Time has entered March, and the NBA schedule has officially entered the sprint stage.

The Spurs are first in the Western Conference with 47 wins and 14 losses.

The Thunder are second in the Western Conference with 44 wins and 17 losses.

The Grizzlies, third in the Western Conference with 40 wins and 19 losses.

The Clippers are fourth in the Western Conference with 43 wins and 21 losses.

The Nuggets are fifth in the Western Conference with 41 wins and 22 losses.

The Lakers are sixth in the Western Conference with 37 wins and 25 losses.

The Warriors are seventh in the Western Conference with 35 wins and 27 losses.

The Rockets are eighth in the Western Conference with 33 wins and 29 losses.

The Jazz are ninth in the Western Conference with 32 wins and 30 losses.

The nine teams in the Western Conference will compete for the eight spots in the playoffs.

In the recent period, the Lakers' record has soared with their 20-game winning streak, reaching the top six in one fell swoop. In the first round, they avoided the Spurs and Thunder, the two strongest teams in the Western Conference.

At the same time, the Nuggets have been a bit weak recently and dropped to fifth in the Western Conference, which they also avoided.

If they enter the playoffs according to this ranking, for the Lakers, although it is not considered a top pick, it can definitely be regarded as a top pick.

It was not easy to beat the Grizzlies in the first round, but at the trade deadline, the Grizzlies sent Gay to the Raptors in a three-party deal in exchange for Prince from the Pistons.

This trade was used to deal with the Thunder and Spurs. Prince is considered to be a better defender of Durant than Gay. He is also a better shooter and can stretch the Spurs' defense and allow the Bears to train under the basket.

Duncan.

The Grizzlies are a team built with the Bears as the core. The Bears' interior is already crowded enough. They don't need Gay's impact. They need a player with more stable defense and more stable shooting to open up space, and Prince is like this.

players.

The two strongest teams in the Western Conference now are the Spurs and Thunder, at least that's what everyone thinks, so there's nothing wrong with the Grizzlies using these two teams as imaginary enemies to build a team.

But this also allowed the Grizzlies to weaken their advantage over the Lakers.

For the Grizzlies without Gay, for the Lakers, it's like the West has lost Jerusalem. It is no longer the kingdom of God that kicked D'Antoni out of class, and it is no longer so arrogant.

For Du Kang and the current Lakers, the Lakers' top pick is to play the Grizzlies in the first round, the Spurs in the second round, and the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.

The lottery is to play the Clippers in the first round, the Spurs in the second round, and the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.

According to the current ranking, if you play the Grizzlies in the first round, the Thunder in the second round, and the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals, you will be considered a top pick.

As a team that is sixth in the Western Conference and is still in the bottom half, it is not qualified to choose an opponent.

In the current Western Conference, perhaps the only one qualified to choose an opponent is the Spurs.

Seeing that the Nuggets have lost one after another recently, giving up the third place in the Western Conference and falling to fifth in the Western Conference, the Spurs were frightened and lost two games in a row to close the distance between themselves and the Thunder.

Because the Spurs saw a fourth and a fifth opportunity from the two nemesis teams, the Grizzlies and Clippers.

Ready to give up the No. 1 spot in the Western Conference to the Thunder.

"Steve, do you think Popovich will be like us now, looking at the rankings and calculating his opponents in the playoffs?"

"Probably so."

In the current West where gods and demons are dancing, if you don't choose your opponent well, you will really die.

The story in 2007 did not go far. The Mavericks selected Nelson's Warriors. After being hacked, Cuban was so angry that he was mentally retarded. He was incompetent and furiously scolded the Warriors for playing spies and stealing the Mavericks' tactical information.

Then someone else carefully reminded him that Old Nelson, the head coach of the Warriors, is the mentor of Nowitzki, the head player of your team, and the mentor of your team’s head coach, General.

This calf of yours was not built by you with money, but by the skeleton built by Nelson.

When Nelson beats the Mavericks, he doesn't need to steal them. They are all his own.

Only then did Cuban realize that he was suddenly so angry that he was mentally retarded. Then, he owed Nelson the US$6.3 million and didn't even want to pay it back.

"Steve, do you think we have a chance to reach third place in the Western Conference?"

"Rush to third place in the Western Conference?"

Clifford was a little dumbfounded.

For the current Lakers, is there a difference between being third in the Western Conference and sixth in the Western Conference?

Is it necessary for the veteran Lakers to continue to work hard in the regular season for this illusory ranking?

Wait!

"Du, you want to push the Grizzlies and Clippers to fourth or fifth place, and let the Spurs drop to second place!"

If the Lakers rush to third.

According to the current ranking, the Grizzlies are fourth and the Clippers are fifth.

Seeing this ranking, Popovich is probably dreaming about how to make the Spurs lose reasonably and fall to second place in the Western Conference.

Play the Warriors in the first round, the Lakers/Nuggets in the second round, and the Thunder in the third round.

This is the best pick for the Spurs.

Wait!

That's not the case. With Coach D's intelligence, he would never do something like this at the expense of himself for fishing.

After rushing to third place, the Nuggets will fall to sixth place, and the Lakers will be difficult to beat in the first round.

"Du, do you think the Nuggets will be ranked higher than the Grizzlies and Clippers at the end of the season?!"

Clifford looked at Du Kang who was holding the Nuggets schedule in shock.

"In the Nuggets' remaining schedule, 13 of their games are against non-playoff teams, and three are against Eastern Conference playoff teams. The schedule is very easy. I can't guarantee it, but the Nuggets have a chance."
p>

After Du Kang finished speaking, Clifford was dumbfounded again.

At the same time, I started to calculate the rankings in my mind. The Lakers were third, the Nuggets rushed to fourth or fifth, and one of the Grizzlies and Clippers dropped to sixth.

"But, in this case, will Popovich be fooled?"

"I bet that the Nuggets can overtake, and I bet that Popovich will also bet that the Nuggets can overtake."

If Popovich hadn't bet like this, the Spurs wouldn't have suddenly lost two games.

"However, I bet on the Nuggets taking the lead in the last few games, and I bet on the Spurs giving up first place in the front."

"..."

Coach D’s favorite gambling session is here again.

"Well, I admit that this time there is a bit of gambling involved."

"..."

Watching Du Kang smile and make a somewhat big gesture, Clifford was speechless.

"So, we have to overtake the Nuggets in the last few games and give Popovich a surprise!"

"..."

Although for the Lakers, the Thunder are indeed more difficult to beat than the Spurs.

However, the Spurs will not be that simple.

So, Coach D, why do you have to push the Spurs to second place in the Western Conference?

Is it necessary to spend such a high price to deceive the Spurs into second place?

Or do you think the Spurs are very simple?

……

……

"Bobo, are you studying the Nuggets schedule again? Do you really believe that the Nuggets can overtake the Clippers and Grizzlies in the end?"

Budenholzer frowned.

Falling to second place means there will be no home court advantage in the Western Conference Finals.

It's terrible to not have home court advantage against the Thunder.

If the Nuggets can really rush to third place, these costs will certainly be worth it.

Play the Warriors in the first round and the Lakers or Nuggets in the second round. The Spurs can pass the first two rounds without any injuries.

But what if?

"In the words of Coach D, I admit that this time there is an element of gambling, and it is big, but all of this is worth my gamble!"

"..."

Popovich smiled and put down the Nuggets schedule.
To be continued...