West Watch: Lakers vs Warriors First Round Matchup

[facothomas22]

If the Warriors win on Sunday vs the Clippers, they will have basically have a extended regular season where they don't have to put in serious effort in order to dominate that series. They could also get a inexperienced Rockets team in the 2nd round, which should be another easy match up for the Warriors. Their 1st major test might not come until the Conference Finals vs the Thunder.

[Mavrelous]

So east stamdings are fully set, west standings are almost set, only opens are
5,6,7
9,10

Even lottery order of last 10 is set.
Only real game on Sunday is LAC@GSW, basically a 3rd play in game for each team.

[LakersSoul]

Yeah I think there is lots of confusion around who finishes where in a 3 way tie between the Twolves, Warriors and Clippers. Clearly t wolves get the 5 seed, but do the head to heads then reset between clippers and GS (which would give the clippers the 6 seed) or is it still done on the combined 3 way head to head (giving Gs the 6 seed). Seems like lots of conflicting info on the rules of a 3 way tie

Not exactly. With 3 or more teams, seeding is applied first on the basis of winning percentage in all games among the tied teams. That could be the end of it. Only if two teams are still tied does it revert to the 2 team tiebreakers.

No…

It’s
1. Head to head: total record against tied teams
2. Division winners
3. Conference record
4. Conference record against playoff teams

[LakersSoul]

It would be quite beautiful to see Curry gift LeBron a first-round exit.

I would prefer first round against Memphis, or, Minn.

Out of the rest:
Denver,
then GSW,
and lastly Clippers

All have pros and cons and believe Lakers make it out to play OKC but still prefer easiest path forward.

[Bob8]

FINAL GAMEDAY update!

Current Standings:

4 Nuggets (49-32)
5 Clippers (49-32)

6 Warriors (48-33)
7 Wolves (48-33)

8 Grizzlies (47-34)

9 Kings (39-42)
10 Mavericks (39-42)


Remaining Schedule:

Nuggets (@ Rockets)
Warriors (vs Clippers)
Clippers (@ Warriors)
Grizz (vs Mavs)
Wolves (vs Jazz)

Assuming the "favorites" deliver the W in the final day:

4 Nuggets (50-32) - Takes on a resting Rockets squad, should be a win

5 Wolves (49-33) - Takes on a resting (since all star break) Jazz squad, should be a blowout win.

6 Warriors (49-33)
7 Clippers (49-33)

8 Grizzlies (47-35) - Likely 8th seed. Should not use Ja Morant's grenade.

9 Kings (40-42) - Faces the sorry Suns, should get the HC advantage in the playin round with 3-0 record over Mavs in reg season.
10 Mavericks (40-42) - Faces Memphis.

TIEBREAKER BASIS FOR MULTI-WAY TIES:
(1) Division leader wins tie from team not leading a division
(2) Head-to-head won-lost percentage
(3) Division won-lost percentage for teams in the same division
(4) Conference won-lost percentage
(5) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff teams, own conference
(6) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff teams, other conference
(7) Net Points, all games

Wolves, 3-0 vs Clippers
Wolves, 1-3 vs Warriors
Wolves, 4-3 among tied teams

Warriors, 3-1 vs Wolves
Warriors, 1-3 vs Clippers
Warriors 4-4 among tied teams


Clippers, 3-1 vs Warriors
Clippers, 0-3 vs Wolves
Clippers 3-4 among tied teams


In short, that Clippers vs Warriors game should decide the final seedings (and of course if any upset from those Nuggets' and Wolves' games)

If Clippers win, they avoid the play-in round and will be tied with the Nuggets, who are 2-2 vs the Clippers this season (so record vs West, Nuggets takes the tiebreak win)

If Warriors win, we'll get (what every casual wants):

Thunder vs. Grizzlies (or Clippers/Mavericks/Kings)
Rockets vs Clippers (or Grizzlies/Mavericks/Kings)
Lakers vs Warriors!
Nuggets vs Wolves!

GO WARRIORS!

(Did i forget other scenarios and tiebreak rules, please correct!)

What happens in 4-way tie between Denver/Clippers/Warriors/Wolves?

[EmpireFalls]

It will be shocking to most of you how one-sided the Warriors win over the Lakers will be.

Probably not even 6 games.

[Mavrelous]

FINAL GAMEDAY update!

Current Standings:

4 Nuggets (49-32)
5 Clippers (49-32)

6 Warriors (48-33)
7 Wolves (48-33)

8 Grizzlies (47-34)

9 Kings (39-42)
10 Mavericks (39-42)


Remaining Schedule:

Nuggets (@ Rockets)
Warriors (vs Clippers)
Clippers (@ Warriors)
Grizz (vs Mavs)
Wolves (vs Jazz)

Assuming the "favorites" deliver the W in the final day:

4 Nuggets (50-32) - Takes on a resting Rockets squad, should be a win

5 Wolves (49-33) - Takes on a resting (since all star break) Jazz squad, should be a blowout win.

6 Warriors (49-33)
7 Clippers (49-33)

8 Grizzlies (47-35) - Likely 8th seed. Should not use Ja Morant's grenade.

9 Kings (40-42) - Faces the sorry Suns, should get the HC advantage in the playin round with 3-0 record over Mavs in reg season.
10 Mavericks (40-42) - Faces Memphis.

TIEBREAKER BASIS FOR MULTI-WAY TIES:
(1) Division leader wins tie from team not leading a division
(2) Head-to-head won-lost percentage
(3) Division won-lost percentage for teams in the same division
(4) Conference won-lost percentage
(5) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff teams, own conference
(6) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff teams, other conference
(7) Net Points, all games

Wolves, 3-0 vs Clippers
Wolves, 1-3 vs Warriors
Wolves, 4-3 among tied teams

Warriors, 3-1 vs Wolves
Warriors, 1-3 vs Clippers
Warriors 4-4 among tied teams


Clippers, 3-1 vs Warriors
Clippers, 0-3 vs Wolves
Clippers 3-4 among tied teams


In short, that Clippers vs Warriors game should decide the final seedings (and of course if any upset from those Nuggets' and Wolves' games)

If Clippers win, they avoid the play-in round and will be tied with the Nuggets, who are 2-2 vs the Clippers this season (so record vs West, Nuggets takes the tiebreak win)

If Warriors win, we'll get (what every casual wants):

Thunder vs. Grizzlies (or Clippers/Mavericks/Kings)
Rockets vs Clippers (or Grizzlies/Mavericks/Kings)
Lakers vs Warriors!
Nuggets vs Wolves!

GO WARRIORS!

(Did i forget other scenarios and tiebreak rules, please correct!)

What happens in 4-way tie between Denver/Clippers/Warriors/Wolves?

Wolves
Warriors
Clippers
Nuggets

Wolves swept the Nuggets, gives them massive advantage in tie breakers involving both of them.
Denver won't lose to the Rockets G league team though

[levon]

It will be shocking to most of you how one-sided the Warriors win over the Lakers will be.

Probably not even 6 games.

You should put all your money on it

[EmpireFalls]

It will be shocking to most of you how one-sided the Warriors win over the Lakers will be.

Probably not even 6 games.

You should put all your money on it

I’ll have to see what the matchup is. The Wolves one is more manageable, though that one is not easy.

Either way, the Lakers are clear underdogs.

No 5. No rim protection. No shutdown perimeter defender. Will get killed on the boards and inside if they play small, but won’t have good spacing if they play Hayes too much. I’ll gladly bet against this fake contender any day.

[levon]

It will be shocking to most of you how one-sided the Warriors win over the Lakers will be.

Probably not even 6 games.

You should put all your money on it

I’ll have to see what the matchup is. The Wolves one is more manageable, though that one is not easy.

Either way, the Lakers are clear underdogs.

No 5. No rim protection. No shutdown perimeter defender. Will get killed on the boards and inside if they play small, but won’t have good spacing if they play Hayes too much. I’ll gladly bet against this fake contender any day.

On the Warriors in 4 or 5 if you're so confident.

[EmpireFalls]

You should put all your money on it

I’ll have to see what the matchup is. The Wolves one is more manageable, though that one is not easy.

Either way, the Lakers are clear underdogs.

No 5. No rim protection. No shutdown perimeter defender. Will get killed on the boards and inside if they play small, but won’t have good spacing if they play Hayes too much. I’ll gladly bet against this fake contender any day.

On the Warriors in 4 or 5 if you're so confident.

Absolutely.

[levon]

I’ll have to see what the matchup is. The Wolves one is more manageable, though that one is not easy.

Either way, the Lakers are clear underdogs.

No 5. No rim protection. No shutdown perimeter defender. Will get killed on the boards and inside if they play small, but won’t have good spacing if they play Hayes too much. I’ll gladly bet against this fake contender any day.

On the Warriors in 4 or 5 if you're so confident.

Absolutely.

Will check in after Luka, LeBron, and Austin take turns beating up on old man Steph so much he has no legs left for his 3s. They're two poor Steph shooting games away from being swept.

[Bob8]

It will be shocking to most of you how one-sided the Warriors win over the Lakers will be.

Probably not even 6 games.

You should put all your money on it

I’ll have to see what the matchup is. The Wolves one is more manageable, though that one is not easy.

Either way, the Lakers are clear underdogs.

No 5. No rim protection. No shutdown perimeter defender. Will get killed on the boards and inside if they play small, but won’t have good spacing if they play Hayes too much. I’ll gladly bet against this fake contender any day.

This fake contender has tie breaker over all West, except OKC, where they're 1:2 after OKC got refereeing help in last game. Lakers are 36:15 against West, only OKC is better with 38:13.

[EmpireFalls]

On the Warriors in 4 or 5 if you're so confident.

Absolutely.

Will check in after Luka, LeBron, and Austin take turns beating up on old man Steph so much he has no legs left for his 3s. They're two poor Steph shooting games away from being swept.

We can have a longer discussion about this one if it does officially happen.

Ultimately it comes down to one stat:

LeBron is 0-6 vs Jimmy Butler since the bubble. Not a single win! Bad performances every time too. Jimmy knows how to defend him, as does Draymond. They’ll make him work for everything. Jimmy can zero out LeBron in the series, and from there, the Warriors have a clear edge in terms of supporting cast.

[Beethoven]

Congrats to the Lakers on securing 3 seed.

Just got back, looks like everyone predicting gsw v Lakers 1st round battle.


Let's dispatch of this twerp team.

Lakers in six

[jehosafats]

Absolutely.

Will check in after Luka, LeBron, and Austin take turns beating up on old man Steph so much he has no legs left for his 3s. They're two poor Steph shooting games away from being swept.

We can have a longer discussion about this one if it does officially happen.

Ultimately it comes down to one stat:

LeBron is 0-6 vs Jimmy Butler since the bubble. Not a single win! Bad performances every time too. Jimmy knows how to defend him, as does Draymond. They’ll make him work for everything. Jimmy can zero out LeBron in the series, and from there, the Warriors have a clear edge in terms of supporting cast.

Wait, I'm sorry? That's the regular season, holmes. Jimmy's record against Lebron in the playoffs doesn't exactly scream world-beater.

[SpreeS]

Absolutely.

Will check in after Luka, LeBron, and Austin take turns beating up on old man Steph so much he has no legs left for his 3s. They're two poor Steph shooting games away from being swept.

We can have a longer discussion about this one if it does officially happen.

Ultimately it comes down to one stat:

LeBron is 0-6 vs Jimmy Butler since the bubble. Not a single win! Bad performances every time too. Jimmy knows how to defend him, as does Draymond. They’ll make him work for everything. Jimmy can zero out LeBron in the series, and from there, the Warriors have a clear edge in terms of supporting cast.

Draymond leaves balls at home everytime when he is playing against Lebron…

[Manimal]

Wolves swept the Nuggets, gives them massive advantage in tie breakers involving both of them.
Denver won't lose to the Rockets G league team though

They lost to the G League Spurs last year with a chance to lock up the #1 seed. I wouldn't put it past them to do it again.

[SpreeS]

DEN vs MIN would be nice
LAL vs GSW could be all time good
LAL vs LAC battle for LA - nice one too
LAL vs MIN way not, perfect series
HOU vs GSW - a lot of juice here too
DEN vs LAC - rematch of 2020

[jc23]