The Lakers, Mavericks, and Trail Blazers all consider themselves solid playoff teams and potential contenders, but at least one of them will end up in the Western Conference’s play-in tournament in two weeks. With the Jazz, Suns, Clippers, and Nuggets in total control of the West’s top four seeds, the Lakers, Mavs, and Blazers find themselves vying for the fifth and sixth spots — the No. 7 finisher will host the first play-in game against the No. 8 seed.
After a bad loss at home vs. Toronto on Sunday, the Lakers (37-28) bounced back on Monday, pulling out a tight win over Denver and reclaiming the No. 5 seed for the time being. The Blazers (36-29), on the other hand, dropped into seventh place in the West with a loss in Atlanta, while the Mavs (36-28) had the night off.
With the three teams still separated by a single game, every night the rest of the way will have major postseason implications. Here are their remaining schedules:
- Lakers: at LAC, at POR, vs. PHX, vs. NYK, vs. HOU, at IND, at NOP (three back-to-backs)
- Mavs: at MIA, vs. BKN, vs. CLE, at CLE, at MEM, vs. NOP, vs. TOR, at MIN (two back-to-backs)
- Blazers: at CLE, vs. LAL, vs. SAS, vs. HOU, at UTA, at PHX, vs. DEN (two back-to-backs)
On paper, the Mavericks may have the cleanest path to a top-six seed. After their games against the Heat and Nets this week, they won’t face another team in the top eight of either conference. They also have the advantage of holding the tiebreaker if the three teams finished tied in the standings, since they’ll be the Southwest division winner. If they finish tied with just the Lakers, they’d hold that tiebreaker as well, having gone 2-1 vs. L.A. this season.
The Lakers, currently in control of the No. 5 seed, have a huge week coming up, with games on tap against the Clippers, Blazers, Suns, and Knicks. That contest in Portland, on the second night of a back-to-back, will be particularly important — if the Lakers lose that one, they won’t own the tiebreaker against either the Mavs or the Blazers. Still, if they can at least split their next four games, the Lakers should be in reasonably good shape, as they finish their season against three sub-.500 opponents.
The Blazers, meanwhile, have the opportunity to make a run over the next week, especially if they can beat the Lakers at home. They’ll likely need to win at least three of their next four games to have a decent chance to avoid the play-in, since their season ends with a brutal three-game stretch — in Utah, in Phoenix, and at home vs. Denver. Maybe Portland lucks out and faces a couple of those teams when they’re resting players in advance of the playoffs, but given how close the standings are in the upper half of the West, there’s definitely no guarantee that’ll happen.
What do you think? Which team do you expect to end up with the seventh seed, taking part in the play-in? And do you think that team will be in any danger of losing two consecutive games against the likes of the Warriors, Grizzlies, and Spurs, or should they take care of business relatively quickly?
Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section below to share your predictions!
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I believe in Luka.
I believe in LeBron.
I do not believe in Dame. Please, please, please, prove me wrong.
Who do you believe in now? You asked did dame deliver?
I think mavs go 4-3. Lakers and blazers go 3-4. Lakers will be given the 6th seed since they have lbj
Lakers have the toughest games remaining
I feel stupid for staying up until almost 1am to watch the Lakers/Nuggets last night. If the refs have decided who is gonna win the game before it’s even been played, what’s the point of watching? The Lakers were able to ride the Nuggets players all over the court, Nuggets can’t breathe on a Laker player. There’s no honor in this victory and the Lakers celebrating look like chumps to me. I mean Drummond is bodying up Jokic pushing him as Jokic is dribbling making a move to the basket and the refs called Jokic for the offensive foul because Drummond flops pretending Jokic hit him in the face. Acting school not basketball. I don’t watch bb to watch scripted tv. The offensive foul call on Facu that eliminated MPjr’s 3 pointer with about a minute left in the game is about the worst call I have ever seen. Anthony Davis runs into Facu after Facu has made a kick out pass on a fast break. And the refs call an offensive foul on Facu.
Imagine thinking sports are still real…..anything relating to money and betting isn’t real. To much at stake financially for rich suits behind the game.
Including the stock market. And the wars And everything on tv. And pretty much everything else. I think you’re right Tatsumaki.
Imagine thinking they are fake and still devoting every day to being a troll?
LAL will really have to stink it up to be in the play in game or POR will have to play like basketball gods.
Not really, LA has struggled mightily losing 22 of their last 38 games. They already lost twice to Dallas and if they lose in Portland on Friday they won’t have the tie-breaker against either of them. Plus the Lakers have 3 B2B’s.
I got POR at 3-4 so LAL would need to go 2-5. Over an 82 game season that is a 23-59 record which stinks.
Not so sure Buckman….I mean if Por wins fri night (at home, 2nd game of a b2b for Lakers as well) they essentially control their destiny (will have tiebreaker) so games really worth 2
Lakers have 3 more back to backs with 7 total games (yuck) –
LeBron out, schroeder out, just lost to SAC and Tor @ Staples….
I dont think 7 seed is a reach at all and Imma Laker fan
Well are they now b ball gods?
Don’t count out the Seattle Supersonics