Utah or Dallas?

Dr Aki · Post #1 » by **Dr Aki** » Thu Apr 9, 2009 9:24 am

Damn Dallas flattened Utah today

with the schedules the way they are, dallas have a better chance at going 3-1 and utah going 2-1 before facing the Lakers on April 14th. Utah needs a win to stay ahead of Dallas for 7th seed. And we know the Jazz (even though they can't win away from home) are the deepest, well-oiled (all-Sloan teams are) and physical teams we can possibly face.

question is, do we purposely lose to utah in our final game to land Dallas in the first round instead of Utah?? who at 7th seed we wouldnt meet til the WCFs (if they even got that far)??

or if we had a shot at HCA over cleveland, would you want to beat utah then and be forced into a 1st round matchup with utah without an in-form bynum?? Or do we beat Utah and hope that Houston beats Dallas the following day and we get to crush the Mavs that way?

Joe Kleazy · Post #2 » by **Joe Kleazy** » Thu Apr 9, 2009 1:04 pm

Whooop azz, let security cuuury em out.

hermes · Post #3 » by **hermes** » Thu Apr 9, 2009 1:38 pm

i don't like to purposely lose, and i would prefer the mavs in the first round

sir, i would like to have my cake, and i will also eat it!

BallAboveAll · Post #4 » by **BallAboveAll** » Thu Apr 9, 2009 2:08 pm

We need to just focus on us right now. We need to be playing at a high level going into the playoffs. My theory is that you are going to have to play whoever is in front of you regardless. If we are as good as we think we are, we shouldn't have a problem beating Utah.

Besides they aren't playing well at all. And that's going to affect them going into the playoffs. So maybe they become a little more beatable at home.

One thing that can be said is that they are bad on the road. This isn't the same Jazz team from last year. They have gone through injuries and haven't put together the great season that was expected.

Post #5 » by **dockingsched** » Thu Apr 9, 2009 2:25 pm

purposely lose? of course not. not even a consideration.

Sedale Threatt · Post #6 » by **Sedale Threatt** » Thu Apr 9, 2009 2:48 pm

I go Dallas, because it's much tougher winning in Utah, and we have the personnel in Gasol and Odom to bother Nowitzki. Terry might be a different story, but I don't remember Dirk giving us too much trouble this year. So overall I think we match up pretty well with them.

supaflash · Post #7 » by **supaflash** » Thu Apr 9, 2009 3:42 pm

Doesn't matter, neither team can beat us IMHO. The only bad thing about playing Utah is that they basically get 3 straight games in LA. Its hard to win 3 straight against a team nomatter who they are and then we have to go to Salt Lake where they are super tough.

I'd much rather face Dallas, they just aren't a physical team, they don't have a beat you up defense and we match up well with their best two players in Dirk and Howard. Terry gives us problems but he can be contained. They have virtually no post game and not a ton of penetration. They rely heavily on jumpshots to beat you and that ain't going to work against us in a series. We have plenty of guys to bother Dirk all series and they have no one to defend Kobe. Dallas is certainly capable of beating anyone on a given night but there is no way they can hang with us in a series, it would be a nice comy series for us.

Utah, while I don't think they can beat us, presents a lot of problems. Playing them on the last day like I said above makes for a wierd situation. That game almost gives them a win in the first game in Utah in my mind. Utah is also very physical and will make for a tough series regardless of how long it goes. They also have strengths to a couple of our weaknesses, good shooting bigmen and an elite PG. BUT, their inability to win on the road and really their lack of ability to match up with our size inside will make it really tough for them to beat us.

I dunno, to be honest if we can't catch Cleveland, I say let the starters play 1 quarter and thats it, let the bench play the rest of the game. Win or lose at that point it won't matter.

fareweatherfan · Post #8 » by **fareweatherfan** » Thu Apr 9, 2009 4:27 pm

dcash4 wrote:purposely lose? of course not. not even a consideration.

nonplayerzealot · Post #9 » by **nonplayerzealot** » Thu Apr 9, 2009 5:13 pm

dcash4 wrote:purposely lose? of course not. not even a consideration.

The Jazz probably can't beat the Lakers on the road unless Jackson pulls a Riley and benches Magic, Worthy, and Scott (remember he did that back in 1990 and we got waxed up in Porty). The 2009 equivalents would be Kobe, Pau, and Ariza.

And the Jazz STILL might lose.

vinnycorleone · Post #10 » by **vinnycorleone** » Thu Apr 9, 2009 8:16 pm

IF...and a big IF.

IF...home court is already locked up by the Cavs. I don't mind losing to Utah if it means we get Dallas.

But if we can still get HCA, that's a must win game.

DEEP3CL · Post #11 » by **DEEP3CL** » Thu Apr 9, 2009 9:26 pm

Joe Kleazy wrote:Whooop azz, let security cuuury em out.

That's what I'm talkin about Joe,I absolutly detest these types of questions. Didn't people see how that cost the Mavs in 07 verses the Warriors ?

If you man enough get in line and take a number...............and take this beat down cause that's how it's going down.

Post #12 » by **Danny Darko** » Thu Apr 9, 2009 9:59 pm

dcash4 wrote:purposely lose? of course not. not even a consideration.

+1

picc · Post #13 » by **picc** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 12:35 am

I don't think it matters. Utah may have a great homecourt but their just not a very good team when it all comes down to it. This team should be ready to take either without too much trouble.

DSe · Post #14 » by **DSe** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 2:00 am

Moot point, we will get NO in the first round. I don't see what the big deal is about resting the starters in the second half and letting Utah win if it means we get a MUCH easier first round opponent. It's trendy to think doing that is really a big deal, like it's going to hurt your team down the line, no way it means nothing.

Frantik · Post #15 » by **Frantik** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:04 am

Loosing on purpose is not an option!

I sure would like to face Dallas first. Even though the Jazz look worse, i get the feeling they match-up better against us. I would rather play our guys againt Jkidd instead of Deron. Id rather do Dirk vs. Pau than Pau vs. Milsap and Boozer...

when its all said and done tho, it wont matter. Lakers will beat anyone.

CITYOFANGELSX3 · Post #16 » by **CITYOFANGELSX3** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 6:35 am

We play who ever we play, lose intentional isnt in this team's breath.

kobe808lak · Post #17 » by **kobe808lak** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:13 pm

I don't know why people fear utah at this point. They have lost 4 of their last 5 and are backing into the playoffs not playin well at all. Yes they are solid at home but most playoff teams are anyways. Dallas only has 2 more home losses than Utah so it isn't a big disparity there. It won't matter who we play.

kobesmyhomie · Post #18 » by **kobesmyhomie** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 6:48 pm

kobe808lak wrote:I don't know why people fear utah at this point. They have lost 4 of their last 5 and are backing into the playoffs not playin well at all. Yes they are solid at home but most playoff teams are anyways. Dallas only has 2 more home losses than Utah so it isn't a big disparity there. It won't matter who we play.

I agree. Utah is playing .500 type of ball right now. They are a very good home, but guys remember last year? We finished them off on their home court and that was without Andrew Bynum and Ariza.

rand0m · Post #19 » by **rand0m** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 7:21 pm

I don't fear utah, but it'll be much more physical and tougher than a series with Dallas. I would probably play them now rather than see them surge into the WCF (I think they are capable when playing well).

CX44 · Post #20 » by **CX44** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:43 pm

the Lakers have the best road record in the NBA and Utah or Dallas does not matter. Now Portland thats another story.

Do we lose to Utah to face Dallas in the first round??