Friday night was relatively grim for those of you holding out hope that the Suns will rise up and snag the 2 seed. In fact, it was relatively grim for getting any home court advantage at all. At least the Spurs lost.
If the playoffs started today the first round series' would be: Lakers/Spurs, Mavericks/Blazers, Nuggets/Thunder and Jazz/Suns. Tell me which of those match-ups you wouldn't watch. The Western Conference rules.
Friday April 9th Western Conference Results
Utah Jazz 114 New Orleans Hornets 103 (Recap) - Deron Williams led the Jazz with 27 points and 16 assists to pick up a road win over the Chris Paul-less Hornets in NOLA. This game falls specifically under my playoff team v. non-playoff team rule for the end of the season.
Oklahoma City 96 Phoenix Suns 91 (Recap) - I can't say I'm terribly surprised that the Suns lost this game, however I didn't expect them to hold the Thunder to 39.8% shooting and still lose. Tough to turn the ball over 19 times and win.
Memphis Grizzlies 107 San Antonio Spurs 99 (Recap) - Well this one certainly spits in the face of my awesome rule. This has to be the most surprising result of the Western race within the last several weeks. The Spurs had a day off since their loss to the Suns, they were at home, and they were playing the dead-team walking Grizzlies - but they lost. Zach Randolph had 28 to lead Memphis. This loss drastically increases the chances of the dream Lakers-Spurs first round match-up. Color me giddy - it's like sending a bigger snake into a hole to kill a smaller snake.
Dallas Mavericks 83 Portland Trail Blazers 77 (Recap) - This game was UGLY. Dallas used a 25 point 4th quarter (the highest scoring quarter for either team) to push past the Blazers and remain in a tie for the 2 seed, clinching the Southwest division title along the way. The tall German fellow on the Mavs led the way with an impressive 40 points.
Western Conference Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | L10 | STREAK |
| 1. LA Lakers | 56 | 23 | .709 | - | 5-5 | WON 1 |
| 2. Dallas | 52 | 27 | .658 | 4 |
6-4 | WON 2 |
| 3. Denver | 52 | 27 | .658 | 4 | 5-5 | WON 4 |
| 4. Utah | 52 | 28 | .650 | 4.5 | 7-3 | WON 1 |
| 5. SUNS | 51 | 28 | .646 | 5 | 8-2 | LOST 1 |
| 6. Oklahoma City |
49 | 30 | .620 | 7 | 7-3 | WON 1 |
| 7. Portland | 48 | 31 | .608 | 8 | 7-3 | LOST 1 |
| 8. San Antonio |
48 | 31 | .608 | 8 |
6-4 | LOST 2 |
Saturday April 10th Western Conference Games of Significance
Spurs @ Nuggets - You want the Suns to have home court over someone in the first round? I'd root for the Spurs here, the Jazz to win out, and the Suns to beat Denver next Tuesday. The idea of playing Utah, in Utah, on the 2nd end of a back to back with home court on the line doesn't exactly spell win.
Mavericks @ Kings - Dallas played in Portland last night but I doubt the Kings are good enough to make them pay.