Mike Greenberg says Lakers should rest Lebron and AD tomorrow and tank vs Pelicans

[CurryOverLebron]

Skip to 6:20


https://youtube.com/watch?v=QLqf_8Q9Pdc

[L.Kizzle]

They should have tanked on Sunday lol.

[Carbine]

I agree. I think their odds against the Nuggets (less than 10 percent) is lower than if they play the Warriors/Kings at home (60 percent chance to win) and then play the Thunder with a 40 percent chance to win the series.

[tpols]

Didn't we tell yall this would happen?

People saying "OMG they can't tank a play in game! What if they lose the next one!"

News flash. If they win tomorrow they get bounced in the 1st round anyway.

And if they lose tomorrow they have a setup where they can potentially avoid Denver entirely for the long haul.

A lot of you guys are near sighted and need to have your prescription checked.

[Real Men Wear Green]

You don't put yourself at risk of missing the playoffs if you can avoid it. If you are that scared of Denver you aren't real contenders and for the Lakers the standard is championships. You have Lebron James and Anthony Davis. Some guy on the internet (like me) can think you're going to lose to the Nuggets but you are a historically great franchise led by one of the greatest players of all time. You are supposed to be Contenders. How are you Contenders if there is a team you are so scared of that you are willing to risk the playoffs to avoid playing them? You can't be scared.

Not to mention the fact that the best team does not always win a single game. You don't want a single must-win game with Curry or Sabonis and Fox. You could easily lose if it's just one game, look at the NCAA tournament. And if you are playing that game because you were scared of Denver you would deserve it.

[Im Still Ballin]

Somebody give Mike a wedgie.

[tpols]

The Lakers aren't true contenders right now lmao. They're very good but it's clear Denver has their number and the path as the 8th seed would be way easier than the path as the 7th seed.

Lakers could win the title if Denver loses in the 2nd round and they duck them in the WCFs. Where as they have 0 chance at the ring if they have to play Denver first and are forced to run a crazy gauntlet.

[Real Men Wear Green]

No champion is going to lose a play in game because they're scared of another team. That's a stupid risk and it's just not how champions think.

[tpols]

There's a difference between being scared and being stupid.

You seem to have both bases covered.

[Real Men Wear Green]

There's a difference between being scared and being stupid.

You seem to have both bases covered.
I am at times scared of your stupidity but imo that doesn't count. What's really stupid is being scared of a basketball team. The worst thing that can happen is they lose the series... which is still getting further than if they are a bunch of scared idiots and lose after tanking a play in game and looking like possibly the biggest bitches in the NBA. Someone that would give such bitchmade advice really shouldn't talk about people being scared.

[FultzNationRISE]

The Lakers aren't true contenders right now lmao. They're very good but it's clear Denver has their number and the path as the 8th seed would be way easier than the path as the 7th seed.

Lakers could win the title if Denver loses in the 2nd round and they duck them in the WCFs. Where as they have 0 chance at the ring if they have to play Denver first and are forced to run a crazy gauntlet.

So do the Warriors and Kings. If you send it to a single elimination coin flip game it’s very possible you dont even get your chance against Denver, whom you are 70-80% likely to have to go through no matter what. Not guaranteeing yourself the chance when you have an opportunity to do so is foolish. It’s not good math.

That said, I HOPE the Pelicans win tomorrow and the Lakers win Thursday, because I would rather see DEN and LAL not face each other in round 1. But that’s speaking as a fan who has nothing meaningful invested. From the rational team point of view, you just played an 82 game season, you dont THROW a playIn game and risk failing to make the postseason altogether in order to run away from Denver.

[rawimpact]

You don't put yourself at risk of missing the playoffs if you can avoid it. If you are that scared of Denver you aren't real contenders and for the Lakers the standard is championships. You have Lebron James and Anthony Davis. Some guy on the internet (like me) can think you're going to lose to the Nuggets but you are a historically great franchise led by one of the greatest players of all time. You are supposed to be Contenders. How are you Contenders if there is a team you are so scared of that you are willing to risk the playoffs to avoid playing them? You can't be scared.

Not to mention the fact that the best team does not always win a single game. You don't want a single must-win game with Curry or Sabonis and Fox. You could easily lose if it's just one game, look at the NCAA tournament. And if you are playing that game because you were scared of Denver you would deserve it.

Uhh BS

The team that wins the finals is not always the team that is the best. It's all about match ups... Denver does not match up well against the lakers and history has shown that.

That said, I Agree... you never throw a game if it means risking the playoffs.

[FultzNationRISE]

Uhh BS

The team that wins the finals is not always the team that is the best. It's all about match ups... Denver does not match up well against the lakers and history has shown that.

That said, I Agree... you never throw a game if it means risking the playoffs.

Yeah, it’s fine to try and manipulate match ups toward the end if it means shifting from like a three seed to four seed or something. But if youre in a double elimination play-in, you dont throw the first game to try and change your potential opponent. Especially when the next play-in teams youll face have feasted on you as much as Denver. It’s madness.

[tpols]

So do the Warriors and Kings. If you send it to a single elimination coin flip game it’s very possible you dont even get your chance against Denver, whom you are 70-80% likely to have to go through no matter what. Not guaranteeing yourself the chance when you have an opportunity to do so is foolish. It’s not good math.

That said, I HOPE the Pelicans win tomorrow and the Lakers win Thursday, because I would rather see DEN and LAL not face each other in round 1. But that’s speaking as a fan who has nothing meaningful invested. From the rational team point of view, you just played an 82 game season, you dont THROW a playIn game and risk failing to make the postseason altogether in order to run away from Denver.

The Warriors and the Kings... definitely do not have the Lakers number. The Lakers have sat Lebron and AD in both their losses vs Golden State this year, and the Kings recently lost Malik Monk who was their 3rd leading scorer and key piece to their fire power. AD and Lebron especially with home cooking would wipe them unless they went absolutely nuts from 3. Which with proper momentum calls from the refs and FTA disparity could be curtailed. It would be the easiest money ever betting on LA to beat them in the play in if it should occur.

[CurryOverLebron]

https://twitter.com/EmmanuelAcho/status/1779645063083200545

[BarberSchool]

Somebody give Mike a wedgie.
I feel like this should happen every single day of greenie’s life.
And twice every Shabbos...
but the Shabbos wedgie should be done more harshly…
With a section of ERUV cable.

All Greenie’s wedgie deserving nature aside…

….he’s absolutely correct.

The smarter play is to avoid Denver, because with LA’s size, they can bully OKC on the boards.
Chet is obviously exploitable on the offensive glass, if you want proof of how badly ? Watch Dallas first matchup with them after the trade deadline. OKC got absolutely murdered on the offensive glass.
Chet only weighs 205lbs
Biyombo weighs 235-240, but is only 6’8”, and he’s a slightly knock-kneed toe runner, and therefore, moves with very little force and very little ability to bang inside like you might think.

Dort is a strong player and so is Hayward, but neither is an actual interior rebounder.
OKC is great in transition, and Shai is really a great half court player, but they are the most exploitable young #1 seed I’ve seen in awhile.

Also, imagine tomorrow’s game if BOTH the pelicans AND lakers try to lose the game on purpose, since both have squads that can bully OKC on the glass badly. Pelicans have Valanciunas & Zion, who will absolutely make Chet cry like a child. Nance & Zeller will help bully OKC young players too.

I wanna see both Pels and Lakers try to lose this game in the most embarrassing fashion lol

[Real Men Wear Green]

Uhh BS

The team that wins the finals is not always the team that is the best. It's all about match ups... Denver does not match up well against the lakers and history has shown that.

That said, I Agree... you never throw a game if it means risking the playoffs.Match ups matter but the overwhelming majority of the time the better team wins a playoff series. Denver beats the Lakers consistently because they're a much better team, and that generally should be the difference between the champions and a team that is in the bottom portion of the playoff seeds. Doesn't change the fact that a team that is serious about winning a championship should not be afraid of anyone.

[tpols]

I feel like this should happen every single day of greenie’s life.
And twice every Shabbos...
but the Shabbos wedgie should be done more harshly…
With a section of ERUV cable.

All Greenie’s wedgie deserving nature aside…

….he’s absolutely correct.

The smarter play is to avoid Denver, because with LA’s size, they can bully OKC on the boards.
Chet is obviously exploitable on the offensive glass, if you want proof of how badly ? Watch Dallas first matchup with them after the trade deadline. OKC got absolutely murdered on the offensive glass.
Chet only weighs 205lbs
Biyombo weighs 235-240, but is only 6’8”, and he’s a slightly knock-kneed toe runner, and therefore, moves with very little force and very little ability to bang inside like you might think.

Dort is a strong player and so is Hayward, but neither is an actual interior rebounder.
OKC is great in transition, and Shai is really a great half court player, but they are the most exploitable young #1 seed I’ve seen in awhile.

Also, imagine tomorrow’s game if BOTH the pelicans AND lakers try to lose the game on purpose, since both have squads that can bully OKC on the glass badly. Pelicans have Valanciunas & Zion, who will absolutely make Chet cry like a child. Nance & Zeller will help bully OKC young players too.

I wanna see both Pels and Lakers try to lose this game in the most embarrassing fashion lol

OKC is punching way over their weight with the 1 seed. Half court physical playoff basketball is going to wreck them combined with the fact they have 0 experience and are completely outweighed physically. They're gonna get wrecked and everybody knows it.

[tpols]

Also that analysis is making me want to heavy bet on the under. :lol

[ArbitraryWater]

They should have tanked on Sunday lol.

wut?

Thatd be very retarded

[FultzNationRISE]

OKC is punching way over their weight with the 1 seed. Half court physical playoff basketball is going to wreck them combined with the fact they have 0 experience and are completely outweighed physically. They're gonna get wrecked and everybody knows it.

Possibly

I like them on the one hand because theyre deep and they play poised, those two things are important in the playoffs.

They do lack strength and historically that makes playoff ball tough, these days tho if you can just out shoot your opponent you have a pretty good chance of beating them.

Im torn on what to expect from them. I have a hard time seeing anyone just running em out of the gym. Theyre not gonna throw in the towel and theyre gonna battle. I think they can extend a series to 6 or 7 games against anyone, and then at that point anything can happen especially with HCA for OKC.

Judging from most predictions Im seeing I seem to be giving them a better chance than most. Altho Im not saying I think their odds of winning the conference are GOOD. Just better than what most people seem to be giving them.

[SATAN]

ESPN is cancer.

[BarberSchool]

OKC is punching way over their weight with the 1 seed. Half court physical playoff basketball is going to wreck them combined with the fact they have 0 experience and are completely outweighed physically. They're gonna get wrecked and everybody knows it.
333%
It’s gonna be brutal, especially when Daigenault wins coach of the year, and Shai wins MVP, and then they get their sh!t pushed in. PSA…. I have no ill will towards any OKC player in history besides Westbrick. Love me some Shai, Dort, and And y’all group of young players. Coach is good, deserving. Jussayin, y’all finna get bullied bad and if you make it out the first round, Dallas gonna take your lunch money while smiling.

[BarberSchool]

ESPN is cancer.

Agreed. Only people I don’t hate on there anymore are Legler, Reddick, Owumike (she’s not super fine but great fun personality), Bilas, Hubie Brown, Jon Barry, and Michael Wilbon … as far as basketball personalities go.

Steven A, Windhorst, Doris Burke, Perk, Windhorst, Jefferson f@ggot a$$, and Mike Breen can’t dry up and blow away fast enough.

[GOBB]

Avoiding Denver? So you avoid Denver and then what? lol At some point you will have to cross paths if your goal is to get deep into playoffs if not nba finals. Or wait you’re hoping to avoid Denver and someone else defeats them. Then somehow you’ll have a better chance at beating the team that beat them?


Whoever agreed with ESPN you can tell you walked the long way home to avoid “bullies”.

“I have better odds of not getting my ass kicked”.

Shame

[BarberSchool]

Avoiding Denver? So you avoid Denver and then what? lol At some point you will have to cross paths if your goal is to get deep into playoffs if not nba finals. Or wait you’re hoping to avoid Denver and someone else defeats them. Then somehow you’ll have a better chance at beating the team that beat them?


Whoever agreed with ESPN you can tell you walked the long way home to avoid “bullies”.

“I have better odds of not getting my ass kicked”.

Shamewith each additional hard fought series, there’s a chance Denver accumulates some bumps and bruises and God forbid, and injury.

NBA Playoffs are HARD.
Physically and MENTALLY.
Survival of the fittest.

Each additional round you can avoid your superior, you do so. Attrition.

[GOBB]

with each additional hard fought series, there’s a chance Denver accumulates some bumps and bruises and God forbid, and injury.

NBA Playoffs are HARD.
Physically and MENTALLY.
Survival of the fittest.

Each additional round you can avoid your superior, you do so. Attrition.

That’s a weak mentality. You might as well wish injury on Denver. You probably do. Imagine having Lebron James, Anthony Davis, “ar-16”. And sitting here writing down Xmas list of hopefuls so you don’t have to see Denver or meet a healthy Denver team. Kobe is literally rolling over in his grave at some of these comments. Definitely not mamba mentality.

[CurryOverLebron]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GLN7CHxW0AA3f7E?format=jpg&name=small

[BarberSchool]

That’s a weak mentality. You might as well wish injury on Denver. You probably do. Imagine having Lebron James, Anthony Davis, “ar-16”. And sitting here writing down Xmas list of hopefuls so you don’t have to see Denver or meet a healthy Denver team. Kobe is literally rolling over in his grave at some of these comments. Definitely not mamba mentality.lol nah.
I hate the LeFraud & Day-To-Davis lakers.
If they Face Denver, I’d love to see Murray/Jokic/Gordon sweep em.
Just saying, that’s the concept of this thread.
Whoever faces Denver in that first round is 99% goin fishin.

[FultzNationRISE]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GLN7CHxW0AA3f7E?format=jpg&name=small


Feels kinda accurate

[iamgine]

It's basic strategy to avoid opponents that aren't good matchups or too strong for you.

However, in this case, they really shouldn't do that because their playoff are at stake. The risk/reward is not worth it.

[sdot_thadon]

Sounds Ike a recipe to become a meme imo. They've gotta beat Denver one way or another to get to the finals don't they?

[Duffy Pratt]

Sounds Ike a recipe to become a meme imo. They've gotta beat Denver one way or another to get to the finals don't they?

Not necessarily. They would be in the other bracket. Denver would have to win two series against good teams before facing the Lakers. They might simply lose; or they might get struck by injuries; or there could be suspensions that kill their chances. Stranger things have happened in the NBA.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying the Lakers should try to duck the Nuggets. But doing so might get them to the finals without having to play Denver.

[sbw19]

Only good reason to rest them is if they aren't good to go. And I'd still try to win it. Not ducking nobody good matchups or not.

[Trollsmasher]

Of all dumb American hot take show hot takes, this one is up there with the all time worst.

[hold this L]

That's a really dumb thing to do. Imagine you sell tonight and then Kings/Warriors just happen to get nuclear from 3. Lakers don't have the players to stop them there and go out entirely.

[tpols]

Sounds Ike a recipe to become a meme imo. They've gotta beat Denver one way or another to get to the finals don't they?

Negative.

Denver could potentially lose in the 2nd round.

[RogueBorg]

Not surprising that this loser mentality is coming from Greenberg. I remember listening to him when he was an intern in Chicago with Dan Jiggets and Mike North on the Score back in 1992-93 range and was the same loser back then as he is now. Is there no one that wants to compete anymore?

[GOBB]

Not surprising that this loser mentality is coming from Greenberg. I remember listening to him when he was an intern in Chicago with Dan Jiggets and Mike North on the Score back in 1992-93 range and was the same loser back then as he is now. Is there no one that wants to compete anymore?

Exactly. No one likes to compete. But looking at the replies from certain individuals not shocking at all. And Mike is a weenie

[sdot_thadon]

Negative.

Denver could potentially lose in the 2nd round.

I'd take my chances vs the champs vs the Warrirors or Kings getting a hot game and hitting 75 3s to take their place in the playoffs.

[tpols]

I'd take my chances vs the champs vs the Warrirors or Kings getting a hot game and hitting 75 3s to take their place in the playoffs.

Lebron and AD when healthy and playing have generally owned the warriors. They knocked them out of the last play in tournament they faced each other in and knocked them out of the playoffs last year with a RIDICULOUS FTA disparity. 160 to 80.

The refs can curb momentum by giving AD, Lebron, and Reaves a million FTs and the warriors have a serious problem with the Lakers size and AD flopping all over. Reaves alone shot more free throws than Curry and Klay which is crazy. Shit... shroeder shot more free throws than Curry and Klay too.

You fellas aren't thinking long term. The 7 seed is a death sentence gauntlet right now. While the 8 seed has a pretty path. In the long term if you're looking to win a ring as an underdog it's worth risking 1 game for a whole slate of easier playoff matchups. It's actually a ****ing no brainer. And yall know I specialize in that so I'm being for real with you big Zestys.

[hold this L]

Lebron and AD when healthy and playing have generally owned the warriors. They knocked them out of the last play in tournament they faced each other in and knocked them out of the playoffs last year with a RIDICULOUS FTA disparity. 160 to 80.

The refs can curb momentum by giving AD, Lebron, and Reaves a million FTs and the warriors have a serious problem with the Lakers size and AD flopping all over. Reaves alone shot more free throws than Curry and Klay which is crazy. Shit... shroeder shot more free throws than Curry and Klay too.

You fellas aren't thinking long term. The 7 seed is a death sentence gauntlet right now. While the 8 seed has a pretty path. In the long term if you're looking to win a ring as an underdog it's worth risking 1 game for a whole slate of easier playoff matchups. It's actually a ****ing no brainer. And yall know I specialize in that so I'm being for real with you big Zestys.
There's nothing no brainer to lose a game and go against a team (either one) that when they get hot, they beat you down. Lakers beating the Warriors in a game where they won by 1-2 possessions is not an example of "how it makes sense". If Warriors or Kings get hot from 3, there is nothing Silver and the zebras can do to stop them. Especially since the Lakers have trash perimeter defense outside of one player.

Lakers aren't good enough to win a championship this season and you can argue that it's better to play Nuggets early before they get in the groove like the WCF presuming both make it. This is an idiotic risk.

[bison]

who the hell is mike greenberg?

its one thing for fans to entertain this ridiculous scenario where the lakers would throw a play in game to manipulate the seeding. But's an entirely different thing for so called analysts to contemplate the same thing. goes to show how basketball discourse continues to plummet.

[Shaquille O'Neal]

Didn't we tell yall this would happen?

People saying "OMG they can't tank a play in game! What if they lose the next one!"

News flash. If they win tomorrow they get bounced in the 1st round anyway.

And if they lose tomorrow they have a setup where they can potentially avoid Denver entirely for the long haul.

A lot of you guys are near sighted and need to have your prescription checked.

This does sound familiar, yes.

[Wally450]

The Lakers would host the second play-in game if the lost, correct?

[sdot_thadon]

Lebron and AD when healthy and playing have generally owned the warriors. They knocked them out of the last play in tournament they faced each other in and knocked them out of the playoffs last year with a RIDICULOUS FTA disparity. 160 to 80.

The refs can curb momentum by giving AD, Lebron, and Reaves a million FTs and the warriors have a serious problem with the Lakers size and AD flopping all over. Reaves alone shot more free throws than Curry and Klay which is crazy. Shit... shroeder shot more free throws than Curry and Klay too.

You fellas aren't thinking long term. The 7 seed is a death sentence gauntlet right now. While the 8 seed has a pretty path. In the long term if you're looking to win a ring as an underdog it's worth risking 1 game for a whole slate of easier playoff matchups. It's actually a ****ing no brainer. And yall know I specialize in that so I'm being for real with you big Zestys.

I understand what you're saying but it's not a no brainer when both possible matchups have washed you out from 3 as proof of concept. If it was a team there were no doubts about beating it's genius. I'm not confident the Lakers for sure beat the Kings in a 7 game series let alone a one off game the way they've played against LA. The momentum of beating Denver in an upset could carry them to a chip.

[Duffy Pratt]

Right now, there is a disadvantage to being a first seed: you get less time to prepare for your opponent than the 2nd 3rd and 4th seeds do. The NBA should correct this. How? Let the first seed and only the first seed pick who they will play in the first round. At the end of the season, before any play-in games, they submit to the league the order of the teams that they want to play in the first round (but that order is kept secret).

This would also make it extremely unlikely that any team would tank a play-in game to get to the other side of the bracket, because they wouldn’t know that that would be the result. Also, it would mean that the other seeds would only know for sure who they would play when the first seed does. Suppose, for example, that Brunson went down with an injury last Sunday while getting the second seed. I could easily see the Celtics deciding to play the Brunsonless Knicks in the first round and screwing up everyone else’s preparation. And why not? They are the first seed, they should get the easiest opponent.

[BarberSchool]

Let the first seed and only the first seed pick who they will play in the first round. At the end of the season, before any play-in games, they submit to the league the order of the teams that they want to play in the first round (but that order is kept secret).I’m in !
Love this idea, applying it to this season’s western conference race for the 1 seed would have been :applause:

[kawhileonard2]

I’m in !
Love this idea, applying it to this season’s western conference race for the 1 seed would have been :applause:

OKC wanted the Lakers.