Memphis at LA Clippers - Will the NBA Need To Investigate???

                                                        

On Tuesday night.....the Los Angeles Clippers will head to Memphis to take on the Memphis Grizzlies. 

The game has a ton of meaning....as the #5 and #6 seeds are on the line.  The Grizzlies own the tiebreaker.  The season series right now is Grizzlies 2-1.....even a Clips win on Tuesday [which would tie the series at 2-2] Memphis still gets the nod due to their better conference record, which the Clips cannot match. 

After this game....the Clips head to Dallas and the Griz head to Minnesota.  So why does this all matter??

Well, being the #6 seed is a lot more attractive than being the #5 seed. 

In the NBA seeding process, the winners of the three divisions get the top 3 seeds.  So, the Spurs [most likely], Suns and Nuggets will lock in the top seeds.  After that, all the "wildcard teams" will be seeded according to record.  Well, the #5 seed plays the #4 seed.....and the #6 seed plays the #3 seed. 

In this case, the #4 seed is the Dallas Mavericks [60-21], who have the 3rd best record in the NBA.  The #3 seed is the Denver Nuggets, who are only 44-36....by far the worst record of any division winner [a division where no other team will make the playoffs].  So who would you rather face???  By dumping down to the #6 seed....you are facing a much inferior team.  So losing is a good thing.  Also.....

Under NBA rules....seeding doesn't determine home court.  Record does.  So, while the Nuggets may be the #3 seed, they won't have the home court advantage in the first round.  Both the Clippers and Grizzlies will end up with a better record than Denver....so whichever one finishes in that #6 slot will get the home court.  So, again....who would you rather face??  Would you rather face the 60-win Maverics with the Mavs owning the home court.....or face the 44-win Nuggets and you owning the home court??  Not to mention that you'd get a higher pick in the draft. 

Pretty easy answer.

So that's where this game comes in.  Memphis has won 6 of 7 and have taken over sole possession of the #5 spot in the West.  The Clippers spent Sunday getting completely blown out, at home, to lottery-bound Seattle....marking their 4th loss in 6 games.   If Memphis wins this game, they will clinch that #5 seed.  For the Clips to get to #5...they would have to beat Memphis, win in Dallas and have the Griz lose in Minnesota. 

So, sure, while the Clips quest to be that #5 seed would be hard regardless....it could happen.  The Clippers can win in Memphis....and can beat Dallas at the AAC especially if Dallas rests up their stars for the playoff run [see: Phoenix].  Minnesota, though out of the playoffs, has a determined Kevin Garnett and a coach on the ropes who won't conceed a home game either.  So the Grizz aren't guranteed anything in the Twin Cities.

But, do these teams try to tank it??  Or do they go for broke?  If the recent game against Seattle says anything....the Grizzlies will end this.  Memphis will beat LA, gain that #5 seed, and go on to get swept by Dallas.  The Clippers will face the Nuggets and bring on an interesting series.  Here is what the playoff push looks like with just a few days remaining.....

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1-San Antonio Spurs.  The Spurs, with a win over Utah or at Houston, clinches the top seed in the West. 

2-Phoenix Suns.  Got this locked up

3-Denver Nuggets.  Got this locked up

4-Dallas Mavericks.  The Mavs must beat the Clippers on Wednesday and hope that the Jazz and Rockets upset the Spurs.  The latter is unlikely. 

5-Memphis Grizzlies.  See above

6-Los Angeles Clippers.  See above. 

7-Los Angeles Lakers.  The Lakers get the #7 seed with a win at home over the Hornets...or a Kings loss against Seattle. 

8-Sacramento Kings.  The Kings get the #8 seed with a loss against Seattle or a Lakers win.  To move to that #7 seed, they would have to beat Seattle and have the Lakers lose at home to the Hornets.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1-Detroit Pistons.  Got this locked up.

2-Miami Heat.  Got this locked up.

3-New Jersey Nets.  Got this locked up.  However, they are still fighting the Cavs for home court advantage in an unlikely event they met in the Eastern Finals. 

4-Cleveland Cavaliers.  Got this locked up.

5-Washington Wizards.  Wiz owns the tiebreaker against Indiana...but lose the tiebreaker with Milwaukee and Chicago. 

6-Indiana Pacers.  Indy owns the tiebreaker against Chicago.....but lose the tiebreaker with Washington.  As for Milwaukee, if the Bucks win their final division game, they will own the tiebreaker with Indy.  If they lose, Indy gets the tiebreaker. 

7-Milwaukee Bucks.  Milwaukee owns the tiebreaker against Washington and Chicago.  As for Indiana, if the Bucks win their final division game, they will own the tiebreaker with Indy.  If they lose, Indy gets the tiebreaker.

8-Chicago Bulls.  Bulls own tiebreakers against Washington....but lose the tiebreaker to Indy and Milwaukee.