Willard: Warriors might be better off losing to Lakers

The Warriors have a major matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers Tuesday night that could decide the fate of the play-in seeding. Either way, it will have major ramifications in deciding what the play-in looks like.

The question is, are the Warriors actually better off losing?

Mark Willard made that case Monday, on Willard & Dibs.

Willard argued that the Sacramento Kings are hurt and struggling, and an advantageous matchup for the Warriors. He thinks that the Lakers would beat the New Orleans Pelicans in the other play-in game, leaving the Warriors with a play-in win over the Pelicans.

"If I could have my pick of the way this plays, The Warriors take on the Sacramento Kings a week from Wednesday," Willard said. "They win that game and then face the loser of the Pelicans and Lakers, which I believe will probably be the Pelicans who 4-6 in their last 10 games, and you never know if Zion's gonna show up in a game or not.

"I would play them in the second game and then hope that when you pop out the other side, ideally the Oklahoma City Thunder are waiting and if not, the Timberwolves are waiting, and then take your chances."

That begs the question over how the Warriors should approach their game against the Lakers Tuesday night. Should they go for it? Phone it in? Somewhere in between?

There's a gray area in there. Willard doesn't believe the Warriors should lay down for the Lakers, but that they also shouldn't overdo it.

"I can simultaneously sit here and tell you what I think is the path of least resistance," Willard said. "I also think it's incredibly dangerous and dumb to try to engineer it...

"If I'm the Warriors I'm gonna try like hell to beat the Lakers tomorrow night. I'm gonna root for them to beat the Lakers tomorrow night. But here's what I'll say. Two things. One, if they lose, can it take me about a minute-and-a-half to get over it. And two, here's what I'd say about what you're talking about. No, I would not sit the guys out. But I'm also not pushing them."