Are the Clippers smart?

[Seto]

Last year they could have tanked their final game to the Suns in order to play the banged-up Blazers instead of the Spurs. Albeit they got away with it and beat the Spurs in 7, that probably wasn't very smart and some argue this took a toll on them and they had nothing left for game 7 in Houston.

This year they are in a similar situation. If they tank the game tonight, Dallas only needs to win 2 more games (against the Jazz and the Spurs' D Leaguers) to finish 5th. Dunno about you, but I'd rather play a banged-up Mavs team than a Portland team that has been pretty hot for a few months and could be the type of team that could challenge the Clippers as an up-and-coming squad (much like the Warriors in 2014 for instance).

If they beat the Mavs tonight, they all but guarantee they will face the Blazers unless the Blazers lose at home to Denver on the final day AND either Dallas or Memphis wins out.

So does Doc wisen up tonight?

[louielouie]

This is a good conspiracy

[POOLSIDE]

Not a bad topic but the real question is, does any of it matter? This team cannot beat the Spurs or Warriors. The clippers are garbage.

[DOM-Ganador]

It does matter. The difference between winning a series and one and done is millions.

I would think Clips have figured this out, but wonder if they will act??

[IllyPhilly[DOC]]

WOW i want to take Dallas now V LAC. This is good stuff.

[TTA_President]

They also won vs Utah with their bench. They win tonight. No conspiracy theory behind it.

[frugalgambler]

Not a bad topic but the real question is, does any of it matter? This team cannot beat the Spurs or Warriors. The clippers are garbage.

Nor can they handle healthy OKC. This team is firmly in a no-man's land of pretenders.

[bryant81]

Looks like CP3 is out today...


Edit: now they are saying CP3 will play

[kgindy]

Dallas 1h

[Seto]

This is a good conspiracy

Not really a conspiracy, I mean it may seem a bit unethical in a way I guess.

Teams do this. The Nets tanked to play the Raptors instead of the Bulls 2 years ago.

[olamide]

Surely the western conference semi finals will be interesting to watch. Hopefully we have Warriors vs Clipps, Spurs vs OKC match.
What's the odd of a final match of OKC vs Clips?

[Git Lo]

Don't think anyone is trying to be smart. It's either rest or no rest. I think Clips can take the Blazers but not Thunder, Spurs, Warriors so it doesn't really matter

[Seto]

Surely the western conference semi finals will be interesting to watch. Hopefully we have Warriors vs Clipps, Spurs vs OKC match.
What's the odd of a final match of OKC vs Clips?

You'd get +1000 at least I think, if you're talking about parlaying OKC series and Clippers series.

[Seto]

Don't think anyone is trying to be smart. It's either rest or no rest. I think Clips can take the Blazers but not Thunder, Spurs, Warriors so it doesn't really matter

Teams do occasionally tank games to put themselves in better positions for the playoffs. However the Clippers are clearly too stupid to do this. Of course they can and probably will beat Portland but why not try and get an easier matchup?