(05-07-2021, 11:09 PM)RedFlag41 Wrote: [ -> ]Do we cheer for the Lakers to lose or do we want Portland to lose tonight?
I always want the Fakers to lose and I hope they get bounced in the play-in.
It would have been MUCH better for Mavs had the Lakers won, because (due to tiebreakers) that would have effectively given a 1.5 game cushion over both LA and PORT. Alas, PORT won instead.
Factoring in the tiebreakers, it now looks like this, for practical purposes:
Mavs have a 0.5 game lead over PORT, with 5 to play.
Mavs have a 2.5 game lead over LAL - and as bad as the Lakers are playing, it looks like they are stuck in 7th. They are scrappy, but their offense is awful.
Disagree, the Lakers losing is far better because we have the tiebreaker to avoid the play-in over them.
Remaining Strength of Schedule in order of current standings
LAC .400
DEN .460
DAL .392
POR .566
LAL .485
GSW .542
MEM .468
SAS .639
NOP .527
SAC .471
(05-08-2021, 01:02 AM)Branduil Wrote: [ -> ]Disagree, the Lakers losing is far better because we have the tiebreaker to avoid the play-in over them.
If your goal is simply "avoid the play-in," then yes, it's better for the Lakers to be at the bottom of the ladder.
But I think the goal should be for 5th, by outdoing BOTH the Lakers and Blazers, and I replied in that vein.
The Mavs ALREADY had some cushion on a struggling LA team (who also has 2 tough games after this one and might not see Lebron play until the post-season), with both a lead in the standings plus the tiebreaker too.
OTOH Portland is only a hair behind the Mavs right now. Portland also has the tiebreaker. Space is needed to stay ahead. A single Mavs loss is enough for the Blazers to pass the Mavs.
(05-08-2021, 02:25 AM)IamDougieFresh Wrote: [ -> ]Remaining Strength of Schedule in order of current standings
LAC .400
DEN .460
DAL .392
POR .566
LAL .485
GSW .542
MEM .468
SAS .639
NOP .527
SAC .471
Who is SAS playing out against?? I would have believed .639 being the first seed
If the Mavs could just beat Suckramento, they'd be 10-0 in their last 10 games.
(05-08-2021, 03:38 AM)F Gump Wrote: [ -> ]If your goal is simply "avoid the play-in," then yes, it's better for the Lakers to be at the bottom of the ladder.
But I think the goal should be for 5th, by outdoing BOTH the Lakers and Blazers, and I replied in that vein.
The Mavs ALREADY had some cushion on a struggling LA team (who also has 2 tough games after this one and might not see Lebron play until the post-season), with both a lead in the standings plus the tiebreaker too.
OTOH Portland is only a hair behind the Mavs right now. Portland also has the tiebreaker. Space is needed to stay ahead. A single Mavs loss is enough for the Blazers to pass the Mavs.
5th is a nice goal sure, but matchups are still extremely fluid, and we can't even say for sure if the 5th seed matchup would be better for us than the 6th seed. The difference between 6th and 7th, OTOH is simply massive this year. 6th seed and higher will essentially get a bye week, while 7th will have to deal with the pressure of winning 1 out of 2 games against other desperate teams just for the chance to get demolished by the 1st or 2nd seed. There's just no comparison between which goal is more important.
Portland also has the toughest schedule by far, so the Mavs just need to keep pace with them while having the easiest.
Just sit his ass out for the rest of the year. Then trade him. At least Powell and WCS give us some energy.
(05-08-2021, 07:37 PM)jesusshuttlesworth82 Wrote: [ -> ]Just sit his ass out for the rest of the year. Then trade him. At least Powell and WCS give us some energy.
Patience! Mavs are winning and **almost** have a real playoff seed (top 6 locked up) with KP resting. This is sort of an ideal scenario. I don't think he'd be sitting if Mavs were in the playoffs. We want KP available for a full playoff series to see what he can do. I expect a really good series from him. Mavs don't have to have him right now. Really the only reason for him to play a few games is to get his rhythm back. I think you just sit him tonight and one more game, then get him up to speed those last 3 games. Mavs are in the catbird seat, lets judge these guys in a 7 game series.
I think we got to hope for Nuggets. No Jamal Murray which means you can focus a lot of attention on him. MPJ is a handful too for sure but Nuggets don't have anybody to slow down Luka really. Mavs have been able to contain Joker at times so that gives me hope.
OKC is definitely in the bottom feeder wilderness. Their only hope is that rolling the dice on a LOT of draft choices will pay off.
But they only have one first round pick this year...so unless the next MJ is out there, they are going to be lottery players for a while.
I guess it's possible to trade a bunch of those picks for a high level vet, but that's how they got those picks in the first place.
(05-10-2021, 11:10 AM)michaeltex Wrote: [ -> ]they are going to be lottery players for a while.
Pretty sure that's their plan.
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