NBA regular season Nuggets visited Boston to meet the Celtics, the result is that their state is very bad, there is a one-sided situation at the beginning, Jokic can not lead the team to narrow the score game, resulting in no suspense in the game, and finally the Nuggets lost 20 points to the Celtics, suffering two consecutive losses. It is worth mentioning that after losing this game, the Nuggets' record is equal to that of the Timberwolves, but it is already in the seventh position in the West, and if the regular season ends with such a ranking, it will be the Nuggets, Clippers, Pelicans and Lakers who will enter the playoffs. The Nuggets also had to play in the playoffs, and for them there were certain variables in the playoffs.
The Nuggets have been in poor shape in recent times, coupled with an unfavorable schedule, their consecutive away games and the strength of their opponents, the team has suffered many defeats. In contrast, the Timberwolves are fully impacting the sixth position in the West, successively defeating teams such as the Lakers and Bucks. The team is in a good situation, both in terms of morale and form. The last dozen games of the regular season believe the Timberwolves will go all out to hold on to sixth place in the West. Fight for it to get straight to the playoffs. Of course, the Timberwolves' schedule is indeed the Devil's schedule, facing teams with a winning percentage of 60% or close to 60% consecutively. Later, they have to face the Suns, Grizzlies, Warriors and other teams, and it is still difficult for them to lock in the sixth position in the West. But I believe the Timberwolves will go all out to win against any opponent.
Perhaps the biggest headache for the Nuggets to enter the playoffs is the Lakers, who only won 3 games after the All-Star Game, and after a difficult victory over the Raptors, they were reversed by the Wizards on James's career night. With the Pelicans winning s winning streak, they also overtook the Lakers in the rankings to 9th place in the West. The Lakers are down to 10th in the West, fortunately, the Spurs and Blazers behind them are still 2.5 games away, but if the Lakers continue to slump, the Spurs and Blazers are not without opportunities. In addition, the Nuggets' relegation to the playoffs is still unfavorable news for the Lakers. Regardless of which team wins in the 7th and 8th places in the West, the remaining team has the advantage against the Lakers.
If the Nuggets finish seventh in the West, the Lakers' opponent will be the same city opponents, the Clippers, who swept the Lakers 4-0 in four encounters this season. After Tyrone Lu took charge of the team, the Lakers have never won against the Clippers. Coupled with the prospect of Paul George's return in the playoffs, it is also difficult for the Lakers to have a chance to beat their opponents to advance to the playoffs. On the contrary, if the Lakers face the Nuggets, they will not have any advantage. The Nuggets' strength itself is not bad, the inner line is about the teacher sitting, the outside core Murray is also expected to usher in a comeback in the playoffs, such a lineup against the Lakers should be able to win. Coupled with the fact that the Spurs also won, Popovich's team cannot be underestimated, so it is really difficult for the Lakers to enter the playoffs.
The Lakers are now afraid of tigers after wolves, and their situation is very unsatisfactory. The team's state has never been able to reach the best, injuries are constantly bothering them, and perhaps this season has become a luxury for the Lakers to enter the playoffs. Their last hope can only be placed on the return of thick eyebrows and whether Old Zhan can play a stroke of God.