Lakers or Mavs? Mavs or Lakers? These are our most likely opponents. Normally I try to avoid speculation when so many things could happen between now and mid-April, but this scenario is too juicy. Imagine the following:
1. You are Monty Williams. It’s Wednesday morning, April 13, the day of our final regular season game
2. Dallas has clinched the 2 seed
3. LA is locked into the 3 seed
4. We are between the 6 and 7 seeds, and can lock into the 7 spot with a loss
Knowing what you know about how tough the Lakers are, how we haven’t beat them all year, how well we always play Dallas, and how the Mavs (if you believe what you heard from their announcers during our incredible comeback last week) are downright afraid of playing in New Orleans, how do you play our final game? Do you limit our stars’ minutes? Do you rest Paul and West entirely? Do you throw out a lineup of Jack-QPon-Smith-DJ-Gray with Gray running point? Is there any way in heck that you want to win that game?
Now the best part: this last game is in Dallas. My mind just exploded.
5 responses to “Playoff Matchup”
If given the choice of resting the starters and playing Dallas in round one, or playing the starters and getting LA, I’m going to choose Dallas in a heartbeat.
Mind explosion smash!
If that happens, I would rather watch Cubans face than the game!
I like the intrigue of that scenario. I say there is no way you want to win that game if losing guarantees avoiding the Lakers. However, Dallas may counter your lineup moves by starting Brendan Haywood at the point, Tyson at SG and Beaubois at center.
That game would go to overtime after a 0-0 tie after 4 quarter, lol!
Booom! Brain all over the keybord!
I’m so pumped for these playoffs! I want Dallas, partly due to the fact that we match up better and they just can’t win in NO and due to the fact that I will have a chance to sit courtside in Dallas(I live in Texas). I believe we have a better chance at beating Dallas, ignoring the seeding. Hopefully we remain healthy and Monty gets the team focused.