ace marshal

Chapter 1286 Continuing to the Los Angeles Derby in the playoffs

Losing away to the New York Knicks, the Clippers missed a great opportunity to catch up with the Nuggets ahead.

Because the Mavericks also lost at the same time, the Clippers still maintained their No.6 position.

Moreover, the possibility of entering the playoffs with the No.6 score is getting higher and higher.

So this has to be confirmed, which team is No.3 in the West now.

After all, No.3 is likely to be the opponent in the first round of the playoffs in the future.

On the plane back to Los Angeles, Lan Shengli and Harper analyzed it.

After the analysis by the two, the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies are the most likely opponents for the Clippers in the first round of the playoffs.

One is a rival in the same city with big-name players such as Kobe, and the other is the Grizzlies who once had a "festival" in the regular season and have an extremely fierce defense. It seems that no matter which team they face, the Clippers are more difficult to deal with.

But after all, the regular season is not over yet. In theory, Lan Shengli's No.6 is not even guaranteed, so it's really hard to say which team he will face in the first round of the playoffs.

"No matter which team we face, no matter what the result is, we must firmly hold our destiny in our own hands~!!"

Lan Shengli thought about it with a firm expression, and soon took a rest.

After all, flying from the east coast of the United States to the west coast is not a short distance.

After returning to Los Angeles, the Clippers quickly defeated the Suns and Hornets who had already missed the playoffs at home. Although they won two consecutive victories, the Nuggets also won, so the Clippers The team still failed to narrow the gap with the Nuggets.

With two games left, the Clippers are two games behind the Nuggets, and it is almost impossible to get to No.5.

The Mavericks have been catching up, only one game behind the Clippers.

If the Clippers fall to No.7, it is very likely that they will face the more powerful Spurs or the Thunder led by Brooks. In that case, the first round will be even more difficult to play.

"Although the opponent missed the playoffs, they will not let up. They will definitely fight for honor, and they will definitely play more fiercely~!!, so we have to play better~!!!"

In the Toyota Center, Lan Shengli reminded the team members.

In the penultimate game of the regular season, the Clippers played away against the Houston Rockets, who were ranked ninth in the West and missed the playoffs.

"Swipe~!!"

"Swipe~!!"

"Click~, clang~, brush~!!"

"Duang~!!!"

Harden, who had been obsessed for a few games, finally regained his touch.

Outside long shots, mid-range step-backs, European layups, steals and fast-break dunks, Harden dominated the game.

"Okay, Harden, you who are depressed are only temporary, and you who are strong will definitely appear in the playoffs, come on~!!!"

Lan Shengli secretly encouraged Harden.

With Harden's strong performance of 35 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists, the Clippers defeated the Rockets in an away game, completed a season sweep of their opponents, and continued to consolidate their No.6 position.

As long as the Clippers can beat their city rivals the Lakers away in the last game, they will definitely lock in sixth in the West.

And if the Clippers lose and the Mavericks win, it is necessary to compare the records of the two teams against the Western Conference teams.

In short, as long as the Clippers win, there is no other complicated algorithm.

And the possibility that the Clippers can win this regular season curtain call is also very high.

Because their opponents, the Lakers, chose to rest all the main players in the last game after they had locked the No.3 in the Western Conference in advance.

This undoubtedly gave the Clippers a big gift.

So, in this case, the Lakers sent the starting lineup is: two backcourt Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, frontcourt for Metta World Peace (Artest), Josh Mike Roberts, center Jordan Hill.

Although there are real starters like Ci Shiping, this is basically the Lakers' second plus third team.

The starting lineup is like this, and the substitute lineup can be imagined how "bleak" it will be.

The Lakers deliberately released water, but the Clippers would not release water. Billups, Harden, George, Love, Jordan, and the five main players all appeared on the stage.

Even if Love is injured here, they still want to keep the sixth position in the Western Conference. Even if they know that doing so will face the Lakers in the first round, Lan Shengli still chooses to win the game.

"If you deliberately lose and drop to No.7, you will play against the Thunder. We are all young players. Maybe the probability of winning against them is higher~?!"

Before the curtain call here, General Manager Cole found Lan Shengli and asked about it.

"No, I think the Thunder must be stronger than the Lakers. There is no doubt that Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka, etc. are more mature than our young players, plus Brooks The coach's leadership, coupled with Love's injury, makes it very difficult to beat the Thunder. As for the Lakers, after Zen Master left, Mike Brown just changed the triangle tactics on the tactical board to the No. 24 singles , the tactics of the Lakers are not advancing but retreating~!!"

Lan Shengli analyzed.

"And the series between us and the Lakers is not just a competition for a place in the semifinals, but also a competition for who is the boss of Los Angeles~ If you want to seize the market and resources of the Lakers in Los Angeles, now is the best time , the series is the best stage~!!"

Lan Shengli continued to explain.

Under Lan Shengli's firm attitude, Cole didn't say anything more.

So~
After the curtain call began, the Clippers' first-line main force played the Lakers' substitute players "looking for teeth everywhere."

"Without No. 24, Coach Brown doesn't know what tactics to use~, haha~!!"

Lan Shengli looked at Mike Brown standing on the sidelines with a blank expression, and sighed.

63: 44.

The Clippers led by nearly 20 points in the first half.

In the second half of the game, injured players like Love basically didn't play again, and both sides entered the training time.

The Clippers beat the Lakers in an away game, won the curtain call, and secured the sixth place in the Western Conference.

Their first-round opponent, that is, the same city brothers they just defeated, the Lakers.

For such a first-round matchup, perhaps the most satisfying thing for the two teams is that they don't have to "fly around" anymore.

The floor installers at Staples are about to get busy.

The two teams also extended the rich Los Angeles Derby from the regular season to the playoffs.

"It's the second playoff trip, come on, yourself, come on, Clippers~!!"

Lan Shengli, who was sitting in front of the computer, thought to himself, and continued to work in the dark.

(End of this chapter)