Generally agree with your great breakdown. However, I could also envision teams deliberately slowing games down or losing them in order to have an influence on their matchup. Most interestingly: the 3 seed will know their playoff matchup and can prepare. The downside of it: probably for the Pelicans. It’s gonna be a crazy last night. Same in the East with the 2/3 seeds and Philly and Miami

• It was announced in the arena before the game that Dallas had lost to Detroit (after sitting Luka/Kyrie) and that the Clippers had clinched the #4 seed. Crowd cheered; players and coaches gave each other high fives and hugs; the mood was festive.
• Wemby outplayed Jokic and San Antonio came from behind to snatch a huge win at Denver, throwing Denver to the 3rd seed and out of the Clippers’ playoff bracket (until the conference final).
• Thunder had smacked the Bucks, moving to the #1 seed
• Minnesota won a tight game with ATL that went down to the final minute, moving to the #2 seed;
• Lakers barely beat the hospital Grizzlies; Phoenix came from behind to beat Sacramento; New Orleans beat GSW.
• Those events have pushed the Suns-Lakers as the 7-8 match up and GSW-Sac as the 9-10 matchup. The Lakers, Minnesota, Pelicans and Denver are now out of the Clippers’ bracket. The Clippers’ road to the finals now goes through Dallas, the winner of OKC vs the 8 seed (likely GSW). while Denver now likely has to deal with the Pelicans and the winner of a Lakers or Phoenix vs Minnesota series.
• Nothing is guaranteed, and there’s always a ‘be careful what you wish for’ aspect to matchups, but a path of Dallas/OKC and only 1 of Denver/Pels/T-Wolves/Lakers is about as ideal as the Clippers could’ve hoped for.

The final games that matter on Sunday are:

• Dallas v OKC: OKC needs the win to lock up #1. Dallas has already conceded a loss as Kyrie and Luka won’t play. OKC will be the #1 seed.
• Lakers v New Orleans: Both teams need a win. Lakers need the win to stay in the #7 spot. If GSW and/or Sac win and the Lakers lose, they slip into the 9 v 10 game. Lakers also need to regain some rhythm. Zion has been unstoppable and I would favor the Pels to win that game. That would make them the #6 seed. If the Pels lose and Suns win, however, the Suns are the #6 seed and the Pels are the #7 seed and in the play in.
• Suns v T-Wolves: Tough game. Both teams need the win. If the Suns win and the Pels lose, they’re the #6 seed. If Minnesota loses, think Minnesota win
• Denver v Memphis: Denver will win that game and will either be the #2 or #3 seed depending on what Minnesota does.
• Sacramento v Portland: Sac needs the win to have a shot at the 7 v 8 game or to hold home court in the 9 v 10 game. I expect Sac to win after dropping 3 in a row.
• Golden State v Utah: Expect the Warriors to win. If they win, Sac wins and Lakers lose, they get the Lakers at home in the 9 v 10 game. Otherwise, they’ll play Sac either at home or away.

My guess is the seedings will be as follows:

1. OKC
2. Minnesota/Denver
3. Denver/Minnesota
4. Clippers
5. Mavs
6. Pels
7. Suns
8. Kings
9. Warriors
10. Lakers

Minnesota v Phoenix is a bit of a coin toss. Phoenix needs the game slightly more than does Minnesota, but I’d still lean Minnesota in that one.

Pels v Lakers is a coin toss b/c Lakers kinda own them, but Pels have played well to close the season and I don’t think Zion is guardable.

1-OKC
2-Minny
3-Denver
4-clips
5-Mavs
6-Pels
7-Suns
8-Lakers
9-sacto
19-warriors

Predict 7 is Lakers and 8 is warriors

I’m very unsettled by the Kawhi vibes right now. There’s been no sign of his being active yet in practice or the gym like we saw lately with KAT and Frank sounded very evasive tonight. Finally, we’ve never seen him this warm and jovial on the sidelines which is what one would do if they felt like they needed support from their team mates and friends. I soooo hope I’m wrong because the landscape has been miracled for us to make a run at this thing.

Harden and PG looked crisp as hell tonight so we’re still going to be a tough out without Kawhi. Here’s hoping.

This is a huge part of why I’m a Russ fan: ultra-competitive, fearless on the court, always having teammates’ backs – and an inspiration as a man off the court. Loving, dedicated, giving, humble, focused on what matters in life, never distracted from it, knows exactly whose opinions matter and whose don’t

‘Westbrook, in the sides he lets us see on the floor and the philanthropic work he does off of it, exists in dualities. When he’s watching the game unfold without him from the tunnel, furiously peddling on the bike to stay primed to come in whenever the Clippers need him, or racing and roaring around the floor, taunting opponents, there is nothing that marks him as humble. In the quiet and hugely impactful community work he does, there is nothing that marks him as otherwise.’