After falling in Charlotte on Wednesday night, the faltering Lakers faced a virtually insurmontable three game deficit with eight games to play in their quest for home court advantage throughout the playoffs. Now after two straight Cleveland losses and two straight Laker wins, the deficit is down to a mere game with six to play. A one game lead is still a hefty deficit with such few games left to play, and the Lakers will need to play perfect basketball down the stretch to have a chance. Luckily for the Lakers, they possess the tie-breaker with the Cavs due to their season sweep over them, and therefore only have to tie them in the standings to take home court throughout. Let's take a look at the remaining schedules for both teams:
Cleveland: San Antonio, Washington, @ Philadelphia, Boston, @ Indiana, Philadelphia
Lakers: LA Clippers, @ Sacramento, Denver, @ Portland, Memphis, Utah
Cleveland still has two games remaining against elite teams (San Antonio and Boston) but plays both games at home where they are 36-1 this year. They should take the two games with Philly but I wouldn't be surprised if the Sixers stole one of the games. Washington is finally healthy but it's hard to imagine them winning in Cleveland. And the game at Indiana should be a cakewalk. So all in all, I think it's fair to say the Cavs will go 5-1 down the stretch which puts them at 66-16. That means the Lakers have to run the table to get home court. A look at the schedule shows three games they should win easily (Clippers, Memphis, Sacramento) and two games against good teams who are significantly worse on the road (Denver and Utah). So that leaves one important game: The Portland Trail Blazers and the dreaded Rose Garden. If the Lakers can exorcise their Rip City demons, they have a good shot of running the table and finishing 66-16. If not they will probably be on the outside looking in again this year, forced to start the NBA Finals on the road. Either way, it should be an exciting stretch run for the boys in purple and gold.
I'm not sure how I'm going to deal with the Boston game. Is there a way to have Cleveland AND Boston lose that game? But I would expect the Cavs to get focused for these last 6 games because they know they need home court more than any other playoff team. Unless however, they spend that time focusing their pre-game camera for their photo shoots instead
ReplyDeleteClevland should go 5-1 but I can't see our boys winning in the Rose Garden, we all know how those trips usually turn out. "If" the Cavs get home court i won't be to worried, 36-1 is great but that 1 came from you know who. And Clevland does need home court alot more than the Lakers do. Either way im planning on going to a parade this summer, and I know you'll be by my side
ReplyDeleteI hate Boston but we need them to win that big game. Hopefully the hated Spurs come through tomorrow too. I agree with both of you guys that the Cavs need home court more than the Lakers. My question to you guys is.. If both teams are healthy and the Cavs have home court, who do you have winning a Cavs/Celts series to come out of the East??
ReplyDeleteThat's has gotten to be a tougher and tougher question as the season has gone on and the Cavs have remained at the top of the east. I say it will go 7 games, with the Cavs winning game 7 at home
ReplyDeleteYa I really think it's a tough call. The Cavs have been great during the regular season but I still think the Celtics are the superior team
ReplyDeleteThat would be a great series. I gotta give credit to the Cavs for there regular season accomplishments, but i think in the end the celtics are a better team therefor winning the East.
ReplyDeleteYa they are really good. One thing we have to take into account that John Hollinger over at ESPN talked about is LeBron's increased minutes in the playoffs. Right now he is averaging about 36 minutes but in the playoffs he could conceivably play all 48 minutes. Since he has one of the best plus/minus ratings in the league those added minutes could be extremely significant.
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