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Spurs lost. we are 3 1/2 games behind. can we get best record?
do we want Memphis or NO?

Won't mean anyhing if we lose to Dallas on thurs, the Mavs are closer to us than we are to the Spurs. We should focus on the Mavs right now, we lose we drop to #3 and all this talk won't matter. One step at a time.

i coulda care less who we face in the first round.

real question is: do we want OKC in the 2nd round?

[quote="Aki"]i coulda care less who we face in the first round.

real question is: do we want OKC in the 2nd round?[/quote]
No

Bring on whichever. We'll dismantle either. It doesn't matter.

Does OKC present a threat? Yes. But we have HCA against them, Artest has consistently given Durant issues over the last two years, I don't see this changing. And the size in the middle is still superior even with their latest move to add Perks.

San Antonio, even with home court, concerns me even less which is why I'm not even paying attention to them. Duncan, at his age, likely won't fair well against the Lakers twin towers in 7 games. They are still a team to watch out for but they'll need TD to step up big and I don't see him putting SA on his shoulders the way of years past. Finishing ahead of the East teams is more urgent to me.

I'm honestly more concerned about holding off Dallas and staying ahead of Chicago/Miami than catching the Spurs. We're more than capable of swinging HC in our favor against the Spurs.

iono why people are scared or worried about OKC. OKC improved their frontcourt but they lost their 3rd best scorer. i feel kobe keeps westbrook in check (RB will run all over fisher obviously) and artest does a good job on KD.. they only have harden as another scorer. their defense might be better but in grind it out playoff basketball, they are not going to be that great. i would be much more worried about dallas in the 2nd round who has depth and a bunch of quick guards, and they got 2 bigs of their own to guard our bigs. i feel we'll beat either team but better chance against OKC.

there is no doubt that we have to win out. we do play SA once more in LA, but if we dont win out, this is a moot point. hell, we could get the best record in the league if we run the table!

HCA against the Spurs isn't that big a deal. We play well in SA and I don't want us to shoot our wad too early... We MUST beat dallas and I think we need to send a message to OKC but other than that, I'm not too worried as long as we can find a way to stay in front of Boston, and Miami, and maybe Chi now...

As for who we face, I think we're more successful in the playoffs when we're tested early. So I think OKC in the first or second round while we're still fresh (hopefully) might actually be a good thing.

dirtymike wrote:there is no doubt that we have to win out. we do play SA once more in LA, but if we dont win out, this is a moot point. hell, we could get the best record in the league if we run the table!

I think the Lakers can lose one and still get #1. Pops is resting dinged up guys and their remaining schedule is tough (not that LA's is soft).

Not sure how important it is, but it'd be a pretty damn cool feat considering how everyone was panicking just a month and a half ago.

what i meant with this thread is that the possibility of catching the Spurs is there now.
the reason for me to want overall HCA is with the East teams. don't want to Chance it with Miami or even Boston who are spiraling down anyway, but still.

It's gonna be 8 on 5 against Wade in Miami, so Homecourt is VITAL for that potential series.

I don't know why you guys are avoiding the Thunder, beating the Thunder would give the Lakers great experience for the potential Finals.

Similarities:

Thunder: Good fast PG (Bigs in the middle who can rebound and block) + Another Top SF
Bulls: Good fast PG (Bigs in the middle)
Miami: Good fast SG +Another Top SF
Boston: Good fast PG along with great all-around players.

You forget that we play some good teams: Denver, San Antonio, Dallas, @Portland, as well as Oklahoma City. I would love to stay undefeated, but not so sure it's that likely.

I think this is a more fitting picture:

call me arrogant,a homer or whatever,but i don't really care about seeding. all i care about is our health. if we are healthy(kobe,gasol,bynum,odom)then i love our chances against anyone! as far as the thunder goes,perkins just can't handle drew playing at the level he is playing at now,artest does a good job on durant ,and kobe can do a good job on westbrook.

Can we do it? Yes. Should we? I'm not sure. Some of you are really selling OKC short. In case you've forgotten we almost got knocked out last season by this team, they gave us fits before and Perkins does nothing but help them. Can we beat them? I'm quite sure we can, but why should we have to go through the headache of playing them when the Spurs can do the head hurting for us. If they get through the Spurs then all well and fine but I say we should let the Spurs face off against them. Only thing we need to worry about is having a better record than anyone in the East.

Jetset wrote:Can we do it? Yes. Should we? I'm not sure. Some of you are really selling OKC short. In case you've forgotten we almost got knocked out last season by this team, they gave us fits before and Perkins does nothing but help them. Can we beat them? I'm quite sure we can, but why should we have to go through the headache of playing them when the Spurs can do the head hurting for us. If they get through the Spurs then all well and fine but I say we should let the Spurs face off against them. Only thing we need to worry about is having a better record than anyone in the East.

I just hope a team tests us early in the playoffs so were ready for the real challenge and not just sleep walking

KB24TBOTB wrote:

Aki wrote:i coulda care less who we face in the first round.

real question is: do we want OKC in the 2nd round?[/quote]
No

I'm incline to agree, we would have to control the tempo of the game for 48 minutes

Jetset wrote:Can we do it? Yes. Should we? I'm not sure.

You never, ever, every turn down an opportunity to get home court advantage. Kobe's bravado on the subject is all well and good, but there's no way we win the Finals last year without HC. We don't need it, but it sure would be nice. Ultimately, though, I think we're going to come up just a game or two short. That loss to Cleveland is really going to cost us.