MW03 said:

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It seems like Kidd is making it a point to give guys rest heading into the playoffs, even though we're fighting for position.

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mavsfan4ever said:

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This is one year where I'd actually like the 6 seed as opposed to the 4/5. I think we can beat Utah, but I'd much rather avoid Phoenix in round 2. But not going to complain if we get the 4/5. And the good news is that Phoenix likely doesn't want us to get the 4/5 and win the first round. Even though we struggle with them, they'd much rather play someone else with the ways ensure playing.

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M.C. Swag said:

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I just want to win a damn playoff series. It's been 11 years since that's happened. Idgaf who we play in Rd2, just get that monkey off our back.

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M.C. Swag said:

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I just want to win a damn playoff series. It's been 11 years since that's happened. Idgaf who we play in Rd2, just get that monkey off our back.

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South Platte said:

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M.C. Swag said:

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I just want to win a damn playoff series. It's been 11 years since that's happened. Idgaf who we play in Rd2, just get that monkey off our back.

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I recall our playoff series victory in 2001 was vs. Utah as the 4/5 matchup that ended a long dry spell and started a 10+ year run. Odd that it's lining up that way again this year.

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• LAL (W. Cratering, but Lebron loves Luka and usually shows up. Suspect after LBJ)
• @ CLE (W. Likely a playoff team, but 4-6 in their last 10.)
• @ WAS (W. Not making the playoffs, and 3-7 in their last 10. The Porzingis return makes it interesting.)
• @ MIL (L. They might be playing for the one seed, and Dallas struggles with athletic bigs.)
• @ DET (W. Bad team. 2-8 in their last 10. Nothing to play for except lottery balls.)
• POR (W. No Lillard. Also 2-8 in their last 10. Tank mode has been engaged for a while.)
• SAS (L. Young team. Pretty game at times, especially when Murray is cooking.)

• @ LAC (W. I don't know what to make of the Clippers, but they won't get George back for this one.)
• LAL (W. See above, except that it's on national TV.)
• @ GS (W. Collapse watch with Curry out, and Draymond hasn't added anything.)
• MEM (L. Oh Desmond Bane. What could have been? He's the reason they are playing well even without Morant. Utah matches up bad with them.)
• OKC (W. For as bad as they matchup against Memphis, they match up that well against OKC, who is not a good team and probably in tank mode._
• PHX (L. No analysis needed, unless PHX is coasting into the playoffs.)
• @ POR (W. See above.)

MW03 said:

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Dallas is 46-29
Utah is 45-30

Dallas has this left:

• LAL (W. Cratering, but Lebron loves Luka and usually shows up. Suspect after LBJ)
• @ CLE (W. Likely a playoff team, but 4-6 in their last 10.)
• @ WAS (W. Not making the playoffs, and 3-7 in their last 10. The Porzingis return makes it interesting.)
• @ MIL (L. They might be playing for the one seed, and Dallas struggles with athletic bigs.)
• @ DET (W. Bad team. 2-8 in their last 10. Nothing to play for except lottery balls.)
• POR (W. No Lillard. Also 2-8 in their last 10. Tank mode has been engaged for a while.)
• SAS (L. Young team. Pretty game at times, especially when Murray is cooking.)

That looks like 5-2 to close out the season.

Utah has this left:

• @ LAC (W. I don't know what to make of the Clippers, but they won't get George back for this one.)
• LAL (W. See above, except that it's on national TV.)
• @ GS (W. Collapse watch with Curry out, and Draymond hasn't added anything.)
• MEM (L. Oh Desmond Bane. What could have been? He's the reason they are playing well even without Morant. Utah matches up bad with them.)
• OKC (W. For as bad as they matchup against Memphis, they match up that well against OKC, who is not a good team and probably in tank mode._
• PHX (L. No analysis needed, unless PHX is coasting into the playoffs.)
• @ POR (W. See above.)

That looks like 5-2 as well, depending on whether or not Mitchell is injured.

So there's no way both of these teams go 5-2. One might win an extra or lose an extra, so there's a very real chance that they end up tied by record.

Mavs are 2-2 against them this season. The ****ty thing is that Utah leads the Northwest, while Dallas is 6 back from Memphis with no shot. So in order to get the tiebreaker over Utah, we need Denver to win the Northeast, where they are 1 game back of the Jazz.

Denver has this left:
@ CHA
@ IND
MIN
@ LAL
SAS
MEM
LAL

They could legitimately go 6-1 with that schedule left. Here's the trick: they are 44-31, two games behind Dallas, and one game behind Utah.

Going to come down to the wire with 3-6 pretty much undecided. Golden State might have the hardest schedule remaining of all of them, and they are only 2 games up on Dallas.

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