GoldenSTWarriors

[shalik]

Can we hold off the Lakers in the standings?

Kobe is playing some of the best basketball of his career, in his 17th season. Dwight is playing better than he has in any other month of the season. Nash is starting to shoot more shots, and learning how to play off of Kobe. The Lakers look pretty dangerous, and they are meshing and on a roll, record-wise.
This is the West (last playoff berth) after the Lakers beat Chicago yesterday:

5. Denver 42 - 22 (0.656) W 8
6. Golden State 35 - 29 (0.547) L 2
7. Houston 34 30 - (0.531) L 1
8. L.A. Lakers 33 - 31 (0.516) W 3

I'll worry about the Lakers when they pass up the Rockets.

Right now, they're still tussling with Utah.

How many games can old man Bryant REALLY savv out for anyway? Can he still carry a team for 20 games at the end of a gruelingly disappointing season?

[Blackfoot]

I am more worried about the Rockets than the Lakers.

True, although they've seemed a tad off since trading Patrick Patterson. 4-4, with losses to Phoenix, Dallas, Milwaukee, and Washington. While I've little doubt that Thomas Robinson has the potential to be something insanely better than Patrick Patterson, Sacramento slyly robbed Houston of 3 of their glue guys; the spread 4 (Patterson), along with a lumbering rim protector (Cole Alderidge), and a pesky on-ball defender (Tony Douglas).

After Kobe's ankle injury tonight, I see both Houston and LA falling a bit back from us in the standings. I'm not too worried about either team overtaking us; especially given our schedule and the fact that the team seems to have figured out their identity in the past couple games.

Denver is on a heater right now, I don't think it's that crazy to think that we could still catch them for the 5th seed. If they went 4-6 in the last 10 like us, instead of 10-0, we'd only be 1 game back right now. I say they cool off and we make it close - that is if we start performing better in the West and find some consistency.

nah, on second thought, probably a pipe dream... they are deep and we aren't... I still think we hang on to the 6th with Kobe getting hurt. Rockets own us, but they don't fair as well against other Western teams with their 16-22 conf. record.

[Blackfoot]

It's pretty crazy to catch the Nuggets. We are far behind with a little over 17 games left?

Agreed. IMHO, holding down the 6th seed is the only thing on the agenda. It's a little late in the game to be targeting teams 6 or 7 games ahead of you.

That being said, I sure hope Memphis hangs onto the 3-seed. With Bogut fully healthy, I like our chances against them better than our luck vs the Clippers, who are unquestionably more talented and have a vendetta after losing 3 times to us this year.

[migya]

Still a little early to see what teams are hot or not, but Memphis has been just awesome since trading Gay. I'd prefer the Clips right now, because it seems like they are fading a bit, losing games that they should really have won. Either one will be hard to beat in a playoff series.

I want the 6th seed at least, but the team is fading fast and hard. I wonder whether it's fatigue, mental or Bogut that has stuffed the rotation somewhat, but the team has performed worse since he came back.

[Abyss Impact]

Lakers won't make the playoffs.

[shalik]

Lakers won't make the playoffs.

I don't know about that, man. Their schedule sure allows them to make the 'offs. Plus, they beat the Kings without Kobe last night. I know it doesn't mean much but still... And they visit a Suns team that turns the ball way too much tonight...

[Knightofoceans]

Lakers got spanked by the Suns although without Kobe..

[shalik]

Lakers got spanked by the Suns although without Kobe..

Yeah that was fun!

[Stairway Man]

It was a blast seeing the Lakers go down like that! Why does D'antoni play a 7 man rotation?

[Blackfoot]

Lol remember at the start of the season when I said the bench, depth, and age would be a problem. He has to play a seven man rotation or they are going to lose and right now, they can't afford to lose.

[Stairway Man]

That loss to the Wizards was huge, now we have to hold them off. Though seeding is important, there is something about the Lakers catching us that would make me puke. Now we have a 3 game lead over them and can extend tonight. Warriors can't let up tonight vs Wall. And Houston has 4 hard games coming up.