Laker Chat, Part Woohoo!!!

Lakers clinched the number one seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Considering what the season looked like back in October, this is pretty remarkable, they started off kind of rocky, posting a 9-8 record by Dec 2nd. Since then they've gone 48-17.

When they look good, they look really good, but they have their lapses, they get sloppy with the ball and get dumb turnovers, they get too 3pt attempt happy when behind by a lot or ahead by a lot, and still have trouble defending the pick and roll.

The number one seed doesn't really earn them much, though, other than one extra home game in each Western Conference series they play in. Dallas or Denver will be their first round opponent, both teams are talented, both teams are capable of pushing the Lakers, and the Lakers are just as capable of sweeping either of these teams.

The Lakers are probably just glad they don't have to face Phoenix in the first round for the third year in a row. The rest of the Western Conference is still in flux, New Orleans and Utah have clinched their divisions, New Orleans has clinched the 2nd seed, but San Antonio, Utah, Houston and Phoenix could all finish with the same 55-27 record which would be pretty crazy, and fitting given the way the Western Conference has been. It's pretty likely to happen to, if Utah beats San Antonio in Utah (where they've been nearly unbeatable) and Phoenix beats Portland and Houston beats the Clippers, then you'll have a 4 way tie.

In the case of a 4 way tie, Utah would be the 3rd seed (based on a 7-3 record against the other 3) and matched up against 6th seed San Antonio (based on a 4-8 record against the others) while Phoenix (6-5) would be 4th and Houston would be 5th (5-6).

If San Antonio wins, then they'd earn the 3rd seed, and even though they'd have a 54-28 record Utah would get the 4th seed based on being Northwest Division champs. 5th and 6th seed would come down to Houston or Phoenix, and Houston wins in a two team tiebreaker with Phoenix based on better conference record.

Utah's in the best shape, win or lose they get the fourth seed, but if they lose, they'd have the fourth seed, but not home court in the first round against Houston. If Phoenix or Houston loses, then whichever one lost would be the 6th seed, if they both lose then it'd be the same as if they both won.

It's amazing how many different scenarios remain with just a single game left for each team to play. It's also amazing how much time I wasted figuring this out when it will all be decided by 10pm tomorrow.