NBA Where Conflicting Incentives Happens

Where the fight for number one happens

At this point there’s only three sets of important matchups. There’s playoff bound teams fighting for home court advantage, mediocre teams fighting for a spot in the playoffs, and bad teams playing for better lottery position.

Monday

ORL @ NO LP 6PM

The fight for the best seeds in the draft begin in March after the trade deadline. These two teams are 4 and a half games apart in the standings

Tuesday

Good god the Tuesday slate of games is horrible. There BOS @ PHI and LAL @ OKC if you’re into those sorts of things. There’s also DEN @ SAC on league pass, because that’s what you paid for the league pass service to watch.

Wednesday

HOU @ DAL 630PM

Remember when Dallas was NBA champion 2 years ago? Right now they are fighting for the right to get crushed by the spurs or Thunder. The Rockets have shown themselves to be a worthy competitor.

Thursday

OKC @ NY LP 6PM

Ronnie Brewer’s homecoming isn’t the only reason to watch. These two teams have been flashy, impressive and dominant over weaker competition recently, but lackluster against teams that are nearer to them in the standings.

LAC @ DEN LP 830PM

Lob City in versus the team that leads the league in dunks per game. Sounds legit.

Friday

OKC @ CHA LP 5

The problem arises at the end of the year, when one team needs the win and the other team is better off losing. The Thunder are trying to get the number one seed in the playoffs and the Bobcats are looking for the number one seed in the lottery. Sounds like all the makings of a beatdown. On the other hand, maybe Charlotte will play with some pride.

Saturday

CHA @ WAS LP 6PM

The lottery seeding game of the week. Both of these south east conference foes are fighting for the top lottery pick. Last Year Charlotte was second overall and Washington was third. They are currently projected as the first and third seeded teams.

Sunday

CLE @ TOR 4PM

Come on lottery jackpot. Cleveland has had Lebron James and Kyrie Irving with their number one picks. Toronto got Andrea Bargnani last time the balls rolled their way. This would be the type of draft that Toronto would get a high pick in, just to make their fan base even more miserable.

IND @ MIA NBATV 4PM

The number one and two seeds in the east play each other on national TV? Sign me up.