😀 Lakers-Warriors Play-In Tournament? Yes Please!

NBA fans could be looking at a Lakers-Warriors play-in tournament showdown. [View in browser]( [FOX SPORTS INSIDER WITH MARTIN ROGERS] In today’s FOX Sports Insider with Martin Rogers: No one truly wants to be in the NBA Play-In Tournament, but as a fan, a Lakers vs. Warriors matchup would be all-too perfect ... we look back at Kobe Bryant’s high school career ... and we celebrate the birthday of one of the greatest wide receivers of our generation. No offense intended towards the Los Angeles Lakers, but here’s hoping they lose at least a couple of times over their remaining three regular season games. As for the Golden State Warriors, let’s hope the opposite, that they continue their current tear and keep on winning until Sunday’s end to the campaign. For that might be what is needed to preserve things the way they are and the way they look to be heading – namely, a Lakers/Warriors play-in tournament showdown that would be all-too perfect. [STORY IMAGE 1] The NBA’s postseason innovation of allowing the No. 9 and 10 seeds in each conference a last-ditch attempt at getting into the playoff field has not been met with universal approval. Some have described it as a gimmick, others have claimed its unfair and LeBron James went a step further and called for the firing of whoever came up with “whatever that thing is.” Whether you love it, loath it, or merely see the money-spinning sense behind the league decision to add some extra do-or-die action, no one can be immune to the delicious prospect that a clash between James’ Lakers and Steph Curry’s Warriors would conjure. When asked if he felt such a matchup would be received favorably at league headquarters, Curry answered with a series of comic head nods. It was an obvious question. [His response became an instant meme](. The implication was clear. Yes, it would be a bonanza and those counting the dollars and cents in the NBA offices must be licking their lips. So should we. [STORY IMAGE 2] No disrespect intended to the Dallas Mavericks or the Portland Trail Blazers, who could still fall into the No. 7 spot, or the Memphis Grizzlies, who are playing fine basketball and could lift into position No. 8, but Los Angeles vs. Golden State offers a collection of star power and historical nostalgia that can’t be beaten. Neither team has had a particularly easy season. The Warriors have been without Klay Thompson throughout the year and were still four games below .500 five weeks ago, while L.A. has had James and Anthony Davis out for long stretches. Yet the thought of what might come next has perked everyone up. “We turned into the hunted for five, six years, whatever it was,” Warriors forward Draymond Green said. “And now we're hunting again. That's always a fun position to be in, when you're hunting, going after everybody else. That's fun.” From 2015 to 2018, the Warriors and James’ Cavaliers met in four straight NBA Finals. If not for Curry and his crew, James would probably have matched or overtaken Michael Jordan’s haul of six championships. If not for James, Curry and Golden State could have racked up four consecutive titles. They’re no longer all-conquering, but they’re also a pair of teams no opponent would relish facing in the postseason. During James’ layoff with a high ankle sprain, the defending champion Lakers slipped behind Dallas and Portland. The Warriors, spurred by Curry’s ongoing streak of form, are facing their own battle in staving off the hard-charging Grizzlies. The dream matchup still needs a bit of help to actually happen, though. [STORY IMAGE 3] Tuesday night’s games saw wins for both teams, the Lakers besting the New York Knicks in overtime while the Warriors outlasted the Phoenix Suns, the presumptive No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, 122-116. If things do fall into place, both the Lakers and Warriors would love to get some bragging rights over the other, while also sending the loser of the game to the brink of elimination from the season. Whoever is defeated, the 7-8 game must play the winner of the 9-10 matchup, with the final playoff position as the prize. “The Lakers are not worried about playing the Warriors,” [FS1’s Nick Wright said on “First Things First.”]( “It is the other way. No, the Lakers shouldn’t be worried about playing Steph and the Warriors in a potential play in.” [FOX Bet has the Lakers (+450) as one of the favorites for the title]( sharing the belief that as long as L.A. gets into the postseason, they are well set up to do some damage there. The Warriors, meanwhile, are a whopping +25000. No team seeded lower than sixth has ever won a championship. [STORY IMAGE 4] If the play-in scenario feels a little weird and unfamiliar right now, there is every chance the league’s fan base gets used to it very quickly. By its very nature it can’t help but be exciting, offering the imminent threat of immediate elimination in four of the six games that will be played across the two conferences. Playoff games are special, but when it comes to a Game 7, that holds a unique place in our hearts, with drama guaranteed no matter what shakes out. We will get the feel of several Game 7’s this year, before the real playoff duels even formally start. No one truly wants to be in the play-in-tournament. As a player, it is an extra game or two at the end of a compacted season. “Hopefully we don’t have to play in the play-in,” Lakers guard Alex Caruso told reporters. Selfishly, as a neutral, hopefully they do. And hopefully , when it happens, they get matched with the perfect opponent. [STORY IMAGE 5] Here’s what others have said ... Chris Broussard, FOX Sports: “The Warriors are not a legitimate threat to win the West, that's not a revelation. But they could be a spoiler. They have major championship pedigree.” Brian Witt, NBC Sports: “Neither the Warriors nor the Lakers should be in the play-in. And they can only blame themselves if that's where they end up. And that's exactly why the Warriors and Lakers deserve each other.” Jay Williams, ESPN: “As a fan, I’m so happy about this. The one guy on the floor who has always given the Lakers issues, if he gets hot, is Steph Curry.” [IN OTHER WORDS] - Betting against LeBron James in the playoffs is a tricky proposition. But if you must, [FOX Sports Betting Analyst Sam Panayotovich gives you his best advice as to how](. - Having let the draft sink in, [FOX Sports NFL Draft Analyst Rob Rang ranks his Top 10 candidates to win Defensive Rookie of the Year](. - With the Hall of Fame set to induct Kobe Bryant, his high school coach, Gregg Downer, remembers "Bean." [FOX Sports NBA Writer Melissa Rohlin has the story](. [THE INTERNET IS UNDEFEATED] [THE INTERNET IS UNDEFEATED]( Happy Birthday, Steve Smith! Considered one of the top wide receivers of the 21st century, Smith’s career highlights include being named a two-time first-team All Pro (2001, 2005), a five-time Pro Bowler (2001, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011), as well as the NFL leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns during the 2005 season. He starred for the Carolina Panthers from 2001-2013 and is the team’s all-time leader in touchdowns (67), receptions (836) and receiving yards (12,197). In 2011, he became just the 35th player in NFL history to surpass the 10,000 receiving yard mark. Smith retired in 2016, ranking seventh in NFL career all-purpose yards (19,180) and receiving yards (14,731). Wishing you a happy 42nd birthday, Steve! [VIEWER'S GUIDE] Washington Wizards at Atlanta Hawks (ESPN, 7 p.m. ET) Russell Westbrook and the Washington Wizards go up against Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks. Toronto Blue Jays at Atlanta Braves (ESPN+, 7:20 p.m. ET) Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays take on Freddie Freeman and the Atlanta Braves. Portland Trail Blazers at Utah Jazz (ESPN, 9:30 p.m. ET) Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers take on Rudy Gobert and the Utah Jazz in a Western Conference showdown. [BET OF THE DAY] [BET OF THE DAY] Odds provided by [FOX Bet]( Los Angeles Angels at Houston Astros: OVER 8.5 When it comes to the most runs scored in Major League Baseball this season, both the Angels and the Astros are near the top of the list. The Astros have put up 181 runs heading into Wednesday, which ranks second in MLB, while the Angels have totaled 163 runs, good for ninth in MLB. The Astros will send Jose Urquidy to the mound, who sports a 3-2 record and a 3.51 ERA. The Angels will call on Andrew Heaney, who has a 1-2 mark and a 4.11 ERA. In other words, don’t be surprised if this one is a high scoring affair. Taking the over of 8.5 looks like a pretty solid play. [WHAT THEY SAID] “Excellence is not a singular act, but a habit. You are what you repeatedly do.” — Shaquille O'Neal [FOLLOW FOX SPORTS] [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( Download FOX Sports App: [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [Google Play]( [App Store]( [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [App Store]( [Google Play]( Also available on these devices: [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV] [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV] Trademark & Copyright Notice: ™ and © 2021 Fox Media LLC and FOX Sports Interactive Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Please do not reply to this message. If you do not wish to receive emails like this in the future, please [unsubscribe](. FOX Sports respects your privacy. Click [here]( to view our Privacy Policy. Fox.com Business & Legal Affairs - Manager Digital Media P.O. Box 900 Beverly Hills, California 90213-0900