Noh@mem

[TVI]

Important game from a playoff seed POV. I want Memphis to take this, as I think the Spurs would have an easier path against the Hornets.

Thoughts?

[ajballer4]

Go Memphis. No question. We should make this the official thread for all games that impact the playoffs. Other games today: PHX @ DAL. OKC @ LAL. and going right now CHI @ ORL

[thOOdee]

maybe playing memphis would be a blessing in disguise. there bigs are alot like what we are going to see with la or dallas.
this test would help us get the tweaks needed before going to the next level.
even though hornets are the easier of the two, i want the spurs to play memphis.

[boutons_deux]

ORL came very close, but Rose showed again why he's MVP. Without Rose, Bulls are 5+ seed.

[TVI]

maybe playing memphis would be a blessing in disguise. there bigs are alot like what we are going to see with la or dallas.
this test would help us get the tweaks needed before going to the next level.
even though hornets are the easier of the two, i want the spurs to play memphis.

Solid argument, but I still want NO. Memphis plays more physical...there's a higher probability of injury...that's the last thing they need in the first round.

[Thompson]

Wow, Orlando down 4 with around 4 seconds left and manage to send the game to overtime.

Never mind, they waived it off. Close though.

[DPG21920]

No good.

[benefactor]

Memphis winning is only part of the equation. If NO wins out after that, they still wind up ahead.

[crc21209]

Memphis winning is only part of the equation. If NO wins out after that, they still wind up ahead.

NO wont win out, they still play Utah and Dallas. Dallas will still have something to play for in that game as well....

[crc21209]

Memphis should win tonight, they just spanked New Orleans in their own house last week....

[Juggity]

What are the chances that Memphis throws this game to meet us in the first round?

[crc21209]

What are the chances that Memphis throws this game to meet us in the first round?

If they wanted us so bad they would've tanked the game against the Kings the other night....

[Thompson]

Memphis must also consider the possibility that the Lakers (on a recent losing streak) might fall to #3, meaning they could face Dallas in the first round if they move up to #7. I can't say for certain, but I would guess they'd rather face Dallas than San Antonio (I think in most or all of their wins against us we were missing key players).

I'm hoping we get New Orleans in the first round.

[jimo2305]

i'd rather face NOH than MEM

[K-State Spur]

ORL came very close, but Rose showed again why he's MVP. Without Rose, Bulls are 5+ seed.

i'm fine with Rose as MVP, but i'm not sure that's the best argument. just about every playoff team would drop 4+ slots without their best player.

[PBEEZY]

i'd rather face NOH than MEM

I think everyone would

[TE]

NOH has actually played okay as of late. Landry gives em a presence inside.

The overwhelming consensus is to favor playing MEM over NOH, but I think it shouldn't be that overwhelming. NOH isn't that bad.

[HarlemHeat37]

New Orleans isn't that bad, and they always play with confidence against the Spurs, so to me, it doesn't matter which teams is playing the Spurs in the 1st round..

However, as I've said before, the Lakers opponent is relevant to the Spurs..if they get the Hornets, they're essentially getting a bye in the 1st round..

[crc21209]

Memphis up 52-48 at the half....

[crc21209]

Memphis is spanking the Hornets right now 91-70 with 9 mins left in the game.

[TVI]

Memphis walking away with it

[Seventyniner]

I hope the Lakers lose tonight, so that the Mavs have something to play for against New Orleans on Wednesday.

[crc21209]

Jason Williams going down for the Grizzlies might actually benefit them, because Vasquez is ballin' right now...

[Harry Callahan]

I think NO would be less taxing on the Spurs with their lack of size.

Memphis may not have a guy that can finish at the end of games (Randolph maybe), but they are physical.

Memphis will try to bet up its opponent. That's how they beat SA in the RS. Knocked out Parker and Manu in two different games. Duncan miss a game as well with his ankle.

[Stringer_Bell]

Despite the headaches they've given us this season, bless those grizzly hearts. They're basically asking for the Lakers in the first round with tonight's performance.

[mchammer]

Who gets the higher seed if both have the same record at end of
regular season?

[benefactor]

Who gets the higher seed if both have the same record at end of
regular season?
New Orleans...better division record.

[ajballer4]

It seems we are in a bit of a quagmire. Memphis plays Portland next...The loser moves into the 8th spot (I believe), or in Memphis' case stays there. New Orleans would have to lose both games to move down it looks like. I may be wrong though, if someone wants to correct me

[rmt]

Who would give LA a stiffer test - MEM or POR? LA doesn't like the length and athleticism of POR. MEM has Randolph/Gasol to match up against Gasol/Bynum and Battier and Tony Allen to guard Kobe. Which team would you rather LA play?

If there's a 3 way tie, NOH holds all the tie-breakers so they'll have to lose 1 more than MEM and POR to drop to 8.

[benefactor]

Pretty much. If Memphis beats Portland and both teams wind up with the same record then Portland is the 8th seed. Go Portland...I'd much rather play Memphis.

[silverblk mystix]

Who would give LA a stiffer test - MEM or POR? LA doesn't like the length and athleticism of POR. MEM has Randolph/Gasol to match up against Gasol/Bynum and Battier and Tony Allen to guard Kobe. Which team would you rather LA play?

If there's a 3 way tie, NOH holds all the tie-breakers so they'll have to lose 1 more than MEM and POR to drop to 8.

I would rather see LA play Portland because it seems that there is actually a little more bad blood there...

Memphis gives the lakers all kinds of trouble but if you take everything into account including the gasol trade, the gasol brothers, the jerry west influence...it is hard to believe that Memphis won't eventually settle for a "moral" victory and bend over in the end.

Portland though, will at least relish beating the lakers...

[Creation88]

if Memphis beats Portland and they have the same record, Memphis will still be the 8th because the Blazers AND Hornets have a better division record.

[ThePop]

So....how does NO become 8?

[Pauleta14]

If NO lose its last 2 games, Memphis wins at least 1 game, NO finishes 8th...

(NO stays at 46 W and both Memphis and Portland have at least 47...)

[benefactor]

if Memphis beats Portland and they have the same record, Memphis will still be the 8th because the Blazers AND Hornets have a better division record.
That is for teams that are in the same division. Conference record is the next tiebreaker...and Memphis' would be better.

[TD 21]

Who would give LA a stiffer test - MEM or POR? LA doesn't like the length and athleticism of POR. MEM has Randolph/Gasol to match up against Gasol/Bynum and Battier and Tony Allen to guard Kobe. Which team would you rather LA play?

If there's a 3 way tie, NOH holds all the tie-breakers so they'll have to lose 1 more than MEM and POR to drop to 8.

I keep hearing that the Trail Blazers have size, but nothing could be further from the truth. They may be long, but they have no size depth and of their three healthy bigs (one of whom is a D-League), not one has the strength to adequately defend Bynum. They're severely undersized and over the course of a series, the Lakers would pound them relentlessly in the paint, save for stretches where Bryant strays from that.

I'd much rather the Lakers have to face the Grizzlies.

[HarlemHeat37]

I keep hearing that the Trail Blazers have size, but nothing could be further from the truth. They may be long, but they have no size depth and of their three healthy bigs (one of whom is a D-League), not one has the strength to adequately defend Bynum. They're severely undersized and over the course of a series, the Lakers would pound them relentlessly in the paint, save for stretches where Bryant strays from that.

I'd much rather the Lakers have to face the Grizzlies.

+1..Portland wouldn't give the Lakers too much trouble, their lack of depth and size up front is troubling, and they don't have the perimeter players to give LA trouble on a consistent basis..

Memphis would definitely be the ideal matchup..Randolph and Gasol always give Gasol and Bynum a lot of trouble and Tony Allen defends Kobe well..

[DPG21920]

It looks like NO stays 7th which is awful.

[Creation88]

by my last count the Blazers have beaten us 7 of the last 9 times we've faced them. i'm not sure why any of you would want to face them.

Miller and Aldridge own this team.

[DPG21920]

No one wants to face POR, Creation.

[TVI]

Lakers about to lose again...

[Mugen]

i know will pop will probably tank the Laker game but it'd be really nice to send them to the 3rd seed......hmmm...nah tank is the way to go....

[TVI]

Lakers now have a lot riding on Tuesday's game (2nd seed / matchup vs NOH if they win and 3rd or 4th where they'd face MEM or POR if they lose). The Spurs have little to nothing to play for.

LAL has SAS and SAC. In this case, they should easily win both, and keep 2nd seed.

[DJ Mbenga]

boy lots of tanking scenarios for the last 2 or 3 games.

[crc21209]

Here are the remaining schedules for the teams in the 6, 7, and 8 spots:

Portland (47-33, Currently in 6th):

Tue, Apr 12 vsMemphis
Wed, Apr 13 @Golden State


New Orleans (46-34, Currently in 7th):

Mon, Apr 11 vsUtah
Wed, Apr 13 @Dallas


Memphis (46-34, Currently in 8th):

Tue, Apr 12 @Portland
Wed, Apr 13 @Los Angeles Clippers

[ajballer4]

Portland should win out, since they have Memphis at home.

[ShoogarBear]

You have to figure the Hornets beat the Jazz. Then it will all come down to who wins between Portland and Memphis.

[tlongII]

Portland should win out, since they have Memphis at home.

The Warriors are always a nightmare for us in Oakland. That one will not be easy.

[xtremesteven33]

If the Lakers draw the Hornets in the first round, then it proves god IS a laker fan

[Pauleta14]

So if NO beats Utah tonight, they'll finish at worst 7th, right?

[Kuestmaster]

I think Utah will beat NO tonight, and Dallas will beat Houston too. Hope I'm wrong with the last one

[TVI]

I think Utah will beat NO tonight, and Dallas will beat Houston too. Hope I'm wrong with the last one
Nice call!