Lakers standing in Western Conf. Discussion

Dallas and the Clippers play tonight; Lakers play tomorrow. Lakers could move into a tie for 4th if things work out.

As long as we dont end up playing OKC til the WC finals, it's all good.

Ideal scenario:
1, 4, 5 side of the bracket = OKC, Clippers, Denver
Let those three knock out two, the athletic teams

2, 3, 6 side = Lakers, San Antonio, Dallas
Let SA/Den knock each other out, the older slower teams

Critical to get to #2 and get Utah or Houston... Hopefully Portland continues to fade.

Lakers are currently alone for 5th in the West, 1.5 GB from Dallas. There's only a 2 game difference between us being the 5th seed or being out of the playoffs, so it's crucial for us to win a stretch of games to put some separation between us and the rest of the western pack.

And I would feel more comfortable if that stretch of games was in March and April.

Clippers are about to get into the toughest part of their schedule. March is going to kill them, so many games. We will be ahead of them by 3-4 games by the end of March. We put together a streak here and there and we will be in good shape.

2 or 3 seed is how I see things playing out for us.

I don't think we'll get the #2 seed. Spurs play well enough in the regular season. Lakers aren't the type of team to play .800 ball for long stretches. Especially the way they play on the road. #3 seed is attainable. Mavericks and Clippers are shaky at times. They're fully capable of following a 6 game win streak with a 2-8 or 3-7 stretch.

Lakers just need to avoid losing streaks and win a little more on the road. They do that, they can take the #3 spot which in my opinion gives them an excellent opportunity to make the west finals. And if they can drag games with OK city down in the mud and make them look ugly, they can win ugly. I know its asking a lot, but its possible, even without trades.

A 7 game series with the same team is much different than playing different teams every other night. They can game plan better and adjust to what they do. Battle tested playoff teams like the Lakers have an edge there. I know the Thunder have playoff experience, but not as much as the Lakers. They know what it takes to win. Been there and done that.

3 seed would be ideal for LA. They would have HCA in the 1st round and play a weaker team so reaching the 2nd round would be very likely. The bad news is that any other seed (obviously not counting 1st and 2nd since those aren't realistic) and they most likely get booted in the 1st round, the 4th seed isn't bad but they would most likely end up facing the Mavs in the first round and that's no good.

The best scenario with the current roster would be

1.OKC
2.SAS
3. Lakers

I think SAS current regular season is like the previous one : fool's gold and our twin towers would be too much to handle for their paint

I agree, puts us in WCF if we play well. Who knows what happens against the Thunder if we peak eh?

Exactly. Keep plugging away to finish ahead of Clips. Let Mavs-Clips finish 4 & 5, not only knock each other off but the have to play OKC.

TIME wrote:

Phil XI wrote:Exactly. Keep plugging away to finish ahead of Clips. Let Mavs-Clips finish 4 & 5, not only knock each other off but the have to play OKC.

I like this plan.

Clippers have a daunting schedule with like 20 games in 31 days mostly on the road. Lakers have a run of 11 games against teams hovering slightly above and at the .500 mark. Let's see them take the lead in the Pacific and maybe establish some separation.

wcsoldier81 wrote:The best scenario with the current roster would be

1.OKC
2.SAS
3. Lakers

I think SAS current regular season is like the previous one : fool's gold and our twin towers would be too much to handle for their paint

^^ Totally agree. Let's see if the Lakers can overtake the Clips and get to the 3 spot, and hopefully stay there. No. 3 would be golden. 2 spot would be even better of course, but realistically the 3 should do.

Lakers need to get the 3rd seed...plain and simple. 1st seed is out of the question, but we can def get the 2nd or 3rd seed. Get the Clippers and Mavs to play each other in the first round. I think Clips can take out the Mavs, and they can also take out the Thunder. They match up VERY well with both teams. Hopefully we can take care of the Spurs in the 2nd round...although I don't like our chances with the roster currently constructed...

FabFourLakers wrote:Lakers need to get the 3rd seed...plain and simple. 1st seed is out of the question, but we can def get the 2nd or 3rd seed. Get the Clippers and Mavs to play each other in the first round. I think Clips can take out the Mavs, and they can also take out the Thunder. They match up VERY well with both teams. Hopefully we can take care of the Spurs in the 2nd round...although I don't like our chances with the roster currently constructed...

It would be a fun one.

Can Duncan still perform? Who on the Spurs can guard Bynum? Will Gasol show up? Will Mike Brown avenge his Finals loss to Popovich? Will Fisher get caught in Tony Parker's sonic boom?

Lakers are currently alone for 4th in the West. 1 game behind the Clippers and 3 games behind the Spurs.

We should be able to catch and then surpass the Clippers.

Need to really capitalize on our lead tonight...Dallas AND Houston both lost...Memphis is now gaining some steam as they've moved up to 5th and are only a 1/2 game behind us. Hopefully the SUns take care of the Clippers tonight...and we take care of the Kings. If that happens, We will be 22-14, and Clippers will be 21-13...so technically we'll be tied for 3rd but that's only because we've played 2 more games than the Clippers and have one more win...but still one back in the loss column.

Fingers crossed. Phoenix has a shot to knock off Clips.

Clippers are down 5, 30 seconds left, here's hoping Phoenix can hold on, we can catch the Clippers in the standings.

CLUCK THE FLIPPERS!!!!

Good free throws by Dudley Do Right. Up by 4, 13 seconds.

Flop city!!