Matchup Preferences?

[Hogmelon]

1) Nuggets don't want the 3 seed, that is clear so far tonight.

2) Not sure the Clips do either...but losing to OKC will be harder.

3) The Mavs don't seem to want to go into the playoffs with a winning streak.

4) The Lakers and Blazers sure as hell don't want the 7th seed.

The Mavs are going to lose tonight.

The Nuggets are going to lose tonight.

I hope that either [1] the Clippers get their asses in gear; or [2] the Lakers throw their asses out of gear.  (But not both!)

[Kammrath]

Timberwolves beat Mavs.
Lakers beat Pelicans.
Clippers beat Thunder.
Trail Blazers beat the Nuggets.
RESULT:  #3 Clippers (48-24), #4 Nuggets (47-25), #5 Mavs (42-30, with Division Champ 3-way tie-breaker), #6 Blazers (42-30, with tie-breaker vs. Lakers), #7 Lakers (42-30)


Timberwolves beat Mavs.
Lakers beat Pelicans.
Thunder beat Clippers.
Trail Blazers beat the Nuggets.
RESULT:  #3 Nuggets (47-25, with tie-breaker vs. Clippers), #4 Clippers (47-25), #5 Mavs (42-30, with Division Champ 3-way tie-breaker), #6 Blazers (42-30, with tie-breaker vs. Lakers), #7 Lakers (42-30)

[Hogmelon]

Timberwolves beat Mavs.
Lakers beat Pelicans.
Clippers beat Thunder.
Trail Blazers beat the Nuggets.
RESULT:  #3 Clippers (48-24), #4 Nuggets (47-25), #5 Mavs (42-30, with Division Champ 3-way tie-breaker), #6 Blazers (42-30, with tie-breaker vs. Lakers), #7 Lakers (42-30)


Timberwolves beat Mavs.
Lakers beat Pelicans.
Thunder beat Clippers.
Trail Blazers beat the Nuggets.
RESULT:  #3 Nuggets (47-25, with tie-breaker vs. Clippers), #4 Clippers (47-25), #5 Mavs (42-30, with Division Champ 3-way tie-breaker), #6 Blazers (42-30, with tie-breaker vs. Lakers), #7 Lakers (42-30)

Apparently the Clippers would rather play the Mavs than the Blazers.


https://www.espn.com/nba/playbyplay/_/gameId/401307888

[Hogmelon]

Apparently the Clippers would rather play the Mavs than the Blazers.

December 27, 2020
Mavs 124
Clippers 73

March 15, 2021
Mavs 99
Clippers 109

March 17, 2021
Mavs 105
Clippers 89

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December 30, 2020
Blazers 105
Clippers 128

April 6, 2021
Blazers 116
Clippers 133

April 20, 2021
Blazers 112
Clippers 113

[burekemde]

So your satisfaction/happiness level would be identical in each of the following situations?

1.  Mavs get swept (4-0) by the Clippers in the first round of the playoffs.

2.  Mavs win in the first round of the playoffs, then win in the second round, then win the Western Conference Championship, and then lose a closely contested 7-game series in the NBA Finals.

Identically, yes, fully identical. But its individual. For many fans, it is not identical. And that is also fine, as fans love more games and action. I do not care much if we win against Clippers, if we lose against Nuggets later. Either way it means we lost, we need to go home, it means we dont get the title and the rings,and need to start over. You get absolutely nothing from losing in game 7. You lost. Another team won the title.

For players, and especially the ones that want to win, and these are typically the competitive players, that actually do end up as winners, the most competitive ones - it should be fully identical as well. Either you lose, or you win. There is nothing in between. If you have this particular mindset that something in between is actually good (as you mention in that game 7 lose scenario) - then there is a very high chance you will be satisfied by that loss, and this will also result in a loss.

I am looking of this from the perspective of Mavs players. This is what matters more than the perspective from us the fans, although our perspective is also important. For the players, it should not matter at all who is the next opponent. They need to be able to win against every other opponent, so the actual schedule is completely irrelevant.

I am pretty sure Michael Jordan would have this mindset going into playoffs, or any game for that matter.

The best team always win in the end. If you lose a series, it means you dont deserve to be a champion. So the schedule is irrelevant. The team that didnt lose a series in the playoffs, is the best one. All the other ones lost.

[Hogmelon]

Identically, yes, fully identical. But its individual. For many fans, it is not identical. And that is also fine, as fans love more games and action. I do not care much if we win against Clippers, if we lose against Nuggets later. Either way it means we lost, we need to go home, it means we dont get the title and the rings,and need to start over. You get absolutely nothing from losing in game 7. You lost. Another team won the title. 

For players, and especially the ones that want to win, and these are typically the competitive players, that actually do end up as winners, the most competitive ones - it should be fully identical as well. Either you lose, or you win. There is nothing in between. If you have this particular mindset that something in between is actually good (as you mention in that game 7 lose scenario) - then there is a very high chance you will be satisfied by that loss, and this will also result in a loss.

I am looking of this from the perspective of Mavs players. This is what matters more than the perspective from us the fans, although our perspective is also important. For the players, it should not matter at all who is the next opponent. They need to be able to win against every other opponent, so the actual schedule is completely irrelevant. 

I am pretty sure Michael Jordan would have this mindset going into playoffs, or any game for that matter.

The best team always win in the end. If you lose a series, it means you dont deserve to be a champion. So the schedule is irrelevant. The team that didnt lose a series in the playoffs, is the best one. All the other ones lost.

So would your satisfaction/happiness level also be identical in each of the following hypothetical situations?

1.  Mavs have the worst record in the NBA, losing every game they play by at least 40 points.

2.  Mavs win in the first round of the playoffs, then win in the second round, then win the Western Conference Championship, and then lose a closely contested 7-game series in the NBA Finals.



Seriously, is winning the Western Conference Championship a totally meaningless goal?  I am pretty sure that neither Michael Jordan nor any other reasonable person would have this mindset.

[burekemde]

Failures of equal measures, Team 1 and 2! Both alike in dignity. 

If Team 2 celebrates and do not view their season as a failure, they will never win the title. Team 2 will end up being in 10 NBA finals and fail every single time with zero rings. Why? All due to being satisfied enough about winning the Conference Championships 10x times. They lose the finals because of this losing mentality. Where/what is the accomplishment to celebrate her That another team is better than you and that they lost? There is nothing to celebrate.

Team 1 that loses every game, could still possess that true winning mentality. They have  a chance to win the title in the future. Even if they fail 9 seasons, losing all games as you mention. If they win the title one year. They have accomplished much more than team 2. They actually tried to be Winners once in their career. 

This game is about winning the Finals. Not about personal stats, win losses in regular season or when you failed. 

There are two group of teams in the NBA. The ones that lose one single series in the playoffs. And the other group belonging to that single team that did not lose a single series, that did not fail.

100% Jordan views losing a series as a major failure in his life. True winners are not satisfied being second. In fact they hate it so much and view that as such a failure they do everything to win.

[burekemde]

If you view winning Conference championships but losing the NBA finals as an accomplishment. Then this means an accomplishment is to lose the Conference Championships but win the second round of playoffs. If that is so, maybe an accomplishment is also losing the second round of playoffs because one actually won the first round of playoffs? In same spirit. Why is it not a great accomplishment to lose in the first round of playoffs because making it to the playoffs is a great accomplishment? So many teams did not make it! 

Where does the borderline go and who defines it? You? 

A real winning mentality has only one borderline. Win the Finals or nothing. Thats the true mentality i hope the Mavs will make. Especially Luka needs to bring that mentality to the teammates.

[Hogmelon]

Failures of equal measures, Team 1 and 2! Both alike in dignity. 

If Team 2 celebrates and do not view their season as a failure, they will never win the title. Team 2 will end up being in 10 NBA finals and fail every single time with zero rings. Why? All due to being satisfied enough about winning the Conference Championships 10x times. They lose the finals because of this losing mentality. Where/what is the accomplishment to celebrate her That another team is better than you and that they lost? There is nothing to celebrate.

Team 1 that loses every game, could still possess that true winning mentality. They have  a chance to win the title in the future. Even if they fail 9 seasons, losing all games as you mention. If they win the title one year. They have accomplished much more than team 2. They actually tried to be Winners once in their career. 

This game is about winning the Finals. Not about personal stats, win losses in regular season or when you failed. 

There are two group of teams in the NBA. The ones that lose one single series in the playoffs. And the other group belonging to that single team that did not lose a single series, that did not fail.

100% Jordan views losing a series as a major failure in his life. True winners are not satisfied being second. In fact they hate it so much and view that as such a failure they do everything to win.

http://gph.is/2dgb1Ny

[fifteenth]

burekemde is Ricky Bobby!! Confirmed!!!

[Jommybone]

. . . The coaching mismatch could be a real factor against LA, where Lue seems to let the inmates run the asylum. But does anybody really want to bet against playoff Kawhi?

Who wants to bet against playoff Kawhi? Coach Lue and dumbass Rajon Rondo, that’s who. 

Kawhi checks back into Game 1 at the 8:29 mark of the 4th quarter, having posted 23 points through the first 3 Qs. He immediately takes and makes a shot on the Clips’ ensuing possession, wresting a 91-90 lead from the good guys, 8:10 to go. Over the next 6 minutes and 36 seconds (12 possessions), Kawhi gets exactly 1 shot. ONE! And no FTs either. 

Coach Lue calls timeout at the 1:34 mark, now in a 105-100 hole, and somebody reminds the Clips that they have Kawhi. But it’s way too late at this point. And the desperation defensive scheme employed from that point forward leaves Mavs shooting layups or FTs the rest of the way (4 possessions, 8 points).

Kawhi did get shots or FTs on 3 of the final 5 possessions, the last one coming in garbage time, down 10 with 0:05 on the clock. But if anybody thinks that means Rondo will learn his lesson and quit Rondoing, I’ve got a bridge to sell ya.