(05-07-2021, 07:07 PM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: [ -> ]It was actually negotiate $20mm off of the $92mm remaining over 2 years (so $72mm) and Wall would make it up signing for about the MLE or $10mm per year over the next two years.
I have overlooked it was 20 mil for two years. I would definitely be intrigued by Wall for that number.
While league has been trending towards small ball lately, Denver went the other way with tall ball. They are playing 6-10 MPJ at SG while Gordon and Millsap man the forward spots. Still, it wasn't enough for Utah. Denver is really bothered by all the injuries at this point
LAL playing GSW in the opening play-in game would be glorious. Give Steph a shot to get the Lakers once step closer to getting bounced from the playoffs.
(05-08-2021, 06:58 AM)Kammrath Wrote: [ -> ]LAL playing GSW in the opening play-in game would be glorious. Give Steph a shot to get the Lakers once step closer to getting bounced from the playoffs.
Yes, indeed, that would be excellent.
The Lakers are very likely to finish the regular season at #7, and either Golden State or Memphis will probably be #8.
Golden State and Memphis are currently tied in the loss column, and they have split their two games so far, with the rubber game of their season series to be decided on the last day of the regular season (Sunday, May 16).
Westbrook tied the Big O with 33 pts, 19 rebs and 15 asts and had the key blocked shot on Caris Levert in a 133-132 OT win over the Pacers as they complete the season sweep. Beal had 50 pts before leaving late in the 4th with what's being reported as muscle cramps.
(05-08-2021, 10:11 AM)Hogmelon Wrote: [ -> ]The Lakers are very likely to finish the regular season at #7, and either Golden State or Memphis will probably be #8.
POR does have a very tough stretch of games coming up:
HOU
@Jazz
@PHX
DEN
With the Jazz and PHX being back to back. They could realistically end the season with a 3 game losing streak leaving them at 40-32.
Lakers final stretch is:
PHX
NYK
HOU
@IND
@NOP
With the final 2 being back to back. Tough but easier than POR final 4. Should POR lose 3, Lakers need to win 4 out of the 5 to guarantee a 6th finish. Tall order and relies on POR losing out but if Lebron comes back I can see the Lakers making that push.
Mavs need to win out though to make sure POR can't catch up.
(05-09-2021, 02:34 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: [ -> ]POR does have a very tough stretch of games coming up:
HOU
@Jazz
@PHX
DEN
With the Jazz and PHX being back to back. They could realistically end the season with a 3 game losing streak leaving them at 40-32.
Lakers final stretch is:
PHX
NYK
HOU
@IND
@NOP
With the final 2 being back to back. Tough but easier than POR final 4. Should POR lose 3, Lakers need to win 4 out of the 5 to guarantee a 6th finish. Tall order and relies on POR losing out but if Lebron comes back I can see the Lakers making that push.
Mavs need to win out though to make sure POR can't catch up.
Yup, because Portland owns the tiebreaker vs Dallas. Win out, it won't matter.
The POR finishing schedule looks tough on paper (playing Utah, Phoenix, and Denver), but might be super easy instead, allowing the Blazers to sweep them all. That's the unfortunate reality if the Mavs are chasing 5th.
It remains to be seen at what point their opponents will pull the plug and start resting players for the playoffs. If we count the tiebreaker as a 0.5 game edge in the standings, Utah-Phoenix will finish 1-2, but the gap is 1.5 games with only 4 to play. And Denver trails LAC by 1.5 with only 4 to play.
(05-09-2021, 10:40 AM)F Gump Wrote: [ -> ]The POR finishing schedule looks tough on paper (playing Utah, Phoenix, and Denver), but might be super easy instead, allowing the Blazers to sweep them all. That's the unfortunate reality if the Mavs are chasing 5th.
It remains to be seen at what point their opponents will pull the plug and start resting players for the playoffs. If we count the tiebreaker as a 0.5 game edge in the standings, Utah-Phoenix will finish 1-2, but the gap is 1.5 games with only 4 to play. And Denver trails LAC by 1.5 with only 4 to play.
I would say that the next four games are crucial must-wins. If we win those, we conclusively avoid the playin and can likely come close to determining our playoff destiny in the final game. If we avoid the playin, there's no need to do the pre-playoff "rest players" thing for us - a good week off to prepare for the playoffs.
(05-09-2021, 10:46 AM)Scott41theMavs Wrote: [ -> ]I would say that the next four games are crucial must-wins. If we win those, we conclusively avoid the playin and can likely come close to determining our playoff destiny in the final game. If we avoid the playin, there's no need to do the pre-playoff "rest players" thing for us - a good week off to prepare for the playoffs.
The Mavs only need
three more wins to avoid the play-in, but I hope they do whatever it takes to earn the # 5 seed. I agree that they will get enough rest while the play-in tournament is going on.
F Gump
Quote:The POR finishing schedule looks tough on paper (playing Utah, Phoenix, and Denver), but might be super easy instead, allowing the Blazers to sweep them all. That's the unfortunate reality if the Mavs are chasing 5th.
Still Utah and Phx are back-to-back road games for POR. And with the additional rest period due to the play-in games, it might be more important for the top ranked teams to keep the rhythm rather than rest the players. I bet POR would love to swap schedule with DAL
Mavs control their own destiny, win the last 5 and it does not matter what POR does. @MEM being the hardest game, only team fighting for something else than lottery position. Win next 3 and all could be over on Thursday if POR comes home with 2 losses. Then the resting could start for the Mavs for the last two games.
Eastern conference update: Boston lost to Miami and more or less fell out of top6 battle. 2 games behind are a lot of ground to cover in remaining 4 games. NY, Atl and Miami are in a tight battle for the home court advantage in the first round. Washington is now 9th with game and a half behind Charlotte, who they are playing in the final game. Charlotte has arguably much tougher schedule.
(05-09-2021, 03:08 PM)omahen Wrote: [ -> ]Eastern conference update: Boston lost to Miami and more or less fell out of top6 battle. 2 games behind are a lot of ground to cover in remaining 4 games. NY, Atl and Miami are in a tight battle for the home court advantage in the first round. Washington is now 9th with game and a half behind Charlotte, who they are playing in the final game. Charlotte has arguably much tougher schedule.
Stupid Ainge. If he had taken Turner for Hayward, we could at least have traded Porzingis for Turner/Smart. Now they have absolutely nothing for us.
For all the good Ainge has done he has done just as much bad.
Seems like there have been numerous times for Boston to use their draft assets over the years to get a star player but Ainge wanted to play hardball and give up as little as possible.
Having a quality big with Tatum and Brown would make them a ECF team for many years.
Depending on how fast Beal's hammy heals, The Wizards are a team to avoid in the play-in. They've been on a roll.
Apart from the Mavs, the Knicks are an absolutely lovely team to watch. God help whomever they see in the playoffs.
