playoff matchup we would prefer

[Ballerhogger]

Blazers first if we can . Suns second and nuggets last if possible

[Beethoven]

4 Lakers
5 Denver

1 suns

3 Clippers

[Beethoven]

This next five games will pretty much give us a clearer indication as to where we are heading /and how we can look at our preferences.

Boston/Utah/Utah/@Dallas/@Dallas. (the last 5 games before AD returns allegedly)

Would it be possible we can take 3 out of 5 here? Win over Boston and take one from each Utah and Dallas?
If that happens, you'll perhaps see the possibility of Utah going to 2 seed, if so, I prefer to push to the 4 seed (-> 5 Nuggets im sure theyll hold onto this and not dip any lower) and then matchup with 1 seed Suns.
Let Utah and clips duke it out in 2nd round.

Would it be win (or loss) over Boston, and take only 1 game out of the Utah/Dallas set?
This is a scenario that is most likely. Then we won't really have a choice. We will be somewhere 4/5 seed and matchup w Nuggets and then face Utah in the second round.

Would we lose all games except one at Dallas? (or just lose all five games, highly unlikely)?
In this case, I hope to grab Suns at 2seed and hope for the clips can go to 4 seed (to avoid them, make them play Utah), and that we win the first game for play-in to make 7seed.

IF we overachieve and take three games out of the Utah/Dallas set, and win over Boston,
I dont care for matchups at this point. I believe this team is SET.

[LAKESHOW]

I'm goin with at least 3 losses

[Beethoven]

Although I dont love the injuries out in the other teams (not that I really care honestly) and hope they recover,

the west playoff landscape is hopefully something that may be nice for us.



If we can manage to hold onto the 4th or 5th spot:


1 Suns
2 clips
3 utah
4 Laker/portland
5 Laker/portland
6 denver

I would love to see these three utah/clip/denv fall in these seeds, so that their brackets can bash it out

and we get Portland in the 4/5 matchup.

[LAKESHOW]

Nice points. If there is a way for Utah to face off with the Clipps, that would give us an easier road. But we are walking dangerously close to the edge of the cliff with the losses piling up. And having no say in the matter

[stan francisco]

In our first series, I just want our team fully healthy. If we are, I don’t really care what matchup we get. There’s no team that will beat us in a seven game series if we’re in full health; not with our defense.

There’s no defense in the Nets, so I’m guessing it’ll be the Lakers - Sixers in the finals.

[bb22]

Looking at the remaining 15 games, assuming AD comes back against Dallas and Lebron comes back vs the Raps (or Denver, but not both), I'm guessing the Lakers probably go 9-6 (putting them at 44-28 for the season). Prob finish 1 game ahead of Portland for the 5th seed. I think the top 4 seeds in the west are a lock. Not out of the question that we see a Clippers/Lakers first round matchup, which would be tough given the Clippers are really locked in at the right time and the Lakers will still be finding their rhythm.

[stan francisco]

As Kobe would say, to be the best you have to beat the best. We need a fully healthy roster to beat any of the top four teams.

[Beethoven]

We need to take one of these back-to-back @Dallas games; this is important.
They are 3 games behind us in the Loss column sitting at 7th seed.
We need to take one more game from them to have the tie-breaker against them.
Just in case. Of course.

---
Against Portland, we need to beat our last game against them next month.
That way we have the tie-breaker against them as well.
This one is very crucial as I dont want us to drop to 6th seed, which I believe is the more difficult lower seeding outside of play-in to route through.

---
Denver may as well be our first round match up. If all goes as planned to the end (not like we had the best plan)
They are a tough out if they have home court.
I think home court matters when it comes to their mile high city arena.

[Catchall]

If you're asking me, I think I'd prefer the Lakers to end up as the 6th seed, matched up with the Clips in the 1st round. Then if you get through, you'd have Phoenix in the 2nd round with the Jazz waiting for you in the WCF.

[iamworthy]

If you're asking me, I think I'd prefer the Lakers to end up as the 6th seed, matched up with the Clips in the 1st round. Then if you get through, you'd have Phoenix in the 2nd round with the Jazz waiting for you in the WCF.

Jazz waiting in the WCF love the confidence.

[Catchall]

If you're asking me, I think I'd prefer the Lakers to end up as the 6th seed, matched up with the Clips in the 1st round. Then if you get through, you'd have Phoenix in the 2nd round with the Jazz waiting for you in the WCF.

Jazz waiting in the WCF love the confidence.

Jazz would just need to beat Memphis (8) and Denver (4) in that scenario. That's why it's appealing.

[Beethoven]

1 Suns
2 utah
3 clips
4 denver
5 LAKERS
6-8 whatever

Im banking on this being the end result.

[LAKESHOW]

The battle is 1st and 2nd. Cause it don't look like we makin it up that far. I have no idea how the chips are gonna fall. It looks like Utah goin top seed. But watch out. The Clipps look like they tryin to turn it up. Playing very well. We need some tune up games before the dance. I've always said at least 10 to 15.
However, Now if you look at the bubble schedule. We had around 10 or so tune up games before the Show. Several losses. But this number, round 10 to 15 means to me we need to work the kinks out and it takes time to get. So I would say a few maybe. But as we close in on the 10 game mark, we need everyone back. And tune up from there.

[Beethoven]

Now it looks a bit different again. Looks like Utah will hold onto 1 and then Suns 2.
If we lose to Dallas again we can go to 6th and Dallas has a big probability of catching us and the Blazers. Blazers however have a tough schedule and I can see them dropping to 7th , just enough to keep us out of it.
The question is to see if Denver overtakes Clippers for the 3rd spot.. If they do, it can go something like this:

1 Utah
2 Suns
3 Denver
4 Clippers
5 Dallas
6 Lakers
7-10

I like this if it works out. Makes Utah and Clippers out of our way.

[LAKESHOW]

With the losses piling up. We gotta go 6. The top threat is Utah. They have been playing the most consistent all year. They were playing awesome in last playoffs.. and their chemistry is strong. Lets wait, build ourselves up, and battle them in the semifinals. The next are the Clipps, but at least we ain't leaving LA for that series. Not overly concerned with Phoenix, but a good team. Denver without Murray are NOT last years Denver squad.

[Spanish_Laker]

No way we stay 5th. AD is rusty as hell and he can't dominate until the playoffs begins. Bron won't come back in the regular season, so let's try to hold on that 6th seed and dodge the play-in tournament. Our superstar duo is injured and won't be ready until mid May.

[BEazy]

I think now we just have to hope we make the playoffs.

[iamworthy]

I prefer to play Denver in the first round. It's going to the some time for LeBron and AD to round back in to form and I think Denver is the easiest playoff matchup right now.