aren't purposely trying to tank down to the fourth seed so they can get the Spurs in 2nd round?

It sure seems that way. I hope they beat OKC tonight...

Tonight they are trying to win. The last 3 nights not so much....

Hi everyone....ready for the playoffs?

Somebody with more time than I have right now can research this further, but what's the process for breaking a 3-way tie?

It's possible that the Mavs, Thunder and Lakers could all finish with the same record.

According to Simplebay, they don't care anymore. Just waiting for the playoffs.

Well I don't think Dallas would be involved, since LA and OKC are both division winners. I know if it's a tie between OKC and Dallas that OKC gets it because of that. I could only imagine that Dallas would be eliminated because of that in a 3 way scenario.

Eh, if you watch enough Lakers you can tell in the first 2 minutes whether they going to give a crap the whole game. Tonight they were engaged, but the D isn't where it needs to be. We'll see if they bring it against the Spurs. The Mavs winning makes it interesting, because I'm sure the Lakers would prefer to coast, but that 2 seed is the best spot.

I think Perkins making those comments this week got the Lakers fired up tonight. It's kinda funny because before we got Perkins, this team wouldn't rock the boat at all. I can just imagine the locker room "oh ****, what did Perk say now?"

Getting Perkins has been a boon for OKC. He is a true tough guy, not one that talks a big game and then wusses out. He gives them a defensive presence in the middle that they didn't have at all before. It's a team built for a good playoff run.

Assuming they get out of the first round, they're going to be a very tough out for any of the Spurs, Mavs or Lakers.

Thinking about it some more this was a pretty big loss for the Lakers. I know the team doesn't give a ****, but the easiest path to the finals is NO/DAL/SA. That's not smack talk just match-ups. Tonight potentially FUBARed that plan. Portland and OKC are teams that will push LA, and even though I think LA is the best team in the west, the more tough games you play the more dicey it gets. POR/OKC/SA would be a gauntlet.

yeah but 6/7 isn't really set yet, so there is no telling really what the final pairings will be

all i know is, as an OKC fan, i don't want Portland in the first round

If there is a 3-way tie, I assume that the Mavs are 4th since they didn't win their division. The Lakers would be 2nd based on winning 2/3 against OKC this year.

I have no proof to back this up, just my guess.

A more interesting question is who gets the 7 seed if NO and Memphis finished tied (which they currently are with 2 to go). They split the regular season series at 2 games apiece. Memphis has a better conference record by 3 games - is that the tiebreaker?

I would love to see OKC get the 3 seed and play LA in the 2nd round. OKC took them to 6 last year and this OKC team is better and LA is worse. Adding Perkins to the roster might be enough to let them pull the upset.

Also, I'd much rather play Dallas in round 2 than OKC.

LA has the tiebreak on Dallas.

Both LA and Dallas have the tiebreaker on OKC and are still one game ahead of them.

Especially with the Spurs set to coast into the playoffs, my money is on LA to finish at least 1-1 over the last two, and most likely 2-0.

OKC can only pass LA or Dallas if either team goes 0-2. Again, a tie is won LA or DAL.

Even if LA does go 1-1, I'm not convinced Dallas has what it takes to win @Houston and vs NOLA.

I think the standings will likely stay where they are, with an outside shot at 2. Dallas 3. LA 4. OKC

[This message has been edited by aggie_2001_2005 (edited 4/11/2011 12:13a).]

[This message has been edited by aggie_2001_2005 (edited 4/11/2011 12:14a).]

aggie2001 - I agree with your prediction however I think you are incorrect in that OKC would hold the tiebreaker over Dallas since they won their division. They changed this tiebreaker rule not long ago. So if OKC goes 2-0 and Dallas loses 1 game, the worst that OKC can do is 3rd. OKC would need LA to lose their last two to jump all the way to 2nd since LA has the tiebreaker over them.

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I would love to see OKC get the 3 seed and play LA in the 2nd round. OKC took them to 6 last year and this OKC team is better and LA is worse. Adding Perkins to the roster might be enough to let them pull the upset.

Also, I'd much rather play Dallas in round 2 than OKC.

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Couldn't agree more with this post...all of it.

Also, I pity the no. 4 seed who has to play Denver and I'm keeping hope alive that NO drops to eighth.

The Lakers are creating a smokescreen by not playing defense for five straight games. Phil is a genius. /simpletroll

nah. they're just not playing well. yesterday was the first time they really tried to step it up on offense though in the last several games.

i think they're just ready for sunday to get here. and it's going to be a tougher road than they think.

im glad teams are playing their best against them (OKC played ridiculous last night), it's not going to be a cakewalk.

it should also be noted that OKC might be the team most capable of stopping the Lakers from a 3peat. This include Chicago and Miami.

Here is how I interpret the tie-break rules:

If two-way tie:

LA over Dallas due to division winner rule (also has 2-1 H2H record)
LA over OKC due to 2-1 H2H record
OKC over Dallas due to division winner rule


If three-way tie:

LA wins due to 4-2 record in games among tied teams
Dallas next (3-3)
OKC last (2-4)

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im glad teams are playing their best against them (OKC played ridiculous last night)

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Such a freaking clown

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OKC over Dallas due to division winner rule

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Here's hoping OKC/Dallas end up in a tie. I would love to see OKC move up to that #3 spot. As far as I'm concerned that would all but guarantee a trip to the WC Finals for the Spurs. LA and OKC are the only teams I could see beating the Spurs out of the west.

I would defintely prefer the 4 seed vs the 2 or 3 for the Mavs. IF they make it out of the first round, I want no part of the Lakers.

I'd much rather play Dallas than OKC or LA. Sign me up for that.

Except Perkins-Chandler, I would take just about every OKC player over every Dallas player.
Durant > Dirk
Westbrook > Terry or Kidd

Much rather play Dirk and a bunch of nobodies than Durant/Westbrook.

i too want dallas. i want no part of OKC. fortunately, i don't think there's a scenario to which OKC can finish with HCA over the Lakers.

as it stands now, the Lakers would have to go through...

New Orleans
Dallas
OKC in the WCF

with HCA over all.

and yes, i fully believe OKC will beat San Antonio in the second round.

spurs will probably mail it in against LA to ensure lakers stay in the 2-3 seed and to rest the starters.

i'd take OKC over the mavs right now, personally, but SA can take care of either.

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Simplebay
posted 11:16a, 04/11/11

and yes, i fully believe OKC will beat San Antonio in the second round.

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$100

[This message has been edited by Obi Wan Ginobili (edited 4/11/2011 11:28a).]

funny as a mavs fan, i hope we play okc or the spurs. we can easily beat the spurs and for some reason we can consistently beat okc, even at their place.

lakers are just straight poison for the mavs.

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we can easily beat the spurs

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BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Still laughing.

You're funny.

1-7 in their last 8 tries, including a 4-game sweep out of last year's playoffs.

What's funny is that everyone should want the Mavs. If we somehow make it out of the first round, I'd prefer the Spurs. We don't have the toughness inside to play with OKC or LA.

Definitely a "pick your poison" situation cuz I don't think we can beat any of the other top 3 seeds.

Also for Mass, don't know what playoffs you were watching but the Mavs/Spurs series went 6 games last year.

sharkie....yeah the spurs definitely won't be trying to beat LA tomorrow.

How do you think Dallas would do against the 2011 Ewing Theory?