No more games! Massive rotation! Aiming for the 4th seed in the West to select the Rockets

In the Denver Nuggets' away game against the Spurs for this season's regular season finale, 7 players are confirmed to be resting. The injury report is as follows:

Actually, Nikola Jokić also wanted to rest directly, but unfortunately he has played 64 games this season and needs one more to qualify for major award评选, so unless something unexpected happens, he will 100% play in the finale. So far, he has averaged a超级 triple-double of 27.8 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.9 assists, with a shooting percentage of 56.9%.

American reporter Tony Jones commented on this: "The reason the Nuggets are resting so many players in the finale is to avoid the Timberwolves and have a chance to play the Rockets."

The Nuggets currently rank third in the West with 53 wins and 28 losses, the Lakers are fourth with 52 wins and 29 losses, the Rockets are fifth with 51 wins and 30 losses, and the Timberwolves are sixth with 48 wins and 33 losses.

If the Nuggets lose the finale, they could potentially drop to fourth in the West, thus facing the Rockets in the first round of the playoffs.

Lakers: The Rockets are mine...

Rockets: Everyone, do I look that easy to欺负?

The具体 arrangement is: if the Nuggets win against the Spurs, they lock in the third seed in the West and face the Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs; even if the Nuggets lose to the Spurs, they still have to watch the Lakers' performance. If the Lakers win their finale against the Jazz, they rise to third in the West and face the Timberwolves in the playoffs, allowing the Nuggets to如愿 play the Rockets;反之, if the Lakers lose their finale, then they face the Rockets in the first round of the playoffs,同时 sending the Nuggets to play the Timberwolves.

To be honest, if the Rockets were choosing their first-round playoff opponent, they would definitely pick the depleted Lakers, considering Luka Dončić & Austin Reaves are both uncertain due to injuries, rather than facing the fully healthy and气势如虹 Nuggets.

Last year in the first round of the playoffs, the Rockets were黑七 by the Warriors; this year's Rockets have Kevin Durant, and players like Amen Thompson, Alperen Şengün, and Reed Sheppard have all improved to varying degrees.按理说, they should be a比较棘手 presence, but they are still seen as a香饽饽 by other opponents. It just shows they still need to prove they are not软柿子.