Playoff Positioning

[Walter White]

I want the Spurs, 2015 Tony Parker is not 2007 Tony Parker. Timmy will pull some youth out his ass like every Finals and Kawhi isn't LeBron. But to be honest they have to get past the Rockets first - If Houston makes it past the Spurs in the 1st Round, They are going straight to the WCF with Golden State.

I want no part in the Splash Brothers what-so-ever, We suck against 3s - Bad....It'll be worse than Orlando '09

Kawhi took it to LeBron last Finals though. The X factor is always the Spurs bench players coming in and shooting lights out. The role players won it for them the last couple rings. And Pop vs a rookie NBA coach could be enough to put the Spurs over the edge too, although it would be sweet for a "rookie" HC to defeat Pop in the Finals his very first year in the league.

GSW though is deep with the role players too is the scary part. GSW is younger and quicker, harder to guard, and obviously the best shooting team in the league. And they have great defenders like Green, Klay, Iggy, and Barnes. Plus Bogut in the middle. If we can shut down Steph and/or Klay I would like our chances, but c'mon. That is almost impossible. We would have to pray they aren't hitting their shots.

 

[CLEistheCITY]

Not only am I planning a Cav's finals trip, but I'm also campaigning for which street the Championship Parade will be.

Then you are an idiot.

 

[Benedict_Boozer]

I wonder how important HCA is for Blatt relative to the WC teams in the Finals - because technically the Clips, POR, and SA are all within striking distance. All of those teams still have some tough games and we are right on their heels record wise.

We aren't catching MEM/GS/HOU but everyone else is fair game.

Gonna be a tricky balance between resting guys and trying to get the best seeding possible.

 

[brownsbuck6]

I'm starting to believe that our schedule is so relaxed over the next three weeks that artificially resting guys and not playing, more than maybe 1 or 2 games, is a bad idea. I mean this week for instance there are two games in 7 days. Most of the schedule now is at home. That should be enough 'rest'. Plus, seeding does matter and Chicago isn't going away. Plus finishing above as many teams from the west as possible, especially San Antonio, also matters. All of those reasons and more.. I don't expect many DNP/Healthy scratches. If any.

 

[Kypus]

I'm against it too, as it gets guys out of their comfort zone/role, probably increasing possibility of injury.

We have a creampuff schedule, plus we still have schemes/rotations to work out.

Our "rest" is already built in- don't mess with it.

 

[Kizzle]

Kawhi took it to LeBron last Finals though. The X factor is always the Spurs bench players coming in and shooting lights out. The role players won it for them the last couple rings. And Pop vs a rookie NBA coach could be enough to put the Spurs over the edge too, although it would be sweet for a "rookie" HC to defeat Pop in the Finals his very first year in the league.

GSW though is deep with the role players too is the scary part. GSW is younger and quicker, harder to guard, and obviously the best shooting team in the league. And they have great defenders like Green, Klay, Iggy, and Barnes. Plus Bogut in the middle. If we can shut down Steph and/or Klay I would like our chances, but c'mon. That is almost impossible. We would have to pray they aren't hitting their shots.

Same for them. They'd have to pray to whatever God they claim that Curry can only give up 30 a game to Kyrie minimum and that JR Smith magically shoots 12% from 3 and that LeBron breaks both legs TODAY and flat out doesn't play at all.


I'm joking but I Do think our job is easier than what there's is gonna be. Our job will be keeping a soft jacker off the 3pt line and keeping Klay off as well. Their job is keeping Kyrie and Bron out the paint. That's gonna be damn near impossible

 

[Redzone]

I remember the Colts used to rest their starters for a game or two at the end of the year, and then the Colts would lose the first home playoff game. Meanwhile, Coughlin would play his Giants starters for the final meaningless games and they won the Super Bowl. I can see giving the starters the last week or so off, but there is something to be said for keeping your team finely tuned and combat ready. We want this team peaking, not peaked and disinterested, at the end of the season. Maybe the better idea is to rest them for a game here or there rather than for an extended period, to keep this machine well-oiled.

 

[DougHeil]

Then you are an idiot.

Thanks..... Naw; not an idiot. Just an optimistic Cleveland Sports Fan.

 

[DougHeil]

I'm starting to believe that our schedule is so relaxed over the next three weeks that artificially resting guys and not playing, more than maybe 1 or 2 games, is a bad idea. I mean this week for instance there are two games in 7 days. Most of the schedule now is at home. That should be enough 'rest'. Plus, seeding does matter and Chicago isn't going away. Plus finishing above as many teams from the west as possible, especially San Antonio, also matters. All of those reasons and more.. I don't expect many DNP/Healthy scratches. If any.

Agreed. The only games we can rest a few come in the very last few games as one is a back to back. No need to rest until then. Resting in games coming up would mean about a full week off for that player. That's not good either. Besides, I got tickets for this Sunday so we can't rest yet.

 

[I'mWithDan]

I wonder how important HCA is for Blatt relative to the WC teams in the Finals - because technically the Clips, POR, and SA are all within striking distance. All of those teams still have some tough games and we are right on their heels record wise.

We aren't catching MEM/GS/HOU but everyone else is fair game.

Gonna be a tricky balance between resting guys and trying to get the best seeding possible.

Really the only teams with crazy home / road disparities are Portland and San Antonio. They're both a pedestrian 18-18 on the road this season.

On the flip side the Blazers are 29-7 at home and the Spurs are 29-8. Both also have great home court crowds, so it would seem most advantageous to be ahead of them, as HC could easily swing the series in our favor.

Teams like the Rockets / Clippers seem less so IMO.....I don't think either has a great home crowd and there isn't a ton of difference in their road / home splits.

 

[All4One1ForAll]

Spurs are now only 2 games behind the 2 seed in the loss column (2 more losses, that is). They could realistically be the 2nd seed in the West by the end of the season. Absolutely crazy how the NBA world and fans were ready to give up on them earlier on the year and saying that their old age had finally caught up. Never count out the Spurs.

GSW and the Spurs are the teams I worry about most out West. I think we'd be very well off against the other 6 playoff teams.

 

[Kbiz]

Spurs are now only 2 games behind the 2 seed in the loss column (2 more losses, that is). They could realistically be the 2nd seed in the West by the end of the season. Absolutely crazy how the NBA world and fans were ready to give up on them earlier on the year and saying that their old age had finally caught up. Never count out the Spurs.

GSW and the Spurs are the teams I worry about most out West. I think we'd be very well off against the other 6 playoff teams.

That "old age has caught up to the Spurs" mantra has been whipped out the past four years whenever the Spurs have a down week or so. Perhaps the reason they have been so successful the past decade is because they realize the regular season is a marathon, not a sprint. They don't get worried when they string some L's together.

It's simply a lazy and tired reporting frame these days. Until Duncan retires, assuming his game doesn't drop off massively, they will always be in contention.

 

[Ohio]

Important information:

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2015/3/...2015-standings-tiebreakers-eastern-conference

Miami holds tiebreakers over Brooklyn & Boston...that's unfortunate.

 

[Simon]

5. Washington* 41-33 15.0
-------------------------------
6. Milwaukee 36-38 20.0
7. Miami 34-39 21.5
8. Boston 33-41 23.0
-------------------------------
Brooklyn 32-40 23.0
Indiana 32-41 23.5
Charlotte 31-42 24.5
Detroit 28-45 27.5

Such a tight race....

Indiana vs. Brooklyn tonight, fyi.

 

[Ohio]

Spurs and Heat on TNT now. Who do we root for? Or who should we root for?

Spurs.

Why? I think Heat so they move up into sixth if some people don't want to play them in the first round....

Heat are 1.5 games back from Milwaukee.

Because there are three teams below Miami in the standings that are within two games of them. There's more room to move down than to move up. If Brooklyn wins tonight and Miami loses (both likely), Brooklyn will just be half a game back. Although, as I pointed out above, Miami holds tie breaker over Brooklyn.