First Round Playoffs: (5) LA Clippers/GS Warriors @ (4) Phoenix Suns

[bwgood77]

Clippers win. Lakers can no longer be 5th.

Here is how each team tomorrow can be the Suns' opponent in the first round:

Clippers -- Win @ PHX or all 3 teams lose

Warriors -- Win @ POR and Clippers lose

Pelicans -- Win @ MIN and Clippers/Warriors lose

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Or if all those teams lose we would play the Clippers.

[bwgood77]

Clippers win. Lakers can no longer be 5th.

Here is how each team tomorrow can be the Suns' opponent in the first round:

Clippers -- Win @ PHX or all 3 teams lose

Warriors -- Win @ POR and Clippers lose

Pelicans -- Win @ MIN and Clippers/Warriors lose

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It will be interesting if the Clippers lose tomorrow. Because even if the Warriors did wan to avoid us they'd have to play to win, because if New Orleans won, I think with a loss, GS would tumble to 7th...and obviously any team wants to avoid the play in.

If we rest the Clippers should beat us, but they now CANNOT tumble to 7th, so are guaranteed 6th if the Warriors win and 6th if the Warriors lose.

[starbosa10]

Clippers win. Lakers can no longer be 5th.

Here is how each team tomorrow can be the Suns' opponent in the first round:

Clippers -- Win @ PHX or all 3 teams lose

Warriors -- Win @ POR and Clippers lose

Pelicans -- Win @ MIN and Clippers/Warriors lose

Read on Twitter

Or if all those teams lose we would play the Clippers.

Can't see Warriors or clips losing tbh. A loss risks them ending up in the playin

[bwgood77]

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Or if all those teams lose we would play the Clippers.

Can't see Warriors or clips losing tbh. A loss risks them ending up in the playin

Clips can't be in play in now. They are guaranteed 6th if the Warriors win and 5th if they lose. But the Warriors could tumble to 7th if they lose, so the Clips may rest everyone if they prefer the Kings.

[starbosa10]

Or if all those teams lose we would play the Clippers.

Can't see Warriors or clips losing tbh. A loss risks them ending up in the playin

Clips can't be in play in now. They are guaranteed 6th if the Warriors win and 5th if they lose. But the Warriors could tumble to 7th if they lose, so the Clips may rest everyone if they prefer the Kings.

Is Olson wrong? That's what I was going off of

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[bwgood77]

Can't see Warriors or clips losing tbh. A loss risks them ending up in the playin

Clips can't be in play in now. They are guaranteed 6th if the Warriors win and 5th if they lose. But the Warriors could tumble to 7th if they lose, so the Clips may rest everyone if they prefer the Kings.

Is Olson wrong? That's what I was going off of

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No, he's right. If Clips lose, one of the last two scenarios happens...we would play the Pelicans or Warriors, Warriors if they won, or Pelicans if they won and all lost. If all 3 lost, we play Clips too. But I imagine if the Clips lose at noon, the Warriors and Pelicans will both want to win, meaning we likely would play one of those two.

[Saberestar]

Or if all those teams lose we would play the Clippers.

Can't see Warriors or clips losing tbh. A loss risks them ending up in the playin

Clips can't be in play in now. They are guaranteed 6th if the Warriors win and 5th if they lose. But the Warriors could tumble to 7th if they lose, so the Clips may rest everyone if they prefer the Kings.

The Clippers CAN be in play in if they lose and GSW and Pelicans win.

All three teams need the win tomorrow.

[bwgood77]

Can't see Warriors or clips losing tbh. A loss risks them ending up in the playin

Clips can't be in play in now. They are guaranteed 6th if the Warriors win and 5th if they lose. But the Warriors could tumble to 7th if they lose, so the Clips may rest everyone if they prefer the Kings.

The Clippers CAN be in play in if they lose and GSW and Pelicans win.

All three teams need the win tomorrow.

According to this that isn't the case since they won today....though I guess this could be wrong..

Where LAC stands: As complicated as the Warriors’ path to avoid the play-in is, the Clippers might have the most simple one because of tiebreakers over both the Lakers and Warriors.

If LA wins its final two games, the team is locked in for the 5th seed with a tiebreaker over the Warriors. The Clippers sit a half-game behind Golden State in the standings currently. If it splits its final two games, the Clippers will be 6th. If the Clippers were to lose both, it could fall to 7th if New Orleans wins its last game against the Timberwolves. The Clippers will be no worse than 7th.

https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/nba-playoff-picture-2023-how-warriors-can-avoid-play-tournament

Though reading the Warriors part in there, it gets more confusing. The problem is this was written before today's games.

[Saberestar]

Clips can't be in play in now. They are guaranteed 6th if the Warriors win and 5th if they lose. But the Warriors could tumble to 7th if they lose, so the Clips may rest everyone if they prefer the Kings.

The Clippers CAN be in play in if they lose and GSW and Pelicans win.

All three teams need the win tomorrow.

According to this that isn't the case since they won today....though I guess this could be wrong..

Where LAC stands: As complicated as the Warriors’ path to avoid the play-in is, the Clippers might have the most simple one because of tiebreakers over both the Lakers and Warriors.

If LA wins its final two games, the team is locked in for the 5th seed with a tiebreaker over the Warriors. The Clippers sit a half-game behind Golden State in the standings currently. If it splits its final two games, the Clippers will be 6th. If the Clippers were to lose both, it could fall to 7th if New Orleans wins its last game against the Timberwolves. The Clippers will be no worse than 7th.

https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/nba-playoff-picture-2023-how-warriors-can-avoid-play-tournament

Though reading the Warriors part in there, it gets more confusing. The problem is this was written before today's games.

That’s wrong.

The Clippers could be 7th if they lose and GSW and Pels win.

[bwgood77]

The Clippers CAN be in play in if they lose and GSW and Pelicans win.

All three teams need the win tomorrow.

According to this that isn't the case since they won today....though I guess this could be wrong..

Where LAC stands: As complicated as the Warriors’ path to avoid the play-in is, the Clippers might have the most simple one because of tiebreakers over both the Lakers and Warriors.

If LA wins its final two games, the team is locked in for the 5th seed with a tiebreaker over the Warriors. The Clippers sit a half-game behind Golden State in the standings currently. If it splits its final two games, the Clippers will be 6th. If the Clippers were to lose both, it could fall to 7th if New Orleans wins its last game against the Timberwolves. The Clippers will be no worse than 7th.

https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/nba-playoff-picture-2023-how-warriors-can-avoid-play-tournament

Though reading the Warriors part in there, it gets more confusing. The problem is this was written before today's games.

That’s wrong.

The Clippers could be 7th if they lose and GSW and Pels win.

OK, before reading that, it did seem like the Clippers could drop to 7th if they all 3 tied since it seems like they had the worst common record between the 3 teams (I think the Pelicans swept them and they were 2-2 vs the Warriors).

[bwgood77]

I'm curious the chances on a Paul George return. He was at the game today exercising with team before the game with brace off. Our first playoff game will very likely be Sat (I imagine they do 4/5 and 3/6 Sat and the others Sunday given the last play in game is Friday).

[Hitachi77]

Are we sitting people tomorrow? Anyone know? I am guessing Payne and Biyombo will sit, and if our top 4 guys sit too, we would probably end up playing the rest of our guys 40+ mins, like Milwaukee did last year to lose the last game.

You saw how well the bench guys did vs the Lakers. At home they would do even better, and the Clippers are on a b2b. In other words, we probably will have to actively try to lose, assuming the team wants the clips.

[starbosa10]

Are we sitting people tomorrow? Anyone know? I am guessing Payne and Biyombo will sit, and if our top 4 guys sit too, we would probably end up playing the rest of our guys 40+ mins, like Milwaukee did last year to lose the last game.

You saw how well the bench guys did vs the Lakers. At home they would do even better, and the Clippers are on a b2b. In other words, we probably will have to actively try to lose, assuming the team wants the clips.

Yup, TJ is also listed as doubtful

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[SunsRback4Good]

Are we sitting people tomorrow? Anyone know? I am guessing Payne and Biyombo will sit, and if our top 4 guys sit too, we would probably end up playing the rest of our guys 40+ mins, like Milwaukee did last year to lose the last game.

You saw how well the bench guys did vs the Lakers. At home they would do even better, and the Clippers are on a b2b. In other words, we probably will have to actively try to lose, assuming the team wants the clips.

Yup, TJ is also listed as doubtful

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TJ is always listed doubtful and injured.

[bwgood77]

Are we sitting people tomorrow? Anyone know? I am guessing Payne and Biyombo will sit, and if our top 4 guys sit too, we would probably end up playing the rest of our guys 40+ mins, like Milwaukee did last year to lose the last game.

You saw how well the bench guys did vs the Lakers. At home they would do even better, and the Clippers are on a b2b. In other words, we probably will have to actively try to lose, assuming the team wants the clips.

Yup, TJ is also listed as doubtful

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TJ is always listed doubtful and injured.

Out with illness. Our next game isn't for another week so I'm sure he will be fine then.

[Saberestar]

I'm curious the chances on a Paul George return. He was at the game today exercising with team before the game with brace off. Our first playoff game will very likely be Sat (I imagine they do 4/5 and 3/6 Sat and the others Sunday given the last play in game is Friday).

My guess is that he will be back for the start of the playoffs.

He is gonna be reevaluated and they will decide when he is exactly back, but they talked about him needing around 3 weeks. Ha has already rested nearly 3 weeks now.

It doesn't matter. With or without PG, the Clippers look an easier opponent than a healthy Warriors team.

Edit: After reading much more about it I think that PG coming back for the start of the playoffs is a really long shot. He has had so many injuries in his knees before this one, I doubt that he will be on the court before the second round. We will see.

[sunsbg]

A player returning from a frightening leg injury just before Suns playoff series. Where I have seen it before.

[SunsRback4Good]

A player returning from a frightening leg injury just before Suns playoff series. Where I have seen it before.

Anthony Davis in 2021?

[Saberestar]

Tyronn Lue says the Clippers will not sit anyone out tomorrow. Will be the second back to back of the season for Kawhi Leonard.

Tyronn Lue on the Suns potentially resting guys tomorrow vs. Clippers - "I hope they sit all 5 guys. Mony Williams, James Jones, all of them."

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[Saberestar]

A player returning from a frightening leg injury just before Suns playoff series. Where I have seen it before.

It's just my guess but I probably will be wrong about it.

PG is not Anteto. PG loves load management and rest games...that makes him back to the court less likely than other type of players.