GT#71 Wizards @ Spurs 3/21 9:30PM ESPN

[Dark Faze]

Just avoid Cleveland

[Shanghai Kid]

Just avoid Cleveland

I feel like everyone in the 5/6/7 range is going to try to do that.

[nate33]

Just avoid Cleveland

I feel like everyone in the 5/6/7 range is going to try to do that.

FWIW:

Washington is 1-2 against Cleveland, 2-2 against Philadelphia, and 2-1 against Boston
Indiana is 3-1 against Cleveland, 2-1 against Philadelphia and 2-2 against Boston.
Miami is 0-2 against Cleveland, 2-2 against Philadelphia, and 2-1 against Boston.
Philadelphia is 1-2 against Cleveland, 1-2 against Indiana, 2-2 against Washington, and 2-2 against Miami.

The only thing that might tell us is that Indy may not fear Cleveland all that much, while Miami probably does. Indy probably won't try and tank their way to the 7th seed while Miami has no real motivation to move out of the 7th seed.

I think the outcome that is both reasonably likely and reasonably good for us is to get the 5th seed and face Philly. I'm not confident about beating Philly but there's at least the hope that their young players don't handle the playoff pressure all that well. I'm absolutely certain we won't beat a Lebron-led Cleveland team.

[Shanghai Kid]

Just avoid Cleveland

I feel like everyone in the 5/6/7 range is going to try to do that.

FWIW:

Washington is 1-2 against Cleveland, 2-2 against Philadelphia, and 2-1 against Boston
Indiana is 3-1 against Cleveland, 2-1 against Philadelphia and 2-2 against Boston.
Miami is 0-2 against Cleveland, 2-2 against Philadelphia, and 2-1 against Boston.
Philadelphia is 1-2 against Cleveland, 1-2 against Indiana, 2-2 against Washington, and 2-2 against Miami.

The only thing that might tell us is that Indy may not fear Cleveland all that much, while Miami probably does. Indy probably won't try and tank their way to the 7th seed while Miami has no real motivation to move out of the 7th seed.

I think the outcome that is both reasonably likely and reasonably good for us is to get the 5th seed and face Philly. I'm not confident about beating Philly but there's at least the hope that their young players don't handle the playoff pressure all that well. I'm absolutely certain we won't beat a Lebron-led Cleveland team.

Have you seen Philly's schedule though? It's going to be hard to keep them from getting the 3rd seed. They legit could win 50 games given who they play. And on top of that, they actually host Cleveland towards the end of the year.

My gut instinct is that Philly beats Cleveland and takes over the 3rd seed. And then whoever is in the 5th seed is going to have to either figure a way to tank to 6th in a not so obvious way or to face having to go on the road against Cleveland.

If you look at everyone's remaining schedules, WE are the team most likely to be sitting there in that 5th spot scrambling nervously when Cleveland falls to 4th.

To be honest, it's kind of an awkward spot because it's in the Wizards best interest to start losing games.