though a bracket of Nuggets / Suns is cake ... Heck logic dictates the Clippers lose to their greatest enemy, ROUND 2

The tricky part is for Denver to summon all the guts and motivation to actually beat Portland on the road knowing that if they did that, they face the Lakes in the first round

Yeah, not happening. Denver will tank the hell out of that game.
It's fairly simple really. As you said, win and matchup against the Lakers. Lose and matchup against the Blazers/Mavs(depending on what the Clippers do against the Thunder). Gee, I wonder what would they prefer?

We're getting into the play in guys, time to stop living in fantasy land and make top 6 scenarios. And I'm very ok with that. It's one more game for Lebron/Davis to get their playoffs legs ready and we're playing Phoenix if we're 7th.

Out of anybody I'd prefer Phoenix as a first round matchup.

[Kilroy]

Yeah, the only 'playoff-caliber' team I want to play more than the Suns, is GSW... So for me, it's a no-brainer... We torch the Warriors like we always do, then face a Phoenix team that has no answer for AD, and little answers for LeBron...
Even if we lose to GSW in a fluke, we get another shot at it...

[chefy]

for la folks this is more of a "which player do you want to see play live in staples lol".

bring it on idc who we face.

being a basketball tho, I want to face the best team late in the playoffs. its good for the game especially since the ratings are low right now.

[heezyo2o]

If the Lakers are playing well with Lebron, I'd almost rather have Portland win tonight so the Lakers face GS. There's a risk, but if playing well now, watching a do or die against Curry would be fun. And let's face it, Lakers plain need the practice before facing Denver