They should try to win out and play whoever is in front of them. This team needs to get tested and learn something from the playoffs. Getting beat in the first round again by a lower seed will force some change. And, if they win against a tough opponent it will mean that the team has risen to the occasion. Beating an injury depleted team then getting beat by the champs will yield the worst longterm result.
I like MIN/Spurs pathway: 1) ANT isn't healthy 2) Spurs first run in the playoffs with this young core...everyone remember our playoffs run last year with our young core??? The Spurs games we played were close, I think in a 7 game series if Ime continues to play with our current rotation we've been playing during our winning streak we have a good chance of beating them!
The 1st round home court route. Win some games and let the other teams fall where they may. The 2nd round will be tough.
Lakers-Thunder easy. If we were legitimate championship contenders I'd go the other route but we're not. We have a slightly better chance of beating the Spurs than the Thunder but getting through all of Spurs, Thunder/Nuggets, East finalist is basically zero. Knocking Lebron and the Lakers out of the playoffs after losing FVV and Adams for the year would still be a reasonably satisfying result to the season.
I would also be least upset about losing to OKC in the second round, by the way. They're the current favorites and defending champions. Going up against them would be good experience for the young guys too. A good measuring stick for what they need to accomplish to become true contenders.
I think Denver is making a mistake by trying to win all of these games. I think they are gonna wear down when the playoffs start. It’s one thing to get into a rhythm like Houston but Denver has won 10 in a row and jokic has played heavy minutes. anyway, I’m for getting that 4th seed and playing the lakers. Minny lost again so they are stuck at 6. Houston and LA can’t fall past 5.
Denver has a bench now, Hardaway Jr., Spencer Jones, Peyton Watson, Bruce Brown, Julian Strawther, Jonas are no slouches. You know Playoff Jamal would be there.......
They are playing ethical basketball, that might not be the optimal choice for winning it all, but it's not a mistake, it's a choice
We don't really have much of a choice. It will be either home court or not vs LAL, and then most likely OKC in the 2nd rd
Does it matter if they have Luca? We had home court against an injured Warriors last year and still lost.
The Lakers minus both Luka and Reaves are a worse team with a worse coach than the version of the Warriors we faced last season. Of course we can still find a way to lose though... this team has lost a lot of games we should have won this season. So, I'm not assuming anything, but I like our odds the best against LAL
We're rounding into form (as much as we can) at the right time. A homecourt playoff series win against an ailing team will help reinforce that. OKC is inevitable anyway.