NBA Playoffs Countdown: Huge Implications of Mondays Matchups on Playoff Seedings
By Matt Miller
Apr. 15, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Houston Rockets guard James Harden against the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Rockets 119-112. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Major League baseball added the second wild card team to insure that qualifying for the playoffs automatically comes down to the last day of the season. The two wild card teams have to play each other in order to decide the fourth team in each league for the playoffs. The NBA has made no such provisions (See Eastern Conference). The Western Conference is quite the opposite. The 8th spot is still up for grabs between the Lakers and Utah, and indirectly Houston. The Lakers have a 1 game advantage, over the Jazz but Utah has the tiebreaker. And there is plenty of playoffs seedeings and matchup scenarios to play out in the final two days of the regular season. Here’s a chronological recap of Monday’s results, and their impact on the standings.
Utah 97 – Minnesota 80
Utah handled Minnesota in the second half. Minnesota missed Nikola Pekevic and Kevin Love inside who are both out with injuries. Al Jefferson carried the Jazz with 22 points on the road. Utah holds serve to take over the 8th spot from the Lakers as each team has one game to play, and the Jazz hold the tiebreaker.
Memphis 103 – Dallas 97
Memphis lost at home to the Clippers over the weekend, but they won this close contest while resting their starters in the fourth quarter. Jerryd Bayless lead the team with 19 points to put the pressure on the Clippers for home court advantage in their likely 4-5 matchup in the first round.
Apr 15, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee (34) dunks over Milwaukee Bucks forward John Henson (31) during the second quarter at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Denver 112 – Milwaukee 111
These teams were tied at 110 before Ty Lawson‘s runner with 9 seconds left in the game fell. It was the difference in the Nuggets securing home court advantage in the first round, which is a big advantage to Denver. They have not wrapped up the third seed yet though, and are looking vulnerable without Danilo Gallinari and the Manimal, Kenneth Faried, going down with serious injuries.
Houston 112 – Phoenix 119
Houston’s surprising loss to Phoenix makes the final game on Wednesday against the Lakers even more intriguing. Luis Scola lead Phoenix with 26 and 15. If I wanted to win now, Luis Scola would be the piece I would seek. The Angel Cabrera of the NBA got the job done again. Houston kept pace with the Suns in the second half, but the Suns maintained their first half lead throughout the game. Now the Roackets are in danger of slipping to the 8th seed if they lose to the Lakers. Whoever the 8th seed is (LA, Utah, or Houston) would likely face Oklahoma City in the first round after the Thunder beat Sacramento tonight.
Golden State 116 – San Antonio 106
The Spurs lost their second consecutive game on the road when they visited O.co Arena. The Spurs are not scoring enough points to win games without Ginobli on the floor, and with this loss have likely conceded the top spot in the conference which they held for most of the season. That was further supported by Duncan, Parker, Kawhi Leonard, and Danny Green sitting out Monday night. Steph Curry continued to be unconscious from outside with 35 points, making a shade over 50% of his 13 threes. He managed 35points while only shooting 2 free throws. With that win the Lakers lose their chance to move into the 6th spot if both Golden State and Houston lost their final 2 games, and obviously the Lakers won.
Current Standings
OKC
San Antonio–2 GB
Denver–4 GB
LA Clippers– 5.5 GB
Memphis– 5 GB
Golden State– 14GB
Houston– 15 GB
Lakers– 16 GB
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Utah–17 GB