The Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz squads could not be more different but they’re both chasing the same thing currently. With just a handful of games left in the season, it has not been determined who will end up securing the Western Conference’s eighth playoff spot, and as expected, both teams want to extend their season into the playoffs.
Whether you’re a Lakers fanboy, a Jazz aficionado, or just want to get a sense of the 2013 NBA Playoff Matchups or Standings, you might be wondering how to determine which team will actually be gearing up for the postseason. Well, Sports Jerks has you covered.
NBA history, Kobe Bryant’s unrelenting play, and a more noted cast should have us picking the Los Angeles Lakers to make the playoffs but the decision comes down to two less glorified points: schedules and, something where the Lakers rank very low—Points Allowed Per Game. Neither spell good things for Los Angeles.
Some less sophisticated NBA nuts might look at the schedule comparison and believe L.A. has been dealt a worse hand, but with a stellar cast, the team has sabotaged their own long-term ambitions. Both teams have three games left in their schedule, with the Jazz having a decidedly easier road ahead of them. In their last three games, Utah will only play one playoff-bound team (the Memphis Grizzlies). The other two games, one of which will be played in Salt Lake City where the Jazz are 29-11, will be against a shorthanded Minnesota Timberwolves team. In their last 20 matchups, Utah has won 14 times. And perhaps what weighs more in the Jazz’s favor is that they’re undefeated (2-0) against the Wolves this year.
In comparison, the Lakers will be trekking up a very steep mountain against teams that boast either young, offensive juggernauts or championship-tested veterans. In its final three games, L.A. will play against the Golden State Warriors, the San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets. Though the Lakers are currently one game ahead of the Jazz in the standings, these three tough matchups will spell the end of their season. (Not to mention that the Jazz hold the tiebreaker against the Lakers).
All three squads are still vying for playoff position, which makes them extremely focused and dangerous. The Warriors and the Rockets, for example, have almost identical records. With only one victory separating them (the Warriors are 45-34 and Houston is 44-34), they’ll be playing their hearts out for the No. 6 seed. That seed would be the difference between a first round matchup with either the Thunder or Spurs at No. 1, or a still dangerous, but perhaps more manageable No. 3 Denver Nuggets.
Much like Golden State and Houston, San Antonio is also hungry for better standing positioning. With an older, hobbled squad they’ll want the home court advantage that comes with being the No. 1 team out West. Currently a game behind OKC, they won’t be able to take any games off before the playoffs.
To make matters worse for the Lakers, they rank 24th in the league for Points Allowed Per Game. Generally that’s not a place you would hope to find yourself, but tack on that Golden State, San Antonio, and Houston are all in the top-10 for Points Scored Per Game, and the Lakers are in trouble. Whether Kobe puts on his big boy pants or not.
Prediction for the Western Conference’s 8th Playoff Spot: Utah.
