Grizzlies playoff scenarios...

[RebelBruiser]

In case this hasn't been covered, the Grizzlies can finish with anywhere from the 6 to the 8 seed.

The tiebreakers work like this:

New Orleans holds the tiebreaker with the Grizzlies on division record.
New Orleans holds the head to head tiebreaker with Portland.
Portland and the Grizzlies are tied 1-1 in the season series. If Portland wins over Memphis Tuesday, the tiebreaker won't come into play, Portland will finish ahead of Memphis. If the Grizzlies win, then the Grizzlies will hold the tiebreaker.

Obviously, in a 3 way tie, New Orleans would get the 6 seed, the Grizzlies would get the 7 seed, and Portland the 8 seed, since Memphis would have to hold the tiebreaker with Portland for there to be a 3 way tie.

For Memphis to get the 6 seed, they need to win at Portland and at the Clippers, and they need New Orleans to either lose to Utah at home tonight or at Dallas on Wednesday.

Right now, Dallas and the Lakers are tied in the standings, with the Lakers holding the tiebreaker for the 2 seed. Oklahoma City is one game back of both of them, so the 2, 3, and 4 seeds are still in limbo with 2 games to play. The consensus seems to be that you want to avoid the Lakers, even though they've lost 5 straight now. The only way to guarantee you avoid the Lakers would be to get the 8 seed and face San Antonio. If you're aiming to face Dallas or possibly Oklahoma City, it's anyone's guess at this point whether the 6 or 7 seed would be what you need to get. It would seem based on schedules and the tiebreakers that the Lakers will more than likely get the 2 seed, but they could also get the 3 or 4. Should be an interesting 3 days.

 

[seshomoru]

but I do think they'll win two at home and put a scare into somebody. The Forum is gonna be awesome for the home games.

 

[RebelBruiser]

just so it feels like they're actually participating in the playoffs. I can live with losing in the first round, because I think they could be much better next year if they can hold much of the nucleus of this team together. I just don't want to feel like their participation in the playoffs is only a token appearance like it was the previous 3 times.

 

[Incognegro]

Memphis scares me the most to be honest. Since we beat the Lakers last night and put them in tie with the Mavericks, we have a slight chance of going as high as 3rd, but in order for that to happen, either the Lakers or the Mavs have to lose their last two games. Looking at their schedule, I just don't see that happening. The most I see both of them losing is just 1, and the Mavs have the best chance of the two to win out. More than likely, that part of the playoff scenario will look like: Spurs, Mavs, Lakers, OKC.

The way I'm thinking, the Hornets are quite possibly the worst playoff team right now especially without David West and are in grave danger of finishing in the 8th seed by losing their last two against Utah and the Mavs. The most important game of this final stretch comes down between Memphis and Portland tomorrow. Whom ever wins that will more than likely be the one that controls their destiny since both teams are finishing with below .500, albeit competitive, teams. That's why I think that race will end up looking something like Denver, Memphis, Portland, NO. The best shot you guys have of winning the first round is probably either the Mavs or us. I'd much rather see you guys play the Mavs. <div>
</div><div>did a little editing</div>

 

[mo78881]

Memphis scares me the most to be honest. Since we beat the Lakers last night and put them in tie with the Mavericks, we have a slight chance of going as high as 3rd, but in order for that to happen, either the Lakers or the Mavs have to lose their last two games. Looking at their schedule, I just don't see that happening. The most I see both of them losing is just 1, and the Mavs have the best chance of the two to win out. More than likely, that part of the playoff scenario will look like: Spurs, Mavs, Lakers, OKC.

The way I'm thinking, the Hornets are quite possibly the worst playoff team right now especially with David West and are in grave danger of finishing in the 8th seed by losing their last two against Utah and the Mavs. The most important game of this final stretch comes down between Memphis and Portland tomorrow. Whom ever wins that will more than likely be the one that controls their destiny since both teams are finishing with below .500, albeit competitive, teams. That's why I think that race will end up looking something like Denver, Memphis, Portlan, NO. The best shot you guys have of winning the first round is probably either the Mavs or us. I'd much rather see you guys play the Mavs.

OKC holds the tie breaker advantage over the Mavs. So if the Mavs lose 1 and OKC wins out they should finish at least 3rd.

 

[Pimp Doggy]

I want to go in rolling. It's a big game tomorrow at the Rose Garden. I'll worry about the opponent at about midnight wednesday when the "regular" season finale vs the Clippers is complete.

The Forum, or as TA calls it, The Gindhouse was rockin' bigtime yesterday. We found a couple good seatsadjacent to the tunnel last week.

 

[Seinfeld]

but I have to give the billionaire some credit. I thought that this team needed a couple BIG changes during the first half of this year, but he and Wallace stuck to their guns and the team is now downright awesome to watch right. Having a team that is good is one thing. Having a team that is fun to watch is sometimes something entirely different when you're talking about the NBA.

I didn't like the Hollins hire nor his contract extention, I thought that we could have done better than the Randolph trade two years ago, I wasn't a big fan of the Gay extention, and I thought that the Allen signing this past summer was a yawner to say the least. However, somehow all of these somewhat odd pieces have come together to make this team a blast to watch and Heisley is actually going to hit his infamous 3-year plan. Better yet, I feel for the first time in a decade that we have finally rid ourselves of all dead weight and this team is set up to be good for a while now.

Now don't get me wrong. There were some bonehead things that have happened over the last couple years such as the Thabeet draft, the mishandling of Gay's extension, and the attempted Mayo trade. However, if you watch the NBA long enough, you'll learn that you better accept some occasional bad moves because they're going to happen. This offseason will be very interesting in terms of what happens with Mayo, Gasol, and the CBT.

 

[MemphisMaroon]

we don't face the Lakers opening round. If that happens there will be half Grizz fans and half Laker fans, the place will be Staples Center East with all of the bandwagon Laker fans crawling around. With the Spurs it would be a true home game experience, with the Lakers you'll have just under half the crowd booing Grzz players during free throws, no exaggeration.

 

[Incognegro]

But sadly, the Mavs beat us the first 2 games.

 

[TnRebel.sixpack]

An hour and a half after the Hornets game begins, so we should know by halftime what seeds whether we should keep playing hard, or start resting people.

I just don't want LA. Even though they've struggled, they will still bring more away fans to the Forum then San Antonio, Dallas or OKC.

 

[Pimp Doggy]

<table class="tablehead" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="3"><tbody><tr class="stathead"><td colspan="4">Television Schedule</td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td>APRIL</td><td>TEAMS</td><td>TIME</td><td align="middle">NETWORK</td></tr><tr class="oddrow team-46-3 team-46-6"><td>Wednesday 13</td><td><font color="#225db7">New Orleans</font> at <font color="#225fb2">Dallas</font></td><td>8:00 PM ET</td><td class="nofloat" align="middle">

</td></tr><tr class="evenrow team-46-29 team-46-12 my-fave"><td>Wednesday 13</td><td><font color="#225db7">Memphis</font> at <font color="#225fb2">LA Clippers</font></td><td>10:30 PM ET</td><td class="nofloat" align="middle">

</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[RebelBruiser]

The conventional wisdom is that the Lakers will get the 2, which means you avoid the 7.

If the Grizz beat Portland, they're in the driver's seat for finishing ahead of Portland. If New Orleans loses to Utah or Dallas, then the Grizz would know they could jump to the 6 seed by beating the Clippers. If New Orleans has won both of those games by that point, then Memphis would know they could not get the 6 seed, and they needed to tank the Clippers game and hope Portland beats Golden State to get the 7 seed.

If the Grizz lose to Portland, they can't finish ahead of Portland, and they then know they need to try to finish 8th. If New Orleans has lost to both Utah and Dallas, then the Grizz need to take the Clippers game. If New Orleans has won either game, then win or lose they'd be the 8 seed in that scenario, so no tanking would be necessary.

So in most scenarios, the Grizz would likely have control over whether they played for the 6 seed or the 8 seed in the finale against the Clippers. The worst case scenario is that they beat Portland and New Orleans wins their final 2. Then they'd have to rely on Portland to keep them from slipping into the 7 spot.