RealGM

Right now the seedings goes like this: Dallas has the tiebreaker over Denver who has the tiebreaker over both Utah and Phoenix (Tiebreaker nr 1) and finally Utah has the tiebreaker over Phoenix. Also Okc is only 1 game behind us in the loss column and we are playing them on the road and if we lose that game they also have the tiebreaker against us, leaving us at 6th place (which is much better than 5th).

The good news is that Denver will most likely fall short because they have have @Okc, Lakers (on the end of a b2b) and Phoenix (on the end of a b2b). Dallas on the other hand will most likely only lose one more game which is @Portland. Utah will probably lose anything between 1-3 games going into our final meeting in Salt Lake City.

So what about Phoenix? On Wednesday we are playing San Antonio and we are catching them on the end of a b2b (3rd game in 4 nights) while we would have rested since the loss last night. That's why I feel great about that game. Next we are facing Okc in Oklahoma which will be though. Altough it will be their 3rd game in 4 nights (Utah and Denver on a b2b before playing us) and we will have a day of rest after the San Antonio game (which I predict will be a sort of a blowout) so we could actually steal one here.

After the Okc game we play Houston at home which shouldn't be any problem at all. They have no size inside and we will beat them yet again. Then we play Denver (catching them on the end of a b2b) and this is a huge game. Must win.

Finally we go to Salt Lake to play Utah on the end of a b2b (same goes for Utah), this will probably be a L.
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I predict that:

Dallas goes 4-1 => 54-28
Denver goes 3-2 or 2-3 => 53-29 or 52-30
Utah goes 4-1 or 3-2 => 54-28 or 53-29
Phoenix goes 3-2 => 53-29

which would put us in the 4th spot. If we manage to beat Okc on the road it still wouldn't be enough for 2 or 3 seed. So basically,

To get the 2 seed we need to go 5-0.
To get the 3 seed we need to go 4-1 and that includes beating Denver and Utah.
To get the 4 seed we need to go 3-2 and that includes beating Denver.

Thoughts?

I think the Jazz will win all 5 games. We can't beat them in Salt Lake City without Lopez in the second day of the back 2 back.

The Mavs' schedule is the easiest, they'll probably win the Southwest division and the second seed.

I really hope the Suns can be the third, Oklahoma City is the key here with their 3 important games (Jazz, Nuggets, Suns).

Utah loses to OKC and wins out the rest. 4-1 record final 5 games.

Dallas loses to SA and wins out the rest. 4-1 record final 5 games.

Denver loses to LA, SA and Phoenix. 2-3 record final 5 games.

Phoenix loses to Utah and OKC. 3-2 record final 5 games.

1 - Lakers
2 - Dallas
3 - Utah
4 - Phoenix
5 - Denver

That is my prediction.

err Really wanted the number 3 seed oh well.

No way Jazz beat OKC and us. 3-2 at best.

Doesn't look like a good matchup for them. OKC's already beaten them 3 times.

I've thought that the 4 seed was most likely for a while now. However, I wouldn't count out the possibility of Utah and Dallas losing two games. The b2b in Houston is going to be tough for Utah (though Houston is on a b2b as well), and outside of the home game with Memphis, I don't think there are any automatics for Dallas either. If the Suns can steal one of those road games they may be able to grab the 2 seed with 1 remaining loss.

3 seed would be flipping ideal.

Manu is butchering the Lakers. I don't think I want the Spurs anymore in the playoffs Their whole team looks determined now.

Avoid Utah and Popovich's team...

OKC is who I'd want most since they lack experience and we usually do well vs young teams. Denver at full stength is very good but they've got Kenyon Martin (who was huge for em when healthy this year) with injury issues, and their head coach should miss the first round, plus we've played them well over the past few years, so I like our chances against em.

Calvin Klein wrote:Manu is butchering the Lakers. I don't think I want the Spurs anymore in the playoffs Their whole team looks determined now.

exactly bro.. thats the Spurs for you. i hope they start sucking and we can handle it but its too much to ask for.

ill take anything 4th seed and better 5th is a bit iffy

Jazz:
OKC - W
@HOU - L (b2b)
@NO - W
@GS - W
PHX - W

Mavs:
MEM - W
@POR - L
@SAC - W
@LAC - W
SAS - W

Nuggets:
@OKC - W
LAL - L (b2b)
SAS - W
MEM - W
@PHX - L (b2b)

Suns:
SAS - W
@OKC - L
HOU - W
DEN - W
@UTAH - L (b2b)

2. DAL
3. UTAH
4. PHX
5. DEN

That loss yesterday was huge. A win would've probably guaranteed us a top 3 seed. Dallas owns the tie-breaker against us and has an easier remaining schedule. Utah owns the tie-breaker vs us and they'll probably beat us the last game. Denver has the toughest remaining schedule and we'll probably own the tie-breaker against them.

hunterxaz wrote:No way Jazz beat OKC and us. 3-2 at best.

OKC has owned Utah this year but i don't see OKC beating them again in Utah

Calvin Klein wrote:Manu is butchering the Lakers.

He's a mutha-freakin' stud.

I would be fine with a 4th seed. It's not like we are contenders so we're gonna have to face the lakers at some point anyways. Losing in the WCF or second round doesn't make a difference to me.

We're definitely contenders. If we're not, then the only contenders are the Lakers, I guess, right?

Anything that keeps us out of L.A. until the WCF and I'm happy. We aren't going to win the WCF without Robin at 100%.

To be honest, I think the Suns with Robin could take anyone to 7 games, and win series versus most teams.

I believe Denver will lose 4 out 5 and end up tied with Portland while SAS will get the #5 spot.

Jazz will lose to Thunder since they get creamed every time by them. Other than the Thunder only Hornets have a shot of beating them.

Suns need to win next four games so they can afford to drop the final game against the Jazz which will be another second game of a b2b if the Jazz lose 2 of the next 5.

Really, at least 6 loses were senseless losses the Suns should never had lost. Their fault for being in this log jam.

I think we're going to go 2-2 into the last game against the Jazz. I think the Spurs are playing too well right now to lose to us, especially when we don't have Lopez to put on TD. I think OKC is going to have their revenge and beat us on their court. We should be able to take Houston and Denver but depending on the way we play, we could just as easily drop a game against either.

Last game against the Jazz is going to be tough, especially on their floor.

I'll be conservative and say we go 2-3. We're already having problems without Lopez against the crap teams on the recent road trip, so 2-3 sound right.

I've been preoccupied with buying a house, job stuff etc so I'm a little out of the loop - we're without Sideshow until the playoffs? If so I see us 3-2 0r 2-3. Some real drama with the last two games against Utah and Denver.
With Rob, I can see us going 4-1

Either way these five games will tell us a lot about who we are

Well hopefully the Thunder can smash on the Jazz tomorrow night in a double overtime game or something so the next night the Jazz face the Rockets they'll be tired and can lose that game too.

I don't think the Suns are going to pull of a 2nd or 3rd seed. Which sucks, but I'm hoping they'll at least get the fourth seed going against the Nuggets. And hopefully the Lakers match up against the Spurs. I'll be more than happy to take on the Spurs rather than the Lakers...