Do teams intentionally lose games to get a better matchup in the playoffs? Carmelo Anthony recently faced a similar question of if he was ever a part of such a team. Though Melo did not answer the question directly, he pointed out the flaw in this belief system of a better match-up. The former New York Knicks star recalled an instance when a match-up-related desire led to the Knicks being thrown out of the championship race back in 2012. 

“Be careful what you asked for. Because it was the year here in New York where we felt like we matched up better with Miami…,” Melo said, recalling the first round of 2012 Eastern Conference playoffs. The Knicks’ belief system was based on them not wanting to face the Indiana Pacers in the first round itself. “We would take that but we feel like we can match up better with Miami. Then we won a game or some sh*t like that and they got us the f*ck out of there but it was just like watch what you asked for,” Carmelo Anthony said.

Anthony mentioned they ran up against the Heat when they were on their way to becoming a great team. Notably, the Heat also defeated the Pacers in the Conference Semifinals once they were done with the Knicks. And subsequently became the 2012 NBA Champions after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Finals. 

This season, there has been a lot of talk about possible match-ups in the first round of the Playoffs. Many analysts, including Mike Greenberg, suggested the Lakers lose their Play-in game against the New Orleans Pelicans to avoid the defending champions in the first round. However, the Lakers won the game and the first round will now see a repeat matchup of last year’s Conference Finals in the first round itself.

Going back to Melo’s take, this might be better than trying to avoid the Nuggets. Maybe the Thunder start their own dynasty this season similar to how Miami did in 2012.

A look-back at Miami Heat’s 2010-2015 run

This was the time the trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh dominated the headlines. Notably, both LeBron and Bosh landed in Miami in 2010. The King had faced severe criticism for abandoning his previous team Cleveland Cavaliers and for forming a super-team of sorts along with Bosh and Wade.

The Heat’s famous trio led their team to 4 consecutive NBA Finals, winning two. They even beat Melo’s Knicks on two different occasions. While the Knicks were trying to avoid Paul George’s Indiana at the time, maybe avoiding Miami would have been a wiser choice.

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With the first round starting tonight, all eyes will be on the Nuggets and the Lakers as they get set to renew their newly formed rivalry.