Are the lakers gonna throw that last game against Utah? - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

erdubya · 04-06-2009, 04:12 PM

From Mark Stein's Power Rankings

Jazz 47-30 Interesting late-season scenario: If the Lakers have no shot at the league's best record in their final game of the season at home to Utah, do they let the Jazz have the game to make sure Dallas winds up eighth? I'm guessing yes.

dalmations202 · 04-06-2009, 04:14 PM

yes

left texas · 04-06-2009, 04:21 PM

No team in the nba would even consider doing such a thing.

Kidd Karma · 04-06-2009, 04:23 PM

Depends on best record, if it's still in question, maybe not. But if nothing's on the line, you'll see more Ariza and Walton, then Odom and Bryant.

SMC0007 · 04-06-2009, 04:28 PM

That team still beats Utah at home.

92bDad · 04-06-2009, 04:32 PM

I don't see them losing on purpose to Utah, but I can see them sitting the starters more than normal, simply because to the Lakers the game doesn't matter.

However, our Mavs need to take care of business before it ever gets down to that last game...take it out of the Lakers hands, so that the last REALLY doesn't matter.

DubOverdose · 04-06-2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by left texas

No team in the nba would even consider doing such a thing.

We let the Warriors beat us at the end of the 67 win season...and then demolish us the in playoffs

AxdemxO · 04-06-2009, 05:32 PM

They probably would do that because the Jazz can beat the Lakers. But I am thinking unless the Hornets pick it up they could end up in 8th?? Couldnt they.??

Sportstudi · 04-06-2009, 05:45 PM

Yes. The Jazz can beat the Lakers, thus I wouldn't wonder about an easy win if the run for the HOA is already decided. It sucks, but probably it will happen. Thus we have to take care of business and to avoid the Lakers by beating the Jazz and NO (at least at home).

Bayliss · 04-06-2009, 06:24 PM

Marc Stein is stealing my lines. This is what I wrote yesterday night:

Yesterday, 07:33 PM
And the Lakers play the Jazz in the very last game. They will essentially set the standings with that game. Phil Jackson can choose which team he would rather play. And I think he would rather play the Mavs.

eyedentifyme · 04-06-2009, 06:31 PM

The Mavericks can control their own destiny and win out to secure possibly the 6th seed to avoid that.

twistaeffect2004 · 04-06-2009, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyedentifyme

The Mavericks can control their own destiny and win out to secure possibly the 6th seed to avoid that.

Yup, the Mavs are playing the teams in front of us, so it's now up to the Mavericks. We'll see if they can pull out a couple wins a maybe get a hobbled Spurs team instead of a prime Lakers squad.

NYMAVGUY · 04-06-2009, 07:25 PM

They won't throw it, but its no reaqson to play your starters much. If it were the Mavs I would want them to rest Dirk and the other key players for the playoffs.

ghazi · 04-06-2009, 07:31 PM

I wouldn't blame them if they did. We put ourselves in this situation with all of our "wtf" losses to the worst of the league.

we'll deserve whatever seed we get. We control our destiny, make it happen boys.

Flacolaco · 04-06-2009, 07:32 PM

Us = 8th

TheMaverick · 04-06-2009, 08:08 PM

Right now, the Lakers are one game behind Cleveland so let's hope they are tied up heading into that game.

Robillion · 04-06-2009, 08:49 PM

The Lakers should be more afraid of us than Utah with the Lakers having home court advantage. We are a better road team than Utah and our comes were all definitely close enough in the Lakers games for them to have some concern.

LonghornDub · 04-06-2009, 09:40 PM

I'm with Robillion here. I see no reason why the Lakers would prefer to play the Mavs over Utah. One, the Lakers will have HCA, and the Jazz have a much worse chance of winning one at Staples. Two, the Mavs have actually played the Lakers really well this year. I mean, they could easily blow us out in the playoffs, but they have no reason to think that the games won't be close. Even the two games at Staples this year came down to the wire.

Bayliss · 04-06-2009, 09:43 PM

Quote:

I'm with Robillion here. I see no reason why the Lakers would prefer to play the Mavs over Utah. One, the Lakers will have HCA, and the Jazz have a much worse chance of winning one at Staples. Two, the Mavs have actually played the Lakers really well this year. I mean, they could easily blow us out in the playoffs, but they have no reason to think that the games won't be close. Even the two games at Staples this year came down to the wire.

Because Utah is harder to defend. And Utah will be much tougher at home than the Mavs will be at home. It isn't about protecting HC for the Lakers. It is about making it a short series. Utah is more likely to win a game or two at home and force it to 6 games than the Mavs are.

craggmac · 04-06-2009, 09:55 PM

man, i dunno. I don"t wanna play the Lakers

fluid.forty.one · 04-06-2009, 09:59 PM

no, the Lakers are not going to lose the last game of the season.

ShaggyDirk · 04-06-2009, 10:25 PM

good lord, does it really matter?

DevinHarriswillstart · 04-06-2009, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LonghornDub

I'm with Robillion here. I see no reason why the Lakers would prefer to play the Mavs over Utah. One, the Lakers will have HCA, and the Jazz have a much worse chance of winning one at Staples. Two, the Mavs have actually played the Lakers really well this year. I mean, they could easily blow us out in the playoffs, but they have no reason to think that the games won't be close. Even the two games at Staples this year came down to the wire.

Agreed. The Jazz are completely tanking their season at the end here. I would think the Lakers would prefer to play a team that is not playing their best basketball.

With the Mavs, you just have no idea what you will get. If the Mavs show up like they did versus the Suns, it's a series. You know much more what you will get playing the Jazz.

fluid.forty.one · 04-06-2009, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShaggyDirk

good lord, does it really matter?

You don't think we could upset Denver in the playoffs?

ShaggyDirk · 04-06-2009, 10:33 PM

Wish and think are not correlated in Maverick history. So to answer your question...NO.

Underdog · 04-06-2009, 10:58 PM

mavs777 · 04-06-2009, 11:31 PM

Hopefully the Cavs lose a game and Lakers win out so that game means something, or Mavs winout and get the 6 seed.

ghazi · 04-06-2009, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LonghornDub

I'm with Robillion here. I see no reason why the Lakers would prefer to play the Mavs over Utah. One, the Lakers will have HCA, and the Jazz have a much worse chance of winning one at Staples. Two, the Mavs have actually played the Lakers really well this year. I mean, they could easily blow us out in the playoffs, but they have no reason to think that the games won't be close. Even the two games at Staples this year came down to the wire.

Even if they did not care whether the opponent was Mavs or Jazz, there's still incentive to rest on account of they would have nothing to play for (assuming Cleveland has clinched home court by then). Why risk some sort of fluke injury or something?

So they may rest, not because they want the Mavs, but because they don't really have anything to play for.

They may wanna play their guys though since Bynum is coming back, allowing him to get in a groove.

I dunno, first things first our boys gotta beat the Jazz or this hypothetical is rendered insignificant.

sefant77 · 04-07-2009, 12:02 AM

If the Jazz run hot the last games and the Lakers have then the choice they will dump that game for sure.

They know Utah is one of the dark horses and they know that they match up perfectly wit us...

LonghornDub · 04-07-2009, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bayliss

Because Utah is harder to defend. And Utah will be much tougher at home than the Mavs will be at home. It isn't about protecting HC for the Lakers. It is about making it a short series. Utah is more likely to win a game or two at home and force it to 6 games than the Mavs are.

I disagree fundamentally with the premise that Utah is more likely to win a game or two at home. I think the Mavs are just as likely to win a game or two at the AAC. Or, if they're any less likely, it's negligibly so.

Beyond that, you say that it's "not about protecting home court," but it most certainly is. The Lakers absolutely want to win those first two games and quell the other team's confidence. Utah, with its awful road record, has almost no chance of taking one of the first two games at Staples. The Mavs don't have a great chance, but certainly it's a much better chance. If they do, their confidence goes up and the chance of the series being extended--which, as you point out, the Lakers want to avoid--also goes up. With the Jazz, on the other hand, the Lakers will be up 2-0 marching into Salt Lake City, and have a decent shot of making it 3-0 and then 4-0, as the Jazz's spirit is crushed.

I will grant you that Utah is harder to defend, but that doesn't change the fact that the Mavs have played the Lakers very tough this year. They've got no reason to think it'd be a cakewalk.

LonghornDub · 04-07-2009, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Agreed. The Jazz are completely tanking their season at the end here. I would think the Lakers would prefer to play a team that is not playing their best basketball.

With the Mavs, you just have no idea what you will get. If the Mavs show up like they did versus the Suns, it's a series. You know much more what you will get playing the Jazz.

I find myself agreeing more and more with you as of late. I wonder what has led to this convergence...

eyedentifyme · 04-07-2009, 03:36 AM

We need to see Kidd posting up against some of these smaller point guards like we saw Kidd do against Nash and we'll most likely be successful against these other teams in front of us.

Bayliss · 04-07-2009, 05:56 AM

Quote:

e Lakers will be up 2-0 marching into Salt Lake City, and have a decent shot of making it 3-0 and then 4-0, as the Jazz's spirit is crushed.

A sweep of the Mavs is much more likely than a sweep of the Jazz.

xavier · 04-07-2009, 06:19 AM

Either way we will make the 8th spot and not win one game vs the lakers, but thats just me being optimistic.

Underdog · 04-07-2009, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bayliss

A sweep of the Mavs is much more likely than a sweep of the Jazz.

I don't think ANY team is getting swept in the West this year - too much talent when the 8th seed has 50 wins...

(although I expect multiple sweeps in the East...)

jthig32 · 04-07-2009, 09:28 AM

The bottom line is the Lakers don't care who they play. They're not going to lose a game on purpose to line up any team.

Now, will they rest their starters just because they can? Perhaps.

LSMF · 04-07-2009, 12:58 PM

If we can move up to that 7 seed we can get to the second round. But if we don't move up we're getting thrashed by the Lakers. Hopefully we can move up, that win against the Suns was impressive. But they need to follow it up, all season this team has let me down when I put faith in them. Hopefully this time it will be different.

And btw, I just watched the Suns-Mavs game over and I just realized that was some of the best basketball I've seen from J-ho in a very long time. It was very 2006-esque of him. It was Kidd that made it happen though, he finally did what he should have been doing all year, penetrating and posting up. Thats what really opened the game up, the more he penetrates and post up the better of a chance we have.

MavsWiLLHaVeRinGs · 04-07-2009, 01:22 PM

The way I think it will happen is the Lakers will win that game vs Utah. Thus making us tied with Utah, which Utah has tiebreaker over us thus we still are 8th seed. So another words its another one of many opportunties given to us by other teams that we wont take advantage of.

fluid.forty.one · 04-07-2009, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longsufferingmavsfan

And btw, I just watched the Suns-Mavs game over and I just realized that was some of the best basketball I've seen from J-ho in a very long time.

yeah, and he wasn't the only one who played excellent.

Thomas86 · 04-07-2009, 01:37 PM

The Lakers are setting themselves up just like the 06-07 Mavs by being over confident, I might be the only Mavs fan that's not scared of the Lakers, the Lakers don't jump on teams with there defense like the Celtics do, they can't hold be leads because they get bored with it and nobody knows how andrew bynum is gonna be when he comes back.

I'm not saying the Mavs are gonna beat the Lakers in the playoffs but we a smart Coach in Rick Carlisle who is very good with match up's and didn't give his defensive schemes away in the season, were gonna have alot of defenders to throw at Kobe in Howard(if he's not hurt) Wright, Singelton and Jason Kidd, remember Josh has not played in any of the games when we played the Lakers this season and the Lakers only beat us by 7 point every game.

As for the Lakers and Jazz game if the Lakers do decided to throw the game they would still be the Jazz because the Jazz just suck on the road, I would like to play the Denver Thuggets in the playoffs or the Blazers but the odds of us playing the Blazers are slim.