Forecasting the Western Conference's Top Seed in the Playoffs
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00:00 [MUSIC]
00:03 Coach, let's take a look at that Western Conference standings here,
00:06 particularly with the number one seed.
00:07 As we know in the NFL, I mean, teams scrap and claw to get that top seed,
00:11 to get that buy and have home field advantage throughout the playoffs
00:14 before you get to the Super Bowl.
00:15 In the NBA, it's a little bit different here.
00:17 Most teams, veteran teams, go, "Hey, it's great to have the number one seed,
00:20 but we'd rather have everybody healthy and rested by the time the playoffs come in.
00:24 Just put us in that top five, top six, and we'll be okay."
00:27 If we look at the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder,
00:29 currently standing at one and two,
00:32 are those the two teams that you believe of that will be the number one seed?
00:36 Or will teams like the Nuggets, the Clippers, the Kings, and the Pelicans
00:39 try to get that spot?
00:40 Or is it one of those things, Coach, where you take a look at their veteran-laden teams?
00:45 The Nuggets don't need the number one overall seed.
00:46 They've been there, done that.
00:47 The Clippers, more than happy to rest their guys down the stretch,
00:50 even if it means not getting a top seed in the Western Conference.
00:53 Who, for you, at the end of the season,
00:55 is going to be that top seed here in the Western Conference?
00:58 Even though they've lost the last two games,
01:00 lost to New York and then obviously lost last night,
01:03 you guys just talked about it.
01:04 I'm going with Minnesota.
01:05 I think their strength of schedule lines it up
01:08 to be the second easiest with who they have left to play.
01:11 And I think the other thing you have to look at, Minnesota, is this.
01:14 Donnie, you make a really good point.
01:16 Teams that are experienced want to get in, right?
01:22 And just get there.
01:23 Teams that are young want the wins.
01:26 It means more to them.
01:29 So for a team like Minnesota that hasn't been there,
01:32 I think that is the team that I think was a plus 190
01:35 to lead the Western Conference in wins
01:38 because just looking at the strength of schedule lined up,
01:42 I think they have an easier schedule than a team like, let's say, Denver,
01:46 who's got to play Minnesota three times.
01:48 So that's going to be the swing right there.
01:50 The Minnesota match versus Denver three more times
01:54 could be the difference of who gets one, who gets two.
01:57 And if that's the case, who does it mean more to?
02:02 To me, it means more to a team like Minnesota.
02:04 So a plus 190 because of the easier schedule
02:07 and the three times they still get to play in Denver,
02:10 I like Minnesota to get that one seed.
02:12 I think it means more to them than it would to Denver.
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