The Nets have a one-game lead in the second round of the playoffs in the hunt for second seed and home advantage, but the Bucks hold the tiebreaker based on the regular season’s head-to-head streak. Both teams play in a row to end the regular season, starting on Saturday with Nets-Bulls at 1pm. followed by the Bucks Heat at 8pm
« I’m not too worried about where we are in the general standings, » said Nets striker Jeff Green. « For me, it’s about health. Regardless, there will be a difficult way to get where we want to go. »
If the nets were to lose, the bucks would land in the driver’s seat and could go full throttle to to win and secure number 2. If the nets won, the ball would be in the box of the bucks to decide between: 1) Play to win and thereby throw back the pressure on the nets for one on Sunday play the full line-up and secure number 2 with a win against the Cavaliers 2) Take one foot off the gas, rest against the heat Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton and settle for 3rd place regardless of their own result against the Bulls on Sunday.
The second option isn’t as crazy as it sounds if the ultimate goal is to avoid a first-round matchup with the dangerous heat.
With another never As a result, Miami, the defending champions of the Eastern Conference, could slip to 6th place and be either the problem of the first round of Nets or Bucks. When the heat wins – with or without the gentle support of the bucks – they stay in a No. 4 No. 5 first round series and as a likely opponent of the 76ers in the second round. In that case, Sunday’s games would be irrelevant and the Nets would open the playoffs against a survivor of a play-in tournament and the Bucks would likely pull the curtsey.
The bucks can’t say they’re fueling a game or avoid the heat. What message of trust would that send to fans and players? In the NBA, however, a wink-wink scenario is recognizable.
« We want second place, » said Nets coach Steve Nash. « We’ll see what happens in the league [Friday night and Saturday]. It’s not something to do or die. At the same time, we’ll see how that goes, and we’ll make subsequent decisions based on what happens. » and then be prepared for Sunday. «
The injury-ridden networks may be more reluctant than the goats to push their stars in back-to-back games, but the week of calm before the playoffs offers a nice cushion. It’s essentially a chess game with a warning if any of the favorites get too creative to manipulate matchups.
« As for playoff prep, this is underway, » said Nash. « I’ll definitely look forward to seeing the results, but I’m not looking at the scoreboard. I think we have to worry. »
It’s a situation that the nets are doing themselves. You have Losing two games in a row in Milwaukee two weeks ago when a win would have secured the tiebreaker, and they lost Kevin Durant to the 76ers on April 14th instead of pushing him to play on consecutive nights shortly after returning from a hamstring injury The nets won this game, if all other things were the same, they would control their own fate for the number 1 this weekend.
Instead, all eyes are on the money and whether a potential Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals in Milwaukee or Brooklyn. To be determined by Sunday.
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