if Minny wins don't Lakers

want to lose to secure 4/5?

and avoid 1st round vs Minny and have Minny slug it out w Denver? 

Why? There is still 1 more game left to play. Win now to secure 4th spot.

this is tricky as if Lakers win tonight and win against Jazz that'd put them at 3 seed and they'd own tiebreaker v Nuggs so would then face Wolves 1st round am i wrong?

ok thanks I've had a couple beers and just thinking out loud as if Lakers win they face Jazz next (win) and Nuggs face Spurs next if both land on 53 wins Lakes get 3 and face Wolves..if Lakers go 1-1 they face Hou and avoid Wolves and pit Wolves v Nuggs

that is all predicated on Nuggs losing last game vs Spurs so maybe if Lakes win then maybe Nuggs beat Spurs Sunday

They could still win tonight. Then rest some key players next game and lose to Jazz on purpose to keep 4th seed

Nuggs hold all the cards Sunday..if they win against Spurs they face Wolves, if they sit and tank they get Hou

@football_007

 true Sunday will be interesting

Spurs did play Wemby and the starters last night even though they did not need to.

Possibly being a young team coach wants to keep the team in rhythm for playoffs

But I think if they will rest the last game would be the one.

Will be interesting  how the coach proceeds.

If they don't play starters which I think is likely then maybe Nuggets don't either.

But if Nuggets do play starters VS Spurs back ups then obvious Nuggets want to win the game and get Wolves .

Spurs are somewhat similar to Pistons with Cade coming back. They need to get him in rhythm with the starters and Pistons played their starters as well even though they did not need to.

Cade played like 26 minutes. Duren played good minutes as well as other starters.

Last game is similar situation as Spurs, sit starters to get some rest ?

Tough call with Cade back for only 2 games.

I would think if I had to quess the Spurs more likely to sit starters then the Pistons.

Then that makes it tougher on Nuggets to lose.  

I think you were reaching a bit with some of your thoughts Wagers.

Going back 2 or 3 games when you talked about higher seeds losing so a lower seed could possibly finisher higher to avoid certain matchips in the first round.

There were far to many variables for teams to think about losing a game then.

Even had they lost on purpose that does not mean the team moves up, to many games left at that point.

Just food for thought Wagers.

But I do think if there is only 1 game win or lose determines their matchup then I'd think you have a much better point. 

If the Nuggets can set their matchup with a loss now you have something.  Assuming they want the Rockets.

It'll  be interesting how Nuggets play this game.

I doubt lakers wanna play houston, facing one superstar, way better than facing 5 all-star

Spurs -11 so it appears Spurs will  be playing starters or Nuggets sitting every starter.

I don't think the Nuggets played the big guns last game so I doubt they'd play this game.

They could be tanking to draw Rockets .

Pistons -13.5 on the road must be playing starters as well.

Celtics +13 they don't appear to be playing anyone.

@theclaw

 so a Spurs win keeps Nuggs at 53 wins, then IF Lakers win they go to 53 wins but own the tiebreaker so they'd swap seed and Lakers would go to 3 seed and Nuggs to 4.

Lakers as 3 seed would then host Wolves who they swept the season series (but that was w Luka and Reaves)

Nuggs as 4 seed would host Hou who they won season series 3-1

Seems like a foregone conclusion... 

I wonder where LeBron wants to go? If Lakers lose tonight, he gets 2 against at home Hou and maybe Luka comes back in a longer series. If Lakers want to extend a series, this is most likely chance. This may be the best scenario for the League as it gets maybe just maybe a Lakers entertaining series where Luka comes back and maybe Lakers beat Hou. Longer series, mo money.

If Lakers win tonight, then he gets 2 at home against Wolves in what could be an evisceration sweep for Minny. Interestingly Lebron has avoided Wolves all season since that 1st round series 4-1 playoff loss last year. He didn't suit up once in their regular season series this year, hmm...Shorter series, less money.

If Jazz win, they still finish bottom 5 and keep their top 8 protected pick.

So in short, if Lakers want to buy as much time to get Luka and Reaves back I think their best bet is to face Houston. That seems like a possible 4-3 series whereas playing Wolves Lakers could get swept or 4-1 loss with not enough time for Luka to come back. The diff bt/w a quick series and a long series is 5 extra days.