Seeding Magic Number(s) Thread

[KSF-ERIC]

So if we beat the best team in the league and the Lakers lose to the worst team in the league, we clinch. Lakers might be too tired to run with young Rockets.

 

[Strenuus]

So if we beat the best team in the league and the Lakers lose to the worst team in the league, we clinch. Lakers might be too tired to run with young Rockets.

You're asking a lot out of a team thats gone 6-43 in their last 49 games. Lol.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

You're asking a lot out of a team thats gone 6-43 in their last 49 games. Lol.

Rockets can’t tank anymore. They clinched the worst record. Lakers will be exhausted and with no point guard while Houston will be running up and down the court launching threes.

 

[Tince]

We only need to win on Monday to clinch. Knicks and Suns will beat Lakers. Remember, Kings beat Lakers with LeBron. LeBron has only played with Drummond twice all season. Lakers are disorganized. LeBron said he’ll never be 100% again. Father Time beats everyone.

While we're pointing out failed predictions...

 

[KSF-ERIC]

While we're pointing out failed predictions...

Um the Knicks and Suns WILL beat the Lakers eventually. Winning on Monday may in face be the win we needed to clinch with when the math is finally tabulated. And Lakers are disorganized, LeBron said he'll never be 100% again etc etc, it's all true. Great post by me.

 

[Tince]

Um the Knicks and Suns WILL beat the Lakers eventually. Winning on Monday may in face be the win we needed to clinch with when the math is finally tabulated. And Lakers are disorganized, LeBron said he'll never be 100% again etc etc, it's all true. Great post by me.

So you weren't talking about the Lakers next two games when you made that post? It was just a bold statement that the Knicks and Suns would beat the Lakers in some random regular season game in a future season?

 

[KSF-ERIC]

So you weren't talking about the Lakers next two games when you made that post? It was just a bold statement that the Knicks and Suns would beat the Lakers in some random regular season game in a future season?

At some point, yes. They will. Could be playoffs, could be two years from now. I've been following the game for about 30 years and I'm sure of it. I bet you $50 if you want.

 

[Tince]

At some point, yes. They will. Could be playoffs, could be two years from now. I've been following the game for about 30 years and I'm sure of it. I bet you $50 if you want.

Good to know. I was wrong to assume you were talking about this weeks games, silly of me.

FYI - my prediction of the Blazers going 4-8 over a 12 games stretch in the other thread wasn't about this season, just sometime down the road as well. I nailed it!

 

[THE HCP]

 

[blazerkor]

The way Dame's half face lines up with LeBron's is kind of creeping me out and if you are trying to point out that the Lakers have a better chance at staying out of the play-ins than we do at this point... I'd have to say you're right. I don't see a reason why any of those teams especially two of them won't try and beat us. I don't think we're better than any of them. I'm pretty damn sure the Lakers even hobbled are better than all three of their remaining opponents. That being said, us finishing ahead of the Lakers wouldn't be as weird as that half LeBron, half Dame thing in that tweet.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Good to know. I was wrong to assume you were talking about this weeks games, silly of me.

FYI - my prediction of the Blazers going 4-8 over a 12 games stretch in the other thread wasn't about this season, just sometime down the road as well. I nailed it!

We will never go 4-8 somewhere down the road. This playoff run is beginning of long dynasty.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

The way Dame's half face lines up with LeBron's is kind of creeping me out and if you are trying to point out that the Lakers have a better chance at staying out of the play-ins than we do at this point... I'd have to say you're right. I don't see a reason why any of those teams especially two of them won't try and beat us. I don't think we're better than any of them. I'm pretty damn sure the Lakers even hobbled are better than all three of their remaining opponents. That being said, us finishing ahead of the Lakers wouldn't be as weird as that half LeBron, half Dame thing in that tweet.

I think we're better than all 3 of them right now. Our starting lineup is best in NBA.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I think we're better than all 3 of them right now. Our starting lineup is best in NBA.

The Clippers' top three lineups with the most minutes all have better net ratings than the Blazers' starters, as does their current starting lineup which bbref inexplicably shows as only having played 40 minutes together.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

The Clippers' top three lineups with the most minutes all have better net ratings than the Blazers' starters, as does their current starting lineup which bbref inexplicably shows as only having played 40 minutes together.

If it wasn't for Kawhi Leonard I would feel very good about the Blazers chances against the Clippers. Kawhi makes things very tough. You just don't ever really know about him? He is very unpredictable and he seems to carry "Luck". Old saying "Better to be lucky than good". Kawhi Leonard is both.

 

[wizenheimer]

If it wasn't for Kawhi Leonard I would feel very good about the Blazers chances against the Clippers. Kawhi makes things very tough. You just don't ever really know about him? He is very unpredictable and he seems to carry "Luck". Old saying "Better to be lucky than good". Kawhi Leonard is both.

Kawhi is excellent...and yes he's kind of enigmatic

but the Clippers have a lot more than Kawhi going for them. Talent and lots of depth; and pieces fit together really well

and in a Blazer/Clipper matchup, the Clips have Kawhi/PG13/Beverly/Rondo/Mann/Batum to throw at Dame; and you know they will. Length, speed, and lots of different looks limit Dame, and a Blazer team with a limited Dame hasn't won too often, especially in the playoffs

I'd rate the Clippers as the favorites right now

 

[Labinot41]

Kawhi is excellent...and yes he's kind of enigmatic

but the Clippers have a lot more than Kawhi going for them. Talent and lots of depth; and pieces fit together really well

and in a Blazer/Clipper matchup, the Clips have Kawhi/PG13/Beverly/Rondo/Mann/Batum to throw at Dame; and you know they will. Length, speed, and lots of different looks limit Dame, and a Blazer team with a limited Dame hasn't won too often, especially in the playoffs

I'd rate the Clippers as the favorites right now

heavy favorites*

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Kawhi is excellent...and yes he's kind of enigmatic

but the Clippers have a lot more than Kawhi going for them. Talent and lots of depth; and pieces fit together really well

and in a Blazer/Clipper matchup, the Clips have Kawhi/PG13/Beverly/Rondo/Mann/Batum to throw at Dame; and you know they will. Length, speed, and lots of different looks limit Dame, and a Blazer team with a limited Dame hasn't won too often, especially in the playoffs

I'd rate the Clippers as the favorites right now

Agreed. With Batum/George/Leonard/Morris, they have the kind of switchability every team needs, and have solid skill variation in the backcourt with Beverly/Jackson/Rondo, as well as in the frontcourt with Ibaka/Zubac/DMC.

If the Blazers face the Clips in the first round and go down, but put up a legit fight, I won't be disappointed. On balance, they look like the best team in the league to me right now. Much like with us and Stotts, I feel like their head coach is probably their weakest link.

 

[Cugel]

Odds are Portland plays GSW for the 7th spot. I do not know if Portland can beat them given the way they defend the 3. Curry could well score 50+.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Kawhi is excellent...and yes he's kind of enigmatic

but the Clippers have a lot more than Kawhi going for them. Talent and lots of depth; and pieces fit together really well

and in a Blazer/Clipper matchup, the Clips have Kawhi/PG13/Beverly/Rondo/Mann/Batum to throw at Dame; and you know they will. Length, speed, and lots of different looks limit Dame, and a Blazer team with a limited Dame hasn't won too often, especially in the playoffs

I'd rate the Clippers as the favorites right now

Favorites to lose in first round. They are mentally weak and have Wayoff P taking too many shots. Remember they trailed Dallas 77-27 at halftime in a game this season and they were healthy.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Interesting who ISN'T in the picture for the Blazers....

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Favorites to lose in first round. They are mentally weak and have Wayoff P taking too many shots. Remember they trailed Dallas 77-27 at halftime in a game this season and they were healthy.

(Semi-)Cute nicknames and individual bad nights are not going to affect the Clippers' chances. They're a very different team now than they were in the third game of the season (and BTW, Kawhi didn't play that game).

 

[Strenuus]

(Semi-)Cute nicknames and individual bad nights are not going to affect the Clippers' chances. They're a very different team now than they were in the third game of the season (and BTW, Kawhi didn't play that game).

Damn, that happened on the 3rd game of the season? I thought that was like a month ago.

But yeah I do remember Kwahi not playing so they weren't fully healthy.

 

[THE HCP]

Interesting who ISN'T in the picture for the Blazers....

Who should be in there that isn’t?

 

[tester551]

Who should be in there that isn’t?

No one...
They're showing the two best players from each team.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

(Semi-)Cute nicknames and individual bad nights are not going to affect the Clippers' chances. They're a very different team now than they were in the third game of the season (and BTW, Kawhi didn't play that game).

I stand corrected about Kawhi but the rest of them are scrubs then. And I think Kawhi has a nagging injury now.

 

[Tince]

Dallas wins, going to assume a Laker win (hope I have to come back and edit this), and it's still a positive night!

Tomorrow's rooting interests:
Portland - Would be a massive win for multiple reasons
Denver
Charlotte

• 5th Seed - Magic Number = 2* (excluding 3-way tie scenario)
  • Portland wins or Dallas losses

• 6th Seed - Magic Number = 1
  • Portland wins or Laker losses

• 7th Seed - Magic Number = 0 - Clinched 5.10.21

Remaining Schedules:

• Dallas
  • Toronto
  • @Minnesota
• Portland
  • @ Phoenix
  • Denver
• Lakers
  • @ Indiana
  • @ New Orleans

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Do we not own the tiebreaker with LA?

(Have had too much going on to pay attention to such details.)

 

[Pinwheel1]

Do we not own the tiebreaker with LA?

(Have had too much going on to pay attention to such details.)

yes

 

[wizenheimer]

I think it's a fairly safe assumption Dallas will win it's final two games. So Blazers need to win their final two games. But Suns have a chance at #1 seed now so it won't be easy

with all of the chatter about Denver maybe resting players in their final game, how about this scenario: Blazers lose to Suns; Dallas goes 2-0 and gets 5th seed. Clippers blow a game on the road. If Denver wins the final game they'd be 3rd seed, otherwise its the Clippers at 3rd seed

in that case, does Portland try to lose to Denver so they don't have to face the Clippers?

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

yes

So, why do we still need a game to be ahead of LA? Is it because of a Dallas connection? Otherwise, I'd think we're set for #6?