Now that we've clinched...

[teej]

...do you rest Jack and G-Dub?

We need one more win to clinch the 7th seed, and it's not looking like Milwaukee or Miami is losing enough to get to sixth. So at what point do you shut down Gerald, Jack, Ray, Boris, and Tyrus and rest up for the playoffs?

[BRNC]

I'd cut the both back to 24-30 minutes max starting now teej...one of those guys gets hurt we're screwed big-time...:facepalm:

[CatNation]

yeah we'll get one win for sure, lets move the starters down to 20-25 minutes, get DJ even more confident going into the playoffs, get the rust off naz and diop cause we'll need them for dwight.

[Toocool]

Give all our starters 20 or so minutes. Play Hughes, TC, Nazzy, DJ and the rookies and give them some game time to iron out their game heading into the playoffs.

[Dexmor]

Jack is hurt- Ty is hurt and Wallace has been hustling since he was 5.
You absolutely shut them down.
Not only are they refreshed without injury but the guys that come in and would get big minutes like the Nazr's-Browns-Graham's-Hendo-Hughes-D.J. could come in and get confidence and work out kinks.
Also we get to showcase some of these guys.
Realistically 7th is where we will be. Bucks aren't gonna stop without Bogut and Heat are read hot.

[bobcatniners09]

Cut both Jax and gforce's minutes.

Thomas was out today, what's his deal?

[TheBeagle]

I'd cut the both back to 24-30 minutes max starting now teej...one of those guys gets hurt we're screwed big-time...:facepalm:
Definitely. I'd even consider not having GW dress for a game or two, and have Jack start (since he's not missed a game all year, I'd like for him to keep that streak, which would be a career first) but maybe just play the first 9 minutes and that's it for the night.

I'll admit to not knowing how Larry's handled similar situations in the past, but I've got to think he's drastically cutting down the minutes for GW, Jack and Raymond.

[jdsingar]

Cut both Jax and gforce's minutes.

Thomas was out today, what's his deal?

Thomas dislocated his thumb in the previous game. They said he was hoping to get in on Friday. Rest him though.

I think we need to clinch the 7th and rest em up. Unless the Bucks start to falter. They are defying NBA logic right now.

[mj4life]

i think we cut jack's and gw's minutes for the rest of the season maybe play jack 20 minutes or less and gw under 30 we still need them to be in game shape . if we rest them completely now they would have not played for close to 10 days come playoffs

[ammofan]

Cut there minutes back but if its a close game play them alot. We still need to improve our position!

[ND22]

Cut there minutes back but if its a close game play them alot. We still need to improve our position!

I agree with this, playing Atlanta is a little different than playing Orlando or Cleavland.

[Chef]

if it is between playing the magic and cavs ie no 6th seed possible, i choose playing the cavs. two reasons: i think we match up better and we would be nationally televised on tnt/abc/espn as opposed to the series no one bothers watching like the magic/6ers last year.

[spectre]

If the bench can continue their good play (DJ hitting shots, TT keeps contributing, Hughes getting acclimated and playing strong D, Hulk JR, bigs all healthy) I'm not afraid of anyone.

Of all the teams in the Eastern conference we probably have the best set of bigs to throw at Dwight so hopefully we're mainly going to play him 1 v 1...leaving our other players to cover their guys. That'll take away their 3 shots and force them to adapt to our game.

Bring 'em on.

[BRNC]

I have my preference...the Bobcats are playing "some team" in the play-offs...:biggrin::p:D...:):biggrin::p

[spectre]

Cut there minutes back but if its a close game play them alot. We still need to improve our position!

We have a thread here with "Clinched" in the title and you've not jumped all over that yet?

You're slipping dude! :biggrin:

[ammofan]

I agree with this, playing Atlanta is a little different than playing Orlando or Cleavland.

I would rather play Cleveland than ORL tho

This is how I rank the top 4 teams as far as who we can beat(1 being easiest to beat for us)
1. ATL (Easiest to beat)
2. Cleveland (We own them all year)
3. Boston (There old and we have great defense......we could shut em down.....but they still are deep and have alot of vets who have won Rings before...)
4. Orlando (Superman is too much for our bigs.....I can see us beating them but they just have too much firepower....)

[ammofan]

We have a thread here with "Clinched" in the title and you've not jumped all over that yet?

You're slipping dude! :biggrin:

LOL what? I know we clinched.......obviously

[WarioVsMooChicken]

sit GW and SJ for the next 2 games and then have them play about 20 minutes total the last 2 games.

[bobcatniners09]

if it is between playing the magic and cavs ie no 6th seed possible, i choose playing the cavs. two reasons: i think we match up better and we would be nationally televised on tnt/abc/espn as opposed to the series no one bothers watching like the magic/6ers last year.

The NBA is not going to let Lebron lose first round.

[Muttley]

We have a thread here with "Clinched" in the title and you've not jumped all over that yet?

You're slipping dude! :biggrin:
I fully expect an "Amour-o-shop" of a cat "holding it" in line for a litter box with the caption "CLINCHED" underneath.

Maybe that's just my level of humor, though....

[Dexmor]

It's simple math and odds. Odds are the Heat and Bucks win enough to keep us at 7th. Odds are if the players don't rest they have less of a shot vs Orlando.
Now odds are they are in 7th and play in Orlando and odds are if they rest them they have a much better shot to win.
Simple math.

[Marvel]

Cut Jax,Crash and Felts minutes to around 20-24,give the bench some burn and form going into the playoffs,as of our next game.

[spectre]

Cut Jax,Crash and Felts minutes to around 20-24,give the bench some burn and form going into the playoffs,as of our next game.

Agreed...but not until our position is set (which could come very soon...I think if Milwaukee/Miami wins one they're 5/6).

[Marvel]

Agreed...but not until our position is set (which could come very soon...I think if Milwaukee/Miami wins one they're 5/6).


True, but out of the two Miami have had such an easy schedule it's laughable and it doesn't get any tougher for them either with their remaining 4 games against teams under .500.Milwaukee have a tougher remaining schedule ahead facing Boston twice and Atlanta and they could easily lose to Philly on the road.
We face Houston tomorrow and the Nets next week which we all know isn't a guaranteed win so i think 6th seed is probably our best bet.
Miami 5th,Charlotte 6th,Milwaukee 7th.That's how i see it, unless the Bucks continue to defy logic.

[spectre]

I could be mistaken, but don't we have to win out and Milwaukee lose out? We're 2 back with only 4 games left and they own the tiebreaker.

On the flip I think we only have to win 1 game to clinch 7th.

If we lose to Houston we still have to get that next game (Detroit is probably the most winnable), but if that's how it played out and we still had a game or so left I'd pretty much shut the main 3 down.

Wouldn't it be ironic if we played the bench vs. Chicago and that got them in?

[Ampsportsduo]

it would be great to move up to the 6th spot or 5th spot, but I don't think it's worth chasing them at this point.

As some others have posted, Miami's schedule is cake and Spectre is right about the Bucks having the tiebreaker. No reason to play our guys 40-45 a night and be burnt out for the playoffs. Bring on the Magic!

People are going to be saying that the Magic have owned this team, but don't be fooled. The Cats have played them tough since LB's arrival with the exception of one game. They've needed OT and late game heroics from JJ (and a monster moving screen) to beat us in other games. Hell, we played them tight in jack's first game with one (no?) practices together. We won the last meeting (the only one since the addition of TT and Theo. LB has put together a front line that will be able to throw a lot of different looks at Dwight. On the outside, I'll take Jack over Vince as an X-factor. Throw out the seeds, it's time for LB to work his magic (no pun intended). This series will be a war.

[teej]

People are going to be saying that the Magic have owned this team, but don't be fooled. The Cats have played them tough since LB's arrival with the exception of one game. They've needed OT and late game heroics from JJ (and a monster moving screen) to beat us in other games. Hell, we played them tight in jack's first game with one (no?) practices together. We won the last meeting (the only one since the addition of TT and Theo. LB has put together a front line that will be able to throw a lot of different looks at Dwight. On the outside, I'll take Jack over Vince as an X-factor. Throw out the seeds, it's time for LB to work his magic (no pun intended). This series will be a war.

Jack almost beat Orlando after flying in that day at 4 pm. It was just a huge shot from Vince that sealed it. We should've won the OT game, and we beat them in Orlando without Gerald. It'll be close, unless Dwight has the officials in his pocket.

[spectre]

I bet we get better TV coverage vs the Magic as well. Against the Hawks they'd probably figure no one would want to see that (JJ being the only "star") and it'd be regulated to NBA-TV...in which case I still wouldn't be able to see the games.

[teej]

I bet we get better TV coverage vs the Magic as well. Against the Hawks they'd probably figure no one would want to see that (JJ being the only "star") and it'd be regulated to NBA-TV...in which case I still wouldn't be able to see the games.

You don't have NBATV? I don't think there's any local coverage for the playoffs so thus no blackouts.

[TheBeagle]

You don't have NBATV? I don't think there's any local coverage for the playoffs so thus no blackouts. No clue how they handle playoffs now, but I remember they did local coverage for the Hornets through the '00 playoffs (swept by Larry's Sixers), but starting in '01 it was TNT.

Still, my guess is there's no local coverage and everyone should be safe if you have NBATV, but I guess we'll find out soon.

[Dexmor]

Obviously I want the Hawks but I don't think it's real and I would rather have Cavs the Magic but I think we can beat the Magic.

[spectre]

You don't have NBATV? I don't think there's any local coverage for the playoffs so thus no blackouts.

Ok then...that would be all right.

Still, I want us on the biggest venue as possible.