Topic: 2019 NBA Pre-Season - page 2428. (Read 885884 times)

It's really a tough decision betting right now, as you mentioned those teams who already have a comfortable position will be unpredictable, coaches can bench star players to avoid injuries and to rest them so they can have a good medical and physical conditions coming this playoffs, some might also be playing with their ranks intentionally to face much comfortable teams.

This is the exciting part of the season, games are more tighter because the playoffs is coming.
Getting in the playoffs gives them chance, though they will be in the lowest standing like in the last spot, but it's possible to upset those who are in the top.

Right now that playoffs is coming, team are more critical on getting wins especially those teams with a chance to get into the berth. Win is a must for them and teams like warriors who is already on top for the playoffs will play not their a-games to avoid injuries.

Lakers already out of the playoff picture, they don't have a chance of course,  and even if they win.
There is no assurance that good teams are always winning, did you see the Mevericks routing the Warriors at their own home court? That explains.

Thats too much underestimating for one team.
Do not forget they are still NBA players and even in their weakest season they could still win a game. I am niether a fan of Lakers nor Lebron James but I just know any team could win even those in highest rank. That was proven by Grizzlies before winning the 1st round against the number 1 seed San Antonio.
You just dont when they will have a good game and on the Lakers side, they are still creating their chemistry.

With or without him the Lakers has no chance against any team their are playing against in next 5 games because we are talking about Oklahoma, Warriors, Clippers, Utah and Portland. All of them are playoff teams and all are fighting for a better spot so Lakers should be an easy target for them.

A wise decision that they have made.It is just pointless to exert too much effort yet they are already out on the playoffs but expect on the outcome on next 5 games wont really be that good without him.

There is some more games to go and we still don't have the full picture on playoffs yet but it seems like the higher ups are already decided Portland probably won't leave their fourth position, they mathematically still could but not in just 5 games unless they start to suck all of a sudden ( I know Nurkic is injured but I doubt he would make that much difference) Jazz and clippers probably could change positions, we still don't know what will happen, if jazz wins 2 in a row they will be fifth and if they lose one and win one its a tie and if they lose both they are sixth, I assume fifth is more guaranteed.

It is the 8th seed that I wonder the most, Spurs and OKC will battle it out and neither will be happy about the result no matter what, 8th seed will face warriors and most likely get eliminated on the first round easily however 7th seed will get Denver, which plays amazingly this year and sure there is a possibility of an upset but I doubt it will happen in the first round.

On the other hand the east is still amazingly close, 8th seed and 9th position is all tied right now and nobody knows who will be the 8th seed on the east, we all know the finalists will be either Celtics or Sixers or more likely raptors or bucks but still going to playoffs is a big thing for any team.

Even on Top 5 at 85%. Recently, low standings teams upsetting dominant terms increasing Lakers chance for top picks.

---

They are 3 games behind the last spot. That will be tough as there is only 5 to 6 games remaining for this season.

Hornets did a great job during the first phase of the season but didn't able maintained it. Kemba Walker is always on a Player of the Week list during that time so I really expect to see them at Playoffs. I laso believed they can able to deal in the competition in the East now and can get a spot even at 6th to 8th.

Well then, hoping that improvements and actions will be made by them in the off-season especially that the upcoming free agency will be full of big fish.

Let's not make this news any bigger as if you look at it the "rest of the season" for the Los Angeles Lakers is only 5 games out before they finish the regular season which I think won't change anything considering that they won't be making to the play offs. Pulling him out early would also assure the team to at least don't go up more in the draft lottery considering that they are toe to toe with other teams similar to their record. This would assure them to have at least to have a top 10 pick after the regular season is over.

Resting Lebron wouldn't change anything as they knew that they are already out of this season, no need to risk him for a possible injuries to happen,
better to have him in a good shape next season and adjust if how they can manage to comes up much stronger.

At last, they made now the good decision to sit him out. That's the end of the line for him this season, he should now workout for the next season to come.
I cannot expect less from Boogie. 

Good decision.


Cousins was ejected though with flagrant 2 foul, he is really playing very good with 24 points. The win also clinches their 5th straight Pacific Division title and a possible three peat.

https://www.si.com/nba/2019/03/30/lebron-james-sit-out-remainder-lakers-season-groin-injury

Lakers management has decided to sit James for the rest of the season.

I think this is good move, why take the risk when they are already out of the playoffs.  Warriors vent out against Charlotte, winning a whopping 47 point spread, 137 - 90.

Warriors are hammering the Charlotte Hornets now, they got disappointed on their last controversial loss, and now they bounce back real hard.
Hornets has no chance in the playoffs, I was not able to check their latest standing yet, but I guess they will not make it this off season.

It's still the team play that counts though Luka is an asset to the Mavs. Just 3 point lead for the Mavs, the game was close enough. Congrats Mavs boys.

The kid's still young so don't be too quick on his struggle with 3-pter.

Good job from Mavericks defeating the Thunder without Luka.
Talking about Luka, he's undoubtedly a sensational rookie. Im just too concerned if he could keep the pace for the ROTY against Trae Young. I mean Trae has been consistently becoming a monster in the NBA while he's still on his rookie year. While, Luka has been struggling in terms of 3 point fg percentage.
I would really love to see Luka win the ROTY.

I can't believe the Thunder loss again, No Luka for the Mavericks but still won the game.
What will be the OKC's performance in the playoffs with these constant losing even against the weaker teams.

At that point all he thought about was to hit the three in order to tie the game. From the Warriors game I watched I don't think Durant is the type of player that does a step back three very often and you definitely can't compare him with Harden since he does it in every single game and that's his special move.

Ok, here's my call. I reviewed the replay and I would agree that Durant was caught off-guard, he was beaten by a couple of steps by KAT, did try to recover it by being physical and some push.

So yes there was a foul, yes very controversial since it less than a second, but referee blew his whistle and made the right call in that game.