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10 games left. 5 games behind San Antonio. Half game behind Chicago. We're on a hot streak right now. Do you guys think we can still have HCA through out the playoffs?

Sidenote: And if ever we'll have the best record, do you think it will give Kobe a chance to win the MVP?


http://www.nba.com/standings/team_recor ... d_Cnf.html

I would say it is a very slim chance. Spurs would have to lose like 3 more in a row and we would have to win the head to head matchup against them in staples to have a decent shot at it. I don't think spurs will just roll over because of the lose of Duncan as most of their success revolves around TP and Manu. As for catching the bulls for the 2nd best record in the league is very possible but the best record seems sealed and put away by the spurs as of now.

KB24TBOTB wrote:I would say it is a very slim chance. Spurs would have to lose like 3 more in a row and we would have to win the head to head matchup against them in staples to have a decent shot at it. I don't think spurs will just roll over because of the lose of Duncan as most of their success revolves around TP and Manu. As for catching the bulls for the 2nd best record in the league is very possible but the best record seems sealed and put away by the spurs as of now.

I see. Anyways, I'm confident that we can beat the Spurs on their floor easily so it doesn't matter if they have HCA.

San Antonio has to lose against Memphis on the road and Boston at home. Then we can probably talk.

At this point, and I am going to be very honest, I think our priority is not getting injuries instead of getting HCA. If we go too hard at this and pick up a cheap injury to one of our main rotation guys (think Bynum and Kobe), we'd be in way worse shape even with HCA than we would be without HCA.

If we win all the games left(unlikely) we'll have a slight chance.....San Antonio needs to lose 4 more times(assuming we win our last matchup) and in case of a tie,with the season matchup 2-2,we'll have the edge due to a better division record

If we lose even once,I think it's over,we won't catch them
As for Chicago I think we'll surpass them eventually


Kobe for MVP is a longshot but if the scenarios above happen(we surpass the Spurs and Chicago,won't lose again) and if we have a 62-20 record with 24-1 after All-star break I think he takes it...extremely unlikely though

It's been critical in the the Lakers final wins this past decade. It's very critical the Lakers have HCA in the Finals. If that means they also pass San Antonio on the way that's even better, but as of right now it's really just trying to stay ahead of Chicago.

Two unlucky games and you're down 2-0? That's not a scenario you want to have. Chicago's schedule isn't that tough towards the finish.

aint happening nor should we worry about it

I'm not worried about chicago having hca because they our experience will override their lack of experience. More worried about securing hca over boston or miami in the finals.

Best road record in the league, most post season experience? It doesn't really matter if we catch San An. We will certainly catch the bulls and finish up with enough wins to have HC over everyone else.

Honestly the way people are talking, no one besides Rose has a shot at MVP. And truth be told he is the engine running the bulls. They have been balling without Noah and boozer for looong stretches, they almost seemed uneffected by their respective injuries. He's got it locked up.

Do you guys realize how many teams with the overall best record has won the title in the last 5 years ?

05-06 Detroit had the best record, Miami won the title.
06-07 Dallas had the best record, Spurs won the title.
07-08 Celtics had the best record, Celtics won the title.
08-09 Cavs had the best record, Lakers won the title.
09-10 Cavs had the best record, Lakers won the title.

So only once in the last 5 seasons has the team with the best overall record has won the title. Not saying it isn't worth anything but it seems teams rely too much on letting the record boast their strength.

Now on the flip side of that the Lakers have had the best overall record in the conference the last 3 seasons in a row, so in a way it's vital in our success in how we've done in the playoffs in our own conference. But to me, I don't think we need it as bad as some may make it seem. You have to understand the Spurs chase for the HCA in the league and conference was a mental mind ploy by Popvich. When he came out early in the year and said having HCA is crucial to the Spurs, I knew right then he questioned his teams ability to beat the Lakers without it.

The only reason they got out to the lead they did is for one we had that bad stretch back in December, secondly they avoided injury up until now. But I'm not worried about them, we can beat them on their floor when it counts..........we only need one win to swing it our way.

It's possible. Duncan is hurt & the Spurs had a bad loss where they choked against Portland. If they start tripping off of that they could spiral.

Not as implausible as one may think.

Games where they're close to even money or underdogs:
@ Memphis
@ Houston (very hot team)
@ LA

Games that might be tough:
vs Portland
vs Boston
vs Phoenix
@ Atlanta
@ Phoenix

With Duncan injured and the way they're playing, I can see 6 losses there.

But yeah, I don't think Phil's gonna play Kobe, Pau, and Bynum crazy minutes trying to get HCA. Probably not the #1 priority

DEEP3CL wrote:Do you guys realize how many teams with the overall best record has won the title in the last 5 years ?

05-06 Detroit had the best record, Miami won the title.
06-07 Dallas had the best record, Spurs won the title.
07-08 Celtics had the best record, Celtics won the title.
08-09 Cavs had the best record, Lakers won the title.
09-10 Cavs had the best record, Lakers won the title.

So only once in the last 5 seasons has the team with the best overall record has won the title. Not saying it isn't worth anything but it seems teams rely too much on letting the record boast their strength.

Now on the flip side of that the Lakers have had the best overall record in the conference the last 3 seasons in a row, so in a way it's vital in our success in how we've done in the playoffs in our own conference. But to me, I don't think we need it as bad as some may make it seem. You have to understand the Spurs chase for the HCA in the league and conference was a mental mind ploy by Popvich. When he came out early in the year and said having HCA is crucial to the Spurs, I knew right then he questioned his teams ability to beat the Lakers without it.

The only reason they got out to the lead they did is for one we had that bad stretch back in December, secondly they avoided injury up until now. But I'm not worried about them, we can beat them on their floor when it counts..........we only need one win to swing it our way.

+1 billion

DEEP3CL wrote:Do you guys realize how many teams with the overall best record has won the title in the last 5 years ?

05-06 Detroit had the best record, Miami won the title.
06-07 Dallas had the best record, Spurs won the title.
07-08 Celtics had the best record, Celtics won the title.
08-09 Cavs had the best record, Lakers won the title.
09-10 Cavs had the best record, Lakers won the title.

So only once in the last 5 seasons has the team with the best overall record has won the title. Not saying it isn't worth anything but it seems teams rely too much on letting the record boast their strength.

Now on the flip side of that the Lakers have had the best overall record in the conference the last 3 seasons in a row, so in a way it's vital in our success in how we've done in the playoffs in our own conference. But to me, I don't think we need it as bad as some may make it seem. You have to understand the Spurs chase for the HCA in the league and conference was a mental mind ploy by Popvich. When he came out early in the year and said having HCA is crucial to the Spurs, I knew right then he questioned his teams ability to beat the Lakers without it.

The only reason they got out to the lead they did is for one we had that bad stretch back in December, secondly they avoided injury up until now. But I'm not worried about them, we can beat them on their floor when it counts..........we only need one win to swing it our way.

totally agree with your assessment on popovich. the spurs usually never "care" about the regular season, but this season they placed a priority on HCA. he knows theyre going to need homecourt to give them a chance against us, one of the few teams that can exploit their lack of bigs.

andrewww wrote:

DEEP3CL wrote:Do you guys realize how many teams with the overall best record has won the title in the last 5 years ?

05-06 Detroit had the best record, Miami won the title.
06-07 Dallas had the best record, Spurs won the title.
07-08 Celtics had the best record, Celtics won the title.
08-09 Cavs had the best record, Lakers won the title.
09-10 Cavs had the best record, Lakers won the title.

So only once in the last 5 seasons has the team with the best overall record has won the title. Not saying it isn't worth anything but it seems teams rely too much on letting the record boast their strength.

Now on the flip side of that the Lakers have had the best overall record in the conference the last 3 seasons in a row, so in a way it's vital in our success in how we've done in the playoffs in our own conference. But to me, I don't think we need it as bad as some may make it seem. You have to understand the Spurs chase for the HCA in the league and conference was a mental mind ploy by Popvich. When he came out early in the year and said having HCA is crucial to the Spurs, I knew right then he questioned his teams ability to beat the Lakers without it.

The only reason they got out to the lead they did is for one we had that bad stretch back in December, secondly they avoided injury up until now. But I'm not worried about them, we can beat them on their floor when it counts..........we only need one win to swing it our way.

totally agree with your assessment on popovich. the spurs usually never "care" about the regular season, but this season they placed a priority on HCA. he knows theyre going to need homecourt to give them a chance against us, one of the few teams that can exploit their lack of bigs.

I'm incline to agree, we have the size and the games best closer. This will be over in five

to be honest i'd rather have the 2 seed and matchup with the mavs than have the 1 seed and matchup with the thunder.

dcash4 wrote:to be honest i'd rather have the 2 seed and matchup with the mavs than have the 1 seed and matchup with the thunder.

+1

I keep hearing about the Thunder again and again as if they're some unbelievable team but they're not. Ibaka-Perkins is a great defensive duo but they allow the Lakers to pack the paint to no end which will be a major factor in slowing down what will be a two man show in the playoffs for them. They were dangerous with Green because he could guard Odom, spread the floor and allow the Thunder to have Westbrook penetrate. They may be better defensively but the Lakers are capable of playing with the best defensive teams now.

not that they're great, i just think they're a bigger threat than the mavs. i could be wrong though.