46, Playing devil’s advocate here, but if I’m Mitch I have to think about flipping Lamar/Mihm/whomever else they have into a long-term option at 3/2, IF Lamar is serious about hanging it up. Hard to find good mid-levels, especially players that could thrive in the triangle. That being said, if Lamar wants to stay, keep him, sign him to an extension. When he’s aggressive and on his game the Lakers are dominant.

I’m not 100% sure myself, but I will try to explain how the Lakers did indeed clinched a playoff spot yesterday.
Let’s say the Lakers lose all 6 remaining games and the Warriors win all 6, like you said. This will result in the following:

1. The Warriors will beat the Nuggets during their final 6 games. And thus if the Nuggets were to win every remaining game except the one against GS, they would be in a 3-way tie with the LAL and GS at 52-30.

2. And since we own the tiebreaker against DEN in such a scenario (I think head-to-head record between the 3 teams), the Lakers and the Warriors will make the playoffs and the Nuggets will be eliminated.

Hope that explains it!!

And Warren,

Yes, I am not hesitant to admit I’m free of pessimism and I often do act as though the Lakerland will come to an imminent doom. But I always thought the #1 seed was given to the team with the best record and not the team with the best +/- differential in points. And you cannot just casually dismiss Utah’s superior differential to just homecourt wins. Keep in mind that if they did not frequently lose the silly type of games to MIN, LAC, or other inferior teams on the road, they would have a much better +/- than the Lakers. I’m not saying that the Jazz are the better team but just illustrating how you can use a statistic in both ways.
I disagree with you about the Spurs. Something tells me they are saving their best for the playoffs. I respect them yes, but to a certain degree I fear them for their experience, a key ingredient the Lakers are lacking thoroughly. But only time will tell, and I certainly hope that I am proven wrong.

Right now LA is 52-24, six games ahead of the GSW, who are in ninth place with a 46-30 record. If the Warriors run the table, and the Lakers lose every game from here until the end of the season, they would be tied with a 52-30 final record. The season series was split, 2-2.

Since they’re both in the Pacific Division, the next tiebreaker is a better winning record against the division. The Lakers right now are 9-4 against divisional rivals, with three more games to go (2 against Sacto, and 1 against the Clips), which, if they lose out, would give them a final division record of 9-7. Golden State currently has a division record of 8-5, with 3 games remaining (Sacto, Phoenix, and LAC), so winning out would give them a division record of 12-5, enough to hold that tiebreaker over the Lakers.

Of course, every other team would also have to win enough to pass the Lakers also, and they will clinch with one more win, but I found it kind of interesting that everyone is saying that they already clinched.

We are a .500 team when we just play offense and not a lick of defense. We become a good team when we start caring about defense. We become a great team when we have Bynum deterring all shots in the paint, having everyone furiously box out, and contest shots.

Basically have everyone committed to defense. It looks like the players turn up the intensity when it matters. So hopefully in the playoffs they’ll play with that sense of urgency.

Love Sasha’s hounding defense. He’s sometimes too agressive but he put’s so much pressure on the ball where he gets stupid fouls called on him.

Farmar has horrible man to man defense we get it…. it’s his project this summer. When you’re getting embarrassed by Tyrone Lue it’s not your night. At least he made up for it with that clutch 3.

Final thought… C-webb on his retirement talking about the Mavs. “I always thought the Mavs were a soft team and were just waiting to fold over.” Looks like the case tonight. Let’s see how we do against the Hornets and Spurs and go from there.

3rd Quarter
11:40 – On Dallas’s first possession, JET is isolated on Gasol and this looks like it’s going to be ugly. Yep, Terry threatens to take it to the bucket but Gasol gives him enough space to make sure he doesn’t catch any diseases JET might have. JET pulls back and hits a 20 footer. Whoa Nellie! Phil calls a timeout. He’s pissed about that possession. That’s a new record for earliest timeout by Phil Jackson ever.
10:08 – Lamar corrals a rebound and takes the ball up the court. On the semi-break the Space Cadet dives for first base. Safe! Refs call a foul on JET for tripping the Space Cadet. The announcers are refusing to announce the game. Guess who is telling us about how competitive and tenacious Kobe Bryant is? Yes, that’d be our good friend, John Berry. Someone Tonya Harding him please.
9:20 – Mark Cuban is here. We’ll see if he sends eye daggers at any Lakers girls tonight. I bet they’d promise to never blog again if he did.
8:40 – On nationally televised games, the allowable sponsorship rules are different. Those alien disc things used to wipe the sweat off the floor have the Lakers logo on them. Usually they have the Foot Locker logo on them. More useless knowledge for the faithful Forum Blue and Gold reader. You can thank me later.
7:18 – I guess I should mention the Lakers are making a little run and playing good defense. Mostly spurred on by Kobe’s activity on offense. They are down 4, 66-70.
7:02 – they have quickly realized their mistake and give up a Jason Terry layup and a foul. He misses the free throw.
6:48 – MVP chants get synchronized during a Kobe free throw. The first time the chant gets started, usually when nothing noteable has happened, it’s always disjointed. It’s like a collective MVP stutter. this one is nice and loud.
5:38 – Dirk drives the lane and does his best Dr. J impression. Scoop layup.
4:32 – Lakers got sloppy. Jason Kidd steal leading to a fast break layup. The lead opened up to 11. I’m not really sure how that happened. Plenty of time left but this feels like the Mavs game to lose.
“in a game like this, something stupid will try to happen. Stay focused.” ~Avery Johnson in the huddle. Jason Terry plays along and points to his head. “Right here.” That was quality. I love the coaches being mic’d up.
3:36 – Pau gasol gets a nice bucket in the post against the tall German after Dirk had educated Lamar on the proper use of the reverse pivot going baseline at the other end.
3:00 – Kobe hits a contested three right in Devean George’s grill. Lakers down by 6.
1:40 – Kobe gets beat to a rebound by Josh howard. Lazy play. And he fouls Howard as well.
1:21 – The MACHINE! Throws up the three and JET gets him across the arm. He converts the 4 point play, the old-fashion way.
0:40 – Tyronn Lue shows us why he impersonated Allen Iverson during the 2001 Finals. Famar had to immediately seek medical attention from Gary vitti for his shattered ankles. Boy that was a little embarrassing. I was embarrassed for him.
The quarter ends with the Lakers down by 7. 80-87.
Lisa Salters interviews PJ during the break. He’s so smart that I can’t understand anything he says. Oh wait, he makes the point that we aren’t stopping anything dallas wants to do. On that, he and I agree whole heartedly.
4th Quarter
11:50 – Newble is out there again. Mike Breen tells us this is the first time he’s checked in but we know that’s not true.
11:31 – And Newble grabs his first rebound! And Farmar hits a three! Lakers down by 4.
11:05 – Kobe Bryant and Bynum start making out on the bench. Just checking to see if you’re paying attention.
10:30 – Lakers decide they don’t want to take the lead too soon. Down by 8 again. Oh nice. Vujacic hits a three to bring them back within 5.
9:10 – lazy pass by the Mavs leads to an easy layup by Son of bill.
8:52 – Yikes! The tall German just rises up and drains a three. Nothing but bottom. That was nice.
7:40 – Lakers playing well here. Down by 1!!!! 94-93. Some great hustle tracking down rebounds has given us some life. Credit Ronny Turiaf a little bit here. Kobe’s on the bench and Famar is making great decisions as the distributor.
7:02 – When the play ends up with Luke Walton taking an off-rhythm jumper over the Tall German, that’s not what I’d call execution.
6:15 – Lamar does his patented miss the first, make the second routine. Pau gets subbed out after just checking in
5:48 – Lakers down by two. Lamar puts on his Kobe Bryant cape. It forces the wearer to take the defense one on five. Possible side effects include getting caught in the air and throwing the ball to the young lady sitting courtside. Involving the fans, that’s what being a Laker is all about. He smiles at his silliness. I throw the remote at the TV. Lakers down by 2.
5:00 – Dirk is going to win this game for the Mavs. He can’t miss.
4:44 – MAN SAUCE! Jordan Farmar flies down the lane. Draws the blocking foul on Josh Howard who got a great view of Jordan’s belly button.
4:09 – rough stretch for Josh Howard. He just drew a technical foul for throwing his headband on the floor. It’s a good thing the refs called that. He might’ve caused permanent damage to the vintage maple finish. Kobe hits the technical. Lamar has a chance to the bring the Lakers within 1 on free throws. He changes it up and misses the second one. Lakers down 2. 101-99. Lawler’s law is on the line here.
3:45 – John Berry describes Kobe’s “great body control.” Excuse me while I take my mind out of the gutter. Kobe ties the game with his free throws. 101 – 101. All we need now is some dalmations.
3:17 – Lamar earns a double double with his tenth rebound right here. Great work boxing out Dampier.
2:44 – Mavs take a 1 point lead on a JET free throw. He bungled the first one.
2:17 – With the shot clock winding down, Kobe uses a burst of speed to leave Josh Howard on the three point line questioning his career choice and as the defense collapses, he finds Lamar on the wing who takes it strong to the rack. Makes the tough layup around Dampier. LO wants a foul called, he’ll get none. Lakers take their first lead of the game.
1:42 – After Kobe blew a layup against the intimidating presence of Dirk, Jason terry gets two free throws to put them up by one.
1:29 – Brain fart for the machine. He turns the ball over and then commits the foul putting the Mavs back on the line. Howard hits 2. Mavs up by 3.
1:14 – Lamar fakes Dirk into standing still. You might not believe that it was the fake that caused the Tall German to remain motionless since it’s not much difference than his usual defense, but I assure you it was. Lamar is able to get the right handed layup to fall. Lakers down by 1. And they get a stop. Back they’ll come.
0:40 – LAMAR ODOM FOR MVP LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. Give and go from gasol to odom to gasol. Gets the layup and the foul. I didn’t see if Gasol tried the jersey pop or not. I hope he did. Gasol gets the free throw. 108-106 lakers on top.
0:35 – The Staples Center crowd is on its feet! Chants of DEFENSE fill the arena. Dirk isolated on Pau and his uterus gives birth to a turnover. That may do it for the Mavs. If the lakers get a bucket here the game will be over.
0:17 – Kobe drives to the hole and draws the foul on Howard. Two free throws will pretty much put this one away (never say never). He makes the first. And then we get a nice view of Dampier’s stretch marks. I could’ve really done without that. Thanks ESPN. First John berry, then Damp’s womanly scars. Kobe makes the second. Four point lead. 110-106.
0:09 – good defense by Pau. Aww poop. That opened the way for Dampier to grab the offensive rebound. Two point game. Dallas mugs vujacic to put him on the line. He hits the first. And the second. Avery Johnson can be seen drawing on a white board. You think he’s writing the list out for who is bring what to the post-game pot luck? He might as well be. This one is in the pooper.
0:03 – MAN SAUCE! Jordan Farmar will have none of Jason terry’s three point shooting. He blocks him from the side. Ball out of bounds. On the inbounds, Farmar isn’t done. He deflects the inbounds pass and it goes out of bounds. 3.1 seconds left. Very solid play from farmar tonight capped by these two efforts.
0:00 – Pau bothered (Possibly fouled) Dirk’s last shot. No good. Time expires. Big win tonight.
Oh exciting! Lamar is being interviewed by Lisa Salters. Oh darn. He’s making sense tonight. I’m disappointed. I would’ve loved to see a repeat of the other night when he was as high as a kite. I love how basketball players have to bend down to hear the reporter. We are being treated to a great view of the top of Lamar’s noggin. Unfortunately, even in HD, it’s not clear whether he uses a razor or clippers. He starts answering questions before she’s done asking them. Maybe he thinks the interview will go quicker that way. Haha great moment there. Lisa asks him about the glue holding that cut on his head together and how I feels. He says it’s “alright though, now I got two lumps in my head. One in the front, one on the side. But it’s not gonna mess up my handsome game.” Classic.

Gritty win tonight by the Lakers. I love this game.

By the way, JD: For the next few years the Lakers are way over the cap. If Odom retires most likely the Lakers would still have only their mid-level exception to spend on a free agent. With the team capable of winning a title you may get a quality veteran at the mid-level, but the Lakers will not be making any big free-agent signings in the near future.

So yeah I see those two games being maybe bigger than the entire first round of playoff games, cause as Warren Wee Lim pointed out in #45, the nuggets are far easier prey than say the rockets. This is a huge, high pressure part of the season and great to watch.

Let’s not forget also folks that our Laker’s this time last year were just about managing to wrap up the 7th spot with no chance of leading the division. Now we’re over 50 wins, with a legit shot at heading the West and well, a very very good shot at taking the division title (which may not sound much, but I love to see the Sun’s lose ANYTHING)