volimhtown
04-16-2008, 01:23 PM
What a WILD season it's been in the West and even on the last day of the season, there's PLENTY at stake tonight.
Western Conference playoff picture - NBA - Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AhBc2CTiKPea1bRG50X0Fd9.0bYF?slug=ys-playoffscenarios08&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)
For starters, the Lakers and Hornets have wrapped up the number 1 and 2 seeds respectively, but the Hornets have the opportunity to choose their opponents as they host the Mavs tonight. Assuming Denver gets by the pathetic Grizzlies, the 7th seed and the right to play New Orleans in the first round will be determined by the outcome between the Mavs and Hornets. With all respect to the Hornets and the season they've had, I think both the Mavs and Nuggets would MUCH rather face the Hornets than the Lakers. If you're New Orleans, which would you rather?? Do you lay down tonight thinking the Nuggets are a more favorable match-up than the Mavs?? It will be interesting to see.
For the teams in the middle, it's a mess!! All kinds of scenarios exist and all 4 teams (San Antonio, Utah, Houston, and Phoenix) are still playing for home court advantage with San Antonio and Utah controlling their own fates. Ironically, they play each other tonight in San Antonio. Houston and Phoenix have relative "gimmes" tonight, so assuming those two win, the Spurs-Jazz winner will win home court advantage in the first round while the loser starts out on the road. Home court aside, how does the opportunity to play the Rockets over the other three factor into tonight's action since playing them will be viewed as the "consolation prize" as opposed to facing the others?? Since there are no guarantees with regards to that, probably not much, but this is how it breaks down...
assuming the Rockets and Suns both win: If the Jazz beat the Spurs, the Jazz win the #3 seed and would host the #6 seeded Spurs in the first round while the #5 seed Suns would be at the #4 seed Rockets.
If the Spurs beat the Jazz, the Spurs lock up the #3 seed and host the #6 seeded Suns in the first round, while the #5 seeded Rockets would HOST the #4 seeded Jazz thanks to having the better over-all record.
Of course should the Rockets and/or Suns lose tonight, it gets even more complicated!!
At any rate, it's only fitting that the season should end like this!! :thumpsup:
Western Conference playoff picture - NBA - Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AhBc2CTiKPea1bRG50X0Fd9.0bYF?slug=ys-playoffscenarios08&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)
For starters, the Lakers and Hornets have wrapped up the number 1 and 2 seeds respectively, but the Hornets have the opportunity to choose their opponents as they host the Mavs tonight. Assuming Denver gets by the pathetic Grizzlies, the 7th seed and the right to play New Orleans in the first round will be determined by the outcome between the Mavs and Hornets. With all respect to the Hornets and the season they've had, I think both the Mavs and Nuggets would MUCH rather face the Hornets than the Lakers. If you're New Orleans, which would you rather?? Do you lay down tonight thinking the Nuggets are a more favorable match-up than the Mavs?? It will be interesting to see.
For the teams in the middle, it's a mess!! All kinds of scenarios exist and all 4 teams (San Antonio, Utah, Houston, and Phoenix) are still playing for home court advantage with San Antonio and Utah controlling their own fates. Ironically, they play each other tonight in San Antonio. Houston and Phoenix have relative "gimmes" tonight, so assuming those two win, the Spurs-Jazz winner will win home court advantage in the first round while the loser starts out on the road. Home court aside, how does the opportunity to play the Rockets over the other three factor into tonight's action since playing them will be viewed as the "consolation prize" as opposed to facing the others?? Since there are no guarantees with regards to that, probably not much, but this is how it breaks down...
assuming the Rockets and Suns both win: If the Jazz beat the Spurs, the Jazz win the #3 seed and would host the #6 seeded Spurs in the first round while the #5 seed Suns would be at the #4 seed Rockets.
If the Spurs beat the Jazz, the Spurs lock up the #3 seed and host the #6 seeded Suns in the first round, while the #5 seeded Rockets would HOST the #4 seeded Jazz thanks to having the better over-all record.
Of course should the Rockets and/or Suns lose tonight, it gets even more complicated!!
At any rate, it's only fitting that the season should end like this!! :thumpsup: