- 88,557
- 47,689
- Joined
- Feb 29, 2000
this team too good for the play in now lol
**LA LAKERS THREAD** Sitting on 17! 2023-2024 offseason begins
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by licensed to ball,
- Start date
- 89,905
- 121,490
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2010
Stat Geekery: Playoff Chaos
For those of us who don’t have a team in the Western Conference playoff race that we’re truly invested in, there is only one true outcome to root for seeing. That, of course, is the one that produces the most convoluted, ridiculous tiebreak scenarios and hopefully results in outcomes that are either bewildering or borderline impossible.
We are, quite possibly, headed toward such a place. Minnesota’s surreal home loss to a tanktacular Portland team on Sunday made this possibility less likely, but we still have a scenario on the table in which five teams end up tied at 42-40. Or rather, multiple scenarios; the final week sadly features only two matchups between these five teams (Lakers-Clippers on Wednesday and Pelicans-Wolves on the last day of the season, Sunday), so, as a result, there are multiple ways to get a five-way knot at 42 wins between the Lakers, Clippers, Warriors, Pelicans and Wolves.
This is the MAXIMUM CHAOS scenario in which two of the teams with 42 wins ends up directly in the playoffs, two end up meeting in the No. 7 vs. No. 8 Play-In and another ends up having to win twice just to get its foot in the playoff door.
How does it shake out? Amazingly, the head-to-head among the five is almost a dead heat right now. Almost. Minnesota must beat New Orleans this week to make the tie happen, and, as a result, the Wolves would have the best record of the bunch and get the fifth seed with an 8-5 mark in head-to-head games.
After that, the Pelicans or Lakers would be the sixth seed; the Pelicans would be 7-7, and if the Clippers beat the Lakers on Wednesday, the Clippers would also be 7-7, but New Orleans wins that tiebreak. The Lakers, however, would move to 8-7 with a win over the Clips and thus own the sixth position. And Golden State? The Warriors would end up either eighth or ninth, depending again on that Clippers outcome.
Savor, if you will, the Play-In Tournament delicacies that might result:
Five-way tie at 42-40 if Clippers beat Lakers:
Minnesota
New Orleans
LA Clippers
L.A. Lakers
Golden State
Five-way tie at 42-40 if Lakers beat Clippers:
Minnesota
L.A. Lakers
New Orleans
Golden State
LA Clippers
You think that’s too far-fetched? Then consider the more likely possibility of four teams knotted at 43-39: Those same teams above, minus Minnesota. For that to happen, each of the four teams would lose once this week and win their other games.
Again, the Laker-Clippers game looms large, and again, the Warriors are left in a rough spot.
Four-way tie at 43-39 if Lakers beat Clippers:
L.A. Lakers
New Orleans
LA Clippers
Golden State
Four-way tie at 43-39 if Clippers beat Lakers:
New Orleans
LA Clippers
L.A. Lakers
Golden State
The other wrinkle here, of course, involves the sixth seed. There has been some discussion that teams might try to finesse themselves into that position to face Sacramento in the first round rather than finishing fifth and having to play Phoenix.
The problem is that this doesn’t really seem possible as of today. Perhaps events of the coming week will create enough separation that one of these teams can try gently backing the truck into its desired seed, but the two teams you might most suspect of trying this, Golden State and the Clippers, are in the least favorable tiebreak positions. For instance, even if the Lakers win out and grab the fifth seed, the Warriors have to keep winning and have the Pelicans lose once to guarantee the sixth spot.
Finally, let me leave you with this nugget, further down in the pecking order: Dallas loses any tie with Oklahoma City for the 10th and final Play-In position in the West; the Mavs trail the Thunder by a game to boot. However, if Utah beats Oklahoma City this week, the Mavs win any three-way tie involving them, the Thunder and the Jazz. All three play at the same time on the season’s final day, but suppose the Jazz game drags on a bit longer. In that scenario, it is possible for an already-eliminated Jazz team to be playing with the fates of Dallas and Oklahoma City next Sunday afternoon versus a (possibly resting) Lakers team in L.A.
For those of us who don’t have a team in the Western Conference playoff race that we’re truly invested in, there is only one true outcome to root for seeing. That, of course, is the one that produces the most convoluted, ridiculous tiebreak scenarios and hopefully results in outcomes that are either bewildering or borderline impossible.
We are, quite possibly, headed toward such a place. Minnesota’s surreal home loss to a tanktacular Portland team on Sunday made this possibility less likely, but we still have a scenario on the table in which five teams end up tied at 42-40. Or rather, multiple scenarios; the final week sadly features only two matchups between these five teams (Lakers-Clippers on Wednesday and Pelicans-Wolves on the last day of the season, Sunday), so, as a result, there are multiple ways to get a five-way knot at 42 wins between the Lakers, Clippers, Warriors, Pelicans and Wolves.
This is the MAXIMUM CHAOS scenario in which two of the teams with 42 wins ends up directly in the playoffs, two end up meeting in the No. 7 vs. No. 8 Play-In and another ends up having to win twice just to get its foot in the playoff door.
How does it shake out? Amazingly, the head-to-head among the five is almost a dead heat right now. Almost. Minnesota must beat New Orleans this week to make the tie happen, and, as a result, the Wolves would have the best record of the bunch and get the fifth seed with an 8-5 mark in head-to-head games.
After that, the Pelicans or Lakers would be the sixth seed; the Pelicans would be 7-7, and if the Clippers beat the Lakers on Wednesday, the Clippers would also be 7-7, but New Orleans wins that tiebreak. The Lakers, however, would move to 8-7 with a win over the Clips and thus own the sixth position. And Golden State? The Warriors would end up either eighth or ninth, depending again on that Clippers outcome.
Savor, if you will, the Play-In Tournament delicacies that might result:
Five-way tie at 42-40 if Clippers beat Lakers:
Minnesota
New Orleans
LA Clippers
L.A. Lakers
Golden State
Five-way tie at 42-40 if Lakers beat Clippers:
Minnesota
L.A. Lakers
New Orleans
Golden State
LA Clippers
You think that’s too far-fetched? Then consider the more likely possibility of four teams knotted at 43-39: Those same teams above, minus Minnesota. For that to happen, each of the four teams would lose once this week and win their other games.
Again, the Laker-Clippers game looms large, and again, the Warriors are left in a rough spot.
Four-way tie at 43-39 if Lakers beat Clippers:
L.A. Lakers
New Orleans
LA Clippers
Golden State
Four-way tie at 43-39 if Clippers beat Lakers:
New Orleans
LA Clippers
L.A. Lakers
Golden State
The other wrinkle here, of course, involves the sixth seed. There has been some discussion that teams might try to finesse themselves into that position to face Sacramento in the first round rather than finishing fifth and having to play Phoenix.
The problem is that this doesn’t really seem possible as of today. Perhaps events of the coming week will create enough separation that one of these teams can try gently backing the truck into its desired seed, but the two teams you might most suspect of trying this, Golden State and the Clippers, are in the least favorable tiebreak positions. For instance, even if the Lakers win out and grab the fifth seed, the Warriors have to keep winning and have the Pelicans lose once to guarantee the sixth spot.
Finally, let me leave you with this nugget, further down in the pecking order: Dallas loses any tie with Oklahoma City for the 10th and final Play-In position in the West; the Mavs trail the Thunder by a game to boot. However, if Utah beats Oklahoma City this week, the Mavs win any three-way tie involving them, the Thunder and the Jazz. All three play at the same time on the season’s final day, but suppose the Jazz game drags on a bit longer. In that scenario, it is possible for an already-eliminated Jazz team to be playing with the fates of Dallas and Oklahoma City next Sunday afternoon versus a (possibly resting) Lakers team in L.A.
- 89,905
- 121,490
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2010
- 89,905
- 121,490
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2010
- 11,327
- 12,443
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2012
Damn bro… Glad you’re okAnxiety and stress is real my boy. Take it easy. Ain't nothing worth your mental. I had a lot going on besides the wedding and the Lakers, but still.
Congrats tho.
Thanks G!
- 89,905
- 121,490
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2010
- 89,905
- 121,490
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2010
- 8,759
- 22,417
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2012
- 38,464
- 41,211
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2006
MVP
Supporter
- 82,680
- 84,759
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2008
- 16,124
- 16,955
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2019
4-0 last 4 games
Book it
Book it
- 22,364
- 16,184
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2017
- 38,933
- 39,903
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2013
Nobody is listening to you doggie
- 22,364
- 16,184
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2017
- 2,097
- 1,267
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2019
- 8,759
- 22,417
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2012
Vando on THT today 
darthska
Staff member
- 45,534
- 29,486
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2004
Tonight is our last night away from GWF Staples Crypt. We get 3 of the last 4 in our own building.
So 5th is a possibility? Did I read that right in here yesterday? Outside possibility, unlikely, but possible?
So 5th is a possibility? Did I read that right in here yesterday? Outside possibility, unlikely, but possible?
- 36,781
- 11,719
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2008
Big big game.
A win and they can finish no worse than 9th
Lakers over Jazz in UTAH
Nets over Wolves in BK
Kings over Pelicans in NO
Thunder over Warriors in GS (Lakers win guarantees finishing ahead of OKC)
A win and they can finish no worse than 9th
Lakers over Jazz in UTAH
Nets over Wolves in BK
Kings over Pelicans in NO
Thunder over Warriors in GS (Lakers win guarantees finishing ahead of OKC)
- 38,933
- 39,903
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2013
MIKE LOWERY
formerly chuck finster
- 7,426
- 4,379
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2007
Beggars can't be choosers....................
But can't determine what spot is the best. Just try to win them all and let the chips fall.
That 6th spot is probably looks the sweetest and 1-2-3 are pretty much set so you know what you're looking forward to. Avoid the playin and get a very young SAC team little to no defense in the first round. Fox and Sabonis have been great all year, but they haven't faced the new look Lakers yet. Then you'd get Memphis. While still very good, they only have Jah and sometimes Bane able to create offense at any given time. MEM defensively is great, but I don't see it from them at the end of a playoff game.
That 5th spot is tough. You're likely going to have to beat 2 of LAC/GS/PHX/DEN. A 1st round matchup with PHX, GS or even LAC (if PG is back) wouldn't feel right.
But it really doesn't matter. Get 5-6 and get a week of rest. If healthy, I'm confident.
But can't determine what spot is the best. Just try to win them all and let the chips fall.
That 6th spot is probably looks the sweetest and 1-2-3 are pretty much set so you know what you're looking forward to. Avoid the playin and get a very young SAC team little to no defense in the first round. Fox and Sabonis have been great all year, but they haven't faced the new look Lakers yet. Then you'd get Memphis. While still very good, they only have Jah and sometimes Bane able to create offense at any given time. MEM defensively is great, but I don't see it from them at the end of a playoff game.
That 5th spot is tough. You're likely going to have to beat 2 of LAC/GS/PHX/DEN. A 1st round matchup with PHX, GS or even LAC (if PG is back) wouldn't feel right.
But it really doesn't matter. Get 5-6 and get a week of rest. If healthy, I'm confident.
