How is this possible? Simple. Some of it has to do with luck, as a few factors will need to fall in line to make everything go their way. So let me break it down for you:
- As of right now, the Lakers sit in the 8th spot in the West with 37 losses.
- The H0uston Rockets (7th) will have a spot, no matter what happens, in the playoffs. But, depending on how their game goes against the Lakers, their seeding could change.
- The Rockets lost to the Suns last night. They stand at 36 losses.
- The Lakers play their last game against the Rockets on Wednesday. They stand at 37 losses.
- Both the Rockets and Lakers have one game left, against one another.
- If the Lakers beat the Rockets, the season series between the teams would be tied at 2-2
- Therefore, the team with the best record against the West would get the higher seed.
- Right now, the Rockets are 24-27 versus the West, while the Lakers are 27-24.
- This means the Lakers would get the higher seed.
Why do the Lakers want seed #7? Simple. The Thunder, as of today, are#1. The Spurs will end up with #2 spot. The Thunder beat the Lakers three out of four times this year, and I believe would be impossible to beat in the first round of the playoffs. The Spurs would be easier to take down, especially seeing that the Lakers won the other night against San Antonio without Kobe.
Unfortunate news: today, the Lakers released an update of Nash’s injury, which included results from a recent MRI performed on Nash. He will not be playing on Wednesday. Preexisting issues related to his hip and back are causing nerve irritation and contributing to his hamstring pain and weakness. Nash has missed 32 games (including tomorrow) this season for the Lakers due to various injuries.
Lakers Nation would like to wish a very happy birthday to Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who turned 66 years-old today. Abdul-Jabbar, who won five NBA championships with the Lakers (six total), and ended his career with more points than any other player in league history. Send him a tweet and pass on the love.
Lakers Nation News
NBA News: Oklahoma City Thunder Clinch Number One Seed
Lakers News: Steve Nash Out For Wednesday’s Game Against Houston
Lakers News: Jordan Hill Tweets Injury Update; Announces Status
Bernie Bickerstaff Receives 3 Projected ESPN Coach of the Year Votes
Lakers Nation Wishes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Happy 66th Birthday
Lakers News: Dwight Howard, Jodie Meeks Visit Injured Kobe Bryant
Mike D’Antoni Talks Offensive Adjustments Without Kobe In Lineup
Lakers News
Without Their Leading Man, the Lakers’ Supporting Actors Responded Well [Silver Screen and Roll]
Expert: Kobe’s Career Could Be Over [Silver Screen and Roll]
Lakers Finally Need Dwight Howard [Silver Screen and Roll]
Steve Nash Out for Season Finale [Silver Screen and Roll]
Through It All, the Lakers Still Have Their Chance [Forum Blue and Gold]
Lakers Can Still Finish in Four Different Spots in the Standings [LA Times]
Another Report Says Dwight Howard Plans to Remain a Laker [ProBasketballTalk]
Lakers, Seventh in the West? [LA Times]
What Does Kobe’s Injury Mean for Lakers’ Future? [NBA Sports]
Elton Brand: Kobe Can Make Strong Comeback [Dallas Mavericks Report]
Bedridden Kobe Bryant Urges Lakers to ‘Finish the Damn Thing’ After Crucial Win Over Spurs [Yahoo! Sports]
Lakers Without Kobe is like Paris with Eiffel Tower [NBC Sports]
NBA – What Lies Ahead for Los Angeles Lakers? [ESPN]
Steve Nash Out for Lakers Final Game, Hopes to be Ready for Playoffs [ProBasketballTalk]
Kobe Bryant Injury Gives Lakers Sneak Peek into Dwight Howard Era [Yahoo Sports]
Fans, Celebrities and Media: Get Well Soon, Kobe! [Time Warner Cable]
Dwight Howard Talks About Pressure to Win Wednesday [LA Times]
Kobe Bryant Named Western Conference Player of the Week [THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS]
Lakers – Spurs Postgame Numbers [Lakers Blog]
Dwight Howard Says He’s Learned How to Lead From Kobe Bryant [LA Times]
NBA – What Lies Ahead for Los Angeles Lakers? [ESPN]
D’Antoni Must Step Into The Void … Now! [Hang Time Blog]
PBT Extra: Lakers Adapt to Playing Without Kobe… For a While [ProBasketballTalk]
NBA News
Grizzlies Rally for 103-97 Win Over Mavericks [Yahoo! Sports]
Nuggets Top Bucks 112-111, Get Homecourt in Rd 1 [Yahoo! Sports]
Blatche Leads Brooklyn Bench Over Wizards, 106-101 [Yahoo! Sports]
Henderson, Walker Lead Bobcats Over Knicks 106-95 [Yahoo! Sports]
Bulls Snap 2-Game Skid, Run By Magic 102-84 [Yahoo! Sports]
Thunder Clinch West’s Top Seed, Beat Kings 104-95 [Yahoo! Sports]
Suns Snap Record Home Skid With Win Over Rockets [Yahoo! Sports]
Curry Leads Warriors Past Spurs, 116-106 [Yahoo! Sports]
Kyrie Irving Apologizes for Skipping Out on Cavs Fan Appreciation Event [ProBasketballTalk]
Monday’s Top Ten [Yahoo Sports]
Philadelphia 76ers Coach Doug Collins Planning to Resign at Season’s End, According to Source [ESPN]
Utah Jazz vs. Minnesota Timberwolves [SI.com]
How Monday’s Games Impact the Playoff Picture [ProBasketballTalk]
Pistons Owner Noncommittal on Dumars, Frank [Yahoo! Sports]
New York Knicks’ Rasheed Wallace Back After 4 Months Out [ESPN New York]
The NBA has Canceled Tuesday’s Celtics-Pacers Game After Boston Marathon Explosions [Ball Don’t Lie]
Spurs Sign Former All-Star Tracy McGrady for Playoff Run [Yahoo Sports]
LeBron: Can’t Worry About Injuries [Maimi Heat Index]
The Other Time NBA Teams Didn’t All Play the Same Number of Games [ProBasketballTalk]
Chauncey Billups of Los Angeles Clippers Practices, Expects to Play [ESPNLA]
NBA Playoffs 2013: Knicks Stand to be Biggest Challenger to the Heat in the East [The Point Forward]
Julius Erving: 76ers ‘Have Not Benefited’ from Andrew Bynum At All, Should Let Him Walk [Ball Don’t Lie]
Thunder Need To Be Wary Of No. 1 [Hang Time Blog]
Rick Carlisle Lashes Out at the Struggling O.J. Mayo, Begging for Him to ‘Compete’ [Ball Don’t Lie]
Jazz Beat Wolves to Keep Playoff Hopes Alive [Yahoo Sports]
As Expected, UCLA’s Shabazz Muhammad Declares for Draft [ProBasketballTalk]