How high up can the Lakers move up for playoffs

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Hi Lakerswiz.....welcome to the board.

Lakers only about 2 1/2 games from Portland, and Lakers hold the tiebreaker.

Only 1/2 games from #5 spot.

Tomorrow, Lakers play Suns at Staples; MN plays Portland, after losing to Suns today.

Should be a good day tomorrow, as long as Lakers win, they'll gain ground on MN or Portland.

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well, as of now, we're in #6 spot, having moved 1 game ahead of Utah.

Currently hope we can at least tie Portland or Minnesota for #4 or #5....we hold the tiebreakers over both of them

Boy, it's gonna be real tough gauntlet we face in the play-offs this year.

Assuming San Antonio grabs #1 spot; Sacramento #2, and Dallas falls to #3, and the Lakers stay at #6 (most likely scenario, unless Portland or Minnesota tanks in these last few games)....

Then we play Dallas in 1st round, play Sacramento in 2nd round, and play San Antonio for the right to appear in the NBA Finals.

Talk about running the gauntlet, eh?

Sacramento/San Antonio/Lakers----whoever wins the west will destroy the Eastern team.

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update - 4/9/03:

Beat Dallas again last night (Dallas hasn't won at Staples Center/Fabulous Forum for the last 25 straight games, or about 10-12 years).

Boy, talk about a psychological edge. Kobe had 14, Shaq and 14, and THREE other Lakers, led by Devean, scored more.

Heck, Kobe didn't have a shot attempt in 1st quarter.

We're still 1 game behind both Portland and Minnesota for 4th or 5th spot.

Lakers hold the tie-breaker over both teams. And we play Portland this Sunday AT Portland.

Toughest game left will be this Thursday, vs Kings at home.

Right now, we're slated to play Dallas in 1st round.

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4/10 update: Lakers 117, Kings 104.

Lakers now in 5th place; tie with Minnesota (Lakers have the better conference record; both are 2-2 vs each other).

Just a tremendous defensive effort (yes, Kings did score over 100 points; but the way the Lakers play defense all season, Kings should've scored 135+ points).

Granted, the Kings missed a number of outside shots, and were 0 for 12 in 3-point attempts before Bobby Jackson hit one.

The roles players are stepping up; Fisher's done a great job, esp. being 5-for-5 from 3-point land tonight. Pargo is the Tyron Lue of this year; he did a good job just pestering Bibby, but not really stopping him.

Pargo's quick, so is Kareem Rush. Shouldn't be long before Pargo and Rush become starters and Fox & Fisher are the reserves.

Devean George rebounding well.

Now, it's on to Portland at their Rose Garden this coming Sunday.

If we win there, 4th place is ours, assuming we don't lose to Denver afterwards, lol.

One more meaningful game left, and that is Portland. The last 2 should be easy.

Boy, that would be nice to get #4 spot, even if that means having to face Spurs in 2nd round, then Sacramento in W. Conf. Final.

Talk about running the gauntlet!!

[IggyWH]

I still say untill someone actually beats the Lakers, any talk about the playoffs are a waste of time.

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Iggy, I couldn't agree more.

But this year, more than the last 3 years, the Lakers actually seem incapable of playing defense.

Fisher and Fox are old and slow (we need Pargo and Kareem Rush to develop really fast!; and Devean to continue improving).

Shaq plays when he wants to play.

Only Kobe has consistently played tough defense all year round.

It's gonna be one EXCITING play-off!!!!!

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4/11 update: well, it appears things are looking very favorable for the Lakers.

Blazers lost to the Memphis Grizzlies, and are fading fast, losers of 7 of 11.

Timberwolves beat the Clippers tonight.

So, #4 is Lakers, #5 is Wolves is playoffs started today.

All Lakers need to do is win out to get #4, starting with Portland at the Rose Garden this coming Sunday.

Blazers, if they're smart, would lose this game and stick to #6. They have a much better shot to oust the Mavs than to play with the Lakers.

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4/14/03: well that was an egg the Lakers laid on Sunday, losing by 2 points on a clutch last second 3-pointer by Rasheed.

Lakers just went through the motions in the 1st half; then decided to play in the 4th quarter.

It's a shame they can't keep up the intensity for at least 3 quarters, rather than falling behind and then rallying in the 4th quarter. Most times, it doesn't work.

Next year, we gotta replace Fox and Fisher; they are getting up there in years, and serve better as veterans coming off the bench. I'd replace Pargo for Fisher and Rush for Fox; that way, the second team coming off the bench becomes that much stronger.

Needless to say, Lakers had the chance to win out and get 4th spot; instead, it's likely they are headed for #6 slot and destined to play the Mavericks, a dangerous offensive team without a defense.

2 games left, against Golden St. and Denver. Still a chance for the 4th spot; but not likely. Minnesota badly wants home court advantage so they can finally advance to the 2nd round. They're playing well!.

Next game is Tuesday.....

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4/15 update: well, after the Blazers won tonight, it looks like the Lakers, barring a loss tomorrow by Blazers (at Clippers) or Timberwolves (at Memphis Grizzlies), are slotted for #6 and will play Dallas in 1st round. Best Lakers can hope for is a loss by either team to get #5 spot.

Either way, looks like Lakers will need to get past BOTH Spurs and Kings just to get to the NBA Finals.

Tomorrow is the last day of regular season. Lakers are at Golden State at 7:30 pm PST; MN plays at 5 pm PST; Portland at 7:30 pm PST. So, by tip off time, Lakers should get a good idea of whether or not MN wins.

Play off schedules come out Thursday morning.

On a sidenote: Lakers played the Nuggets, who have apparently made their tee times appointment. Shaq and Kobe played 1st and 3rd quarters; role players played most of the game, and the Lakers dominated the ENTIRE game. Just a sad sad state for Denver when they are behind by 14 after the 1st quarter, Shaq and Kobe sit, and Denver falls behind by 20+ at halftime.

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4/16/03 update: Lakers beat the Warriors; Wolves beat the Grizzlies, Blazers lost to the Clippers.

Result --- Lakers at Minnesota.

Full schedules come out tomorrow morning.

As for the Lakers-Warriors game, it was pretty entertaining, and Kobe got his 39th point, which gave him 30 points per game average for the entire season.

No one got hurt.

Bring on them wolves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!