2022-2023 NBA Season Thread

[Shaqdaddy11]

To do this LA would need a long winning streak and for a handful of teams to drop games and keep dropping them.

Suns are in the 5th. They will only improve. Lakers are 4.5 from PHX.
Mavs are in the 6th. Who knows with the Mavs but the Lakers are 3.5 from DAL.

Like I said, if these teams lose and keep losing as well as the teams in between keep losing the Lakers have a chance at a 6 seed but that seems pretty unlikely. That means winning most or all of these H2H with these teams.

A lot of their schedule involves the 5-12 seeds. Out of the 23 games, 14 are against these teams.

LAC - 1
GS - 2
OKC - 2
Minny - 2
Dallas - 2
Phoenix - 2
Utah - 2
N.O. - 1

The one thing in the Lakers favor is that in their last few games the teams they play against might be resting their star players (ie Suns, Clips) right before the playoffs

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

6th seed is the absolute ceiling, if, and it's a big fucking IF, literally all the cards fall the right way.

7th or 8th spot is more likely and do-able. It gives them HCA in the play-in and guarantees them at least two games to win one.

The way the season has been going for the Lakers I would not be complaining about that.

The problem is two fold.

Not enough games left and you aren’t better than some of the teams you are chasing.

Too lazy to look up your head to head.

But, catching up to teams doesn’t help.

You have to pass them because you aren’t winning the division and your conference record is 14-20.

Nola with no Zion, Lakers.

Kings, I got the Lakers.

Dallas, push because you can’t guard the backcourt and they can’t do anything with your front court.

Thunder, Utah likely aren’t even trying to make the playoffs.

But, they aren’t easy wins.

Timberpups and the Blazers are just enigmas.

Clippers, Healthy Suns, Healthy Golden State….I take them over the Lakers.

 

[msgkings322]

Don’t forget Babe Ruth

And Wayne Gretzky

 

[Shanemansj13]

The one thing in the Lakers favor is that in their last few games the teams they play against might be resting their star players (ie Suns, Clips) right before the playoffs

It depends what those teams are fighting for. Plus, KD might want to get more chemistry with his new team. I'm not sure you can depend on that unless they aren't fighting for a better seed.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

The one thing in the Lakers favor is that in their last few games the teams they play against might be resting their star players (ie Suns, Clips) right before the playoffs

There is very little chance of that.

Remember: Seeds 4,5,6,7 are separated by like one game.

Nobody is resting.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

The problem is two fold.

Not enough games left and you aren’t better than some of the teams you are chasing.

Too lazy to look up your head to head.

But, catching up to teams doesn’t help.

You have to pass them because you aren’t winning the division and your conference record is 14-20.

Nola with no Zion, Lakers.

Kings, I got the Lakers.

Dallas, push because you can’t guard the backcourt and they can’t do anything with your front court.

Thunder, Utah likely aren’t even trying to make the playoffs.

But, they aren’t easy wins.

Timberpups and the Blazers are just enigmas.

Clippers, Healthy Suns, Healthy Golden State….I take them over the Lakers.

Agree with all.

However the Lakers play the Warriors on Thursday and Steph will likely still be out and AD and Bron will be rested.

And while the Clippers and Suns would normally crush the Lakers, they do play them right before the playoffs start and could be resting their stars.

 

[fightinfunbags]

https://sportshoop.la/sportsbook/bets/the-lakers-will-make-the-playoffs-not-the-playin-meaning-top-6-seed.15676/

I’ll take this bet if you’re willing.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

There is very little chance of that.

Remember: Seeds 4,5,6,7 are separated by like one game.

Nobody is resting.

It's not guaranteed. But with injury prone players like Kawhi, George, KD and CP3 it could very well happen if their seed has already been set.

 

[Wamu]

There is very little chance of that.

Remember: Seeds 4,5,6,7 are separated by like one game.

Nobody is resting. <--

After the A.S. break it'll be very interesting with the traffic jam in the WC. Should be some damn good games.

 

[wildturkey]

Not automatic but about 95% sure he gets it. 3 in a row is rare but a center avg a triple double is pretty damn rare. Only way i see him not winning is if denver collapse and end up as the 3 seed or something

He won MVP 2 years ago by default because all the other contenders missed significant time.

Since then, each season has been better than the one before making him impossible to ignore in MVP debates.

I saw Nick Wright bring up a good point about the MVP and Jokic on Bomani Jones' show, Game Time. Summarizing he said historically the MVP race came down to who put up great numbers AND had their team near the top of the league. Didn't always have to be the best record, but typically somewhere near like the top 4 teams or teams you felt for sure could (and would) win the title. But the analytics movement has really taken hold of a lot of voters and they are voting on straight numbers regardless of other factors. Jokic is an analytics beast, but when you look at his team accomplishments, they were often in the lower half of the playoff teams and/or his teams would have early exits. So while Jokic's numbers analytically were really good, by the historical standard of MVP voting, he probably shouldn't have won before. But now that you have established 2 MVP seasons for him already, its REALLY hard to vote against him this year when he A) Is having an even better statistical season than his 2 previous MVPs and B) His team is now the best in the league too so he meets both historical standards. You could end up in a situation where we have a guy that's won 3 straight MVPs that has even been to the Finals and only got to the conference finals 1 time (so far). When you look back on the entire history of the league, that really stands out but shows how the voting process has changed in recent years for better and worse and everything in between.

 

[Wamu]

It's not guaranteed. But with injury prone players like Kawhi, George, KD and CP3 it could very well happen if their seed has already been set.

Hey we don't want any of that. Let things go down to the wire.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

@trojanfan12 @Shaqdaddy11 @DJ @Shanemansj13

We don’t have shit to do.

No real basketball for a week.

So, let’s chop it up.

Here are the standings and the remaining games for some of the teams.

Who will the Lakers catch?

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

It's not guaranteed. But with injury prone players like Kawhi, George, KD and CP3 it could very well happen if their seed has already been set.

The problem is you have a injury prone guy yourself.

Some of the teams ahead of you, like the Clippers, have proven they can beat you even with one of their top guys out.

If we lose Kawhi, gonna hurt.

If you lose Lebron or Davis, you are completely fucked when it comes to catching up.

Booker and CP3 missed time.

They are 9-1 in the Pacific Division.

The Lakers are 2-9.

The Clippers are 6-4

The Kings are 5-6.

Tie breakers for playoff seeding goes Head to Head, Division leader, Division won loss, conference won loss.

You are pretty much behind in every category.

So, while it isn’t mathematically impossible, it is very improbable you get top 6.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

Hey we don't want any of that. Let things go down to the wire.

I mean, teams really can’t do that this year.

That goes for both conferences.

Only team that I can see shutting shit down for the last few games would be the ones not even trying to make the post season and Denver.

They are 6 games ahead of the closest team.

Even the Celtics, Bucks have to keep grinding because top 3 is still in play for a about 5 teams.

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

Whoa, the Spurs have lost 14 straight???? Who is Popovich tanking for this time?

 

[DJ Fieri]

The problem is you have a injury prone guy yourself.

Some of the teams ahead of you, like the Clippers, have proven they can beat you even with one of their top guys out.

If we lose Kawhi, gonna hurt.

If you lose Lebron or Davis, you are completely fucked when it comes to catching up.

Booker and CP3 missed time.

They are 9-1 in the Pacific Division.

The Lakers are 2-9.

The Clippers are 6-4

The Kings are 5-6.

Tie breakers for playoff seeding goes Head to Head, Division leader, Division won loss, conference won loss.

You are pretty much behind in every category.

So, while it isn’t mathematically impossible, it is very improbable you get top 6.

We have 18 games left vs WC teams. And are a vastly better team now now than before the trade deadline.

6 seed and the Mavs are bumped to the play-in. 0-3. in their last 3.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

Yeah, DP tried, but Windy wouldn't say what round or how high he would go in that round.

He just said that he's not saying Bronny will be an All-Star, (also didn't say he wouldn't) he would only say that Bronny will make it on his own merit.

I think that the higher he's drafted, the more complicated it can become because then he's looking at having to go to a non-contender. Would he be willing to spend his last season or 2 on a bad team to play with his son?

It could also be complicated if he's under contract with someone. If, for example, he's under contract with the Lakers, they could just sign him as a UFA, but if he gets drafted, then they'd have to trade for him.

I’m actually looking forward to watching him in the Mickey D’s game.

Apparently, he took a decent leap.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

Whoa, the Spurs have lost 14 straight???? Who is Popovich tanking for this time?

I did not realize that either…lol

Rockets had a streak like that too.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

We have 18 games left vs WC teams. And are a vastly better team now now than before the trade deadline.

6 seed and the Mavs are bumped to the play-in. 0-3. in their last 3.

You got better.

Some of the teams that are ahead of you, we’re already better, and they improved as well.

Won’t be long until we see whose right.

Also, Dallas is up 2-0 on the Lakers.

You have to pass them, they already own the tie breakers.

You added 3 shinny quarters and Mamba is about a dime.

They added a full dollar bill in Kyrie.

Question is: Is that bill counterfeit fools gold?

 

[tabascojet]

What the fuck is wrong with you, Dude?

Jokes about dead kids?

What a piece of shit.

Who's joking gigi was a better player than bronny will ever be....