Lakers and Mavs are just 3 games away from Playoff spot.

[kingofcomedy]

@entropy I'm not sure if you're flirting with me or what but please stop stalking my post I'm happily married

[Transistor]

Lakers will make the playoffs. Even if the don't get it together soon, I see the refs handing them a few games to keep them in the hunt. The NBA doesn't want to see the Lakers miss the post season.

The refs gave them one tonight against Portland

[TexansFanatic]

Just looking at that sched... most of those are winnable for the Rockets.

[aol4532]

Lakers will make the playoffs. Even if the don't get it together soon, I see the refs handing them a few games to keep them in the hunt. The NBA doesn't want to see the Lakers miss the post season.

The refs gave them one tonight against Portland

This. The Lakers should be at death's door by now. Kobe's guarantee won't mean crap, if the refs don't help them out. Can't win one for Dr Buss, without external interference.

It's all up to the Rockets now, I think.

[OKCThunderUp35]

Don't know... What i do know is both those teams will get swept by Okc.

[BattleTested]

Lakers could beat San Antonio if they creep into the 8th spot. But unfortunately they won't get a chance, because every time they win Houston wins.

[aol4532]

Don't know... What i do know is both those teams will get swept by Okc.

That's awfully presumptious, don't you think? You just got blown out by the Jazz, Heat and lost to the Rockets. At this point, I have the Spurs as favorites to come out of the West.

You also just lost to them, when they were healthy. That's why you need to knock them out, now. Don't even give them a chance. Don't even feel sorry for their injuries. They tried to buy the championship, and you were forced to trade away Harden. Now did they feel sorry for you? Dr. Buss' death...well, that's a separate issue altogether, though I fear it may have garnered some sympathy from the officials(all the more reasons to avoid them, the team that overcame adversity will almost always get the benefit of the doubt.)

[kingofcomedy]

Don't know... What i do know is both those teams will get swept by Okc.

You spelled spurs wrong

[Nate505]

Great, as a mavs fan nothing like a chance at getting swept by the spurs and no shot at the lottery

It's as awesome as it sounds.

[HotrodBeaubois]

Its definetly possible that Dallas makes it . Dallas won both games this year against Houston 1 With and 1 Without Dirk .

Houston has 3 games until March 3rd

Feb 23 @ Washington - Houston 2nd night of Back2Back on the Road
Feb 27 vs Milwaukee
Mar 1 @ Orlando

Then
Mar 3 vs Dallas
Mar 6 @ Dallas


Dallas has 4 games until Mar 3rd
Feb 24 vs Lakers
Feb 26 vs Milwaukee
Feb 27 @ Memphis - Dallas 2nd night of Back2Back on the Road
Mar 1 @ Brooklyn
Mar 3 @ Houston
Mar 6 vs Houston

Dallas needs to take both games against Houston

[dreamchaser]

Man the Lakers got 2 BIG games coming up against the Mavs & Nuggets and the month of March isn't going to be so much of a cake walk either...

[BattleTested]

Man the Lakers got 2 BIG games coming up against the Mavs & Nuggets and the month of March isn't going to be so much of a cake walk either...

Every game they should be favored in except at OKC.

Honestly, if they don't go 14-1 or 13-2 in that stretch, their season is done.

[dreamchaser]

Man the Lakers got 2 BIG games coming up against the Mavs & Nuggets and the month of March isn't going to be so much of a cake walk either...

Every game they should be favored in except at OKC.

Honestly, if they don't go 14-1 or 13-2 in that stretch, their season is done.

And @ Indiana...

I also see Chicago (a team that already blew out the Lakers this season), Toronto & GSW giving them some serious problems...

I also see the Hawks stealing one when the Lakers come to Philips Arena but that's just my personal prediction.

[HotrodBeaubois]

The lakers have been right there for a while now. But Houston isn't showing the signs of falling apart therefore it is up to the Lakers to get hot. With 27 games left, if they go 20-7 they will need houston to finish with a record of 16-10 or worse. That is essentially a 75% win rate. To put that into perspective only SA has that kind of win percentage this year and they've been gunning on all cylinders.

Even if houston finishes the rest of the season with a .500 record (13-13). The lakers will need to finish off the season winning ~64% of there remaining games. Only 5 NBA teams are currently winning at that pace.

If houston continues to win at the same rate they are winning right now they will have 44-45 wins at the end of the year. Lakers need to 18-9 or 19-8 (67% and 70%) to make the postseason. Based on that its going to be very difficult for the lakers to make the playoffs. Can they do it? Sure. But they are going to need to either get very very hot and play like the elite teams in the league or hope Houston takes a bit of a nosedive (Or even one of Utah or Golden State).

The Mavs are 12-6 since January 10th .667 % 4 of the losses are by 4 pts or less . The other 2 losses came against SA and OKC


Since January 10th

107.9 Pts For
101.7 Pts Against



107.9 Pts is good for 1st in PPG


+ 6.2 Differential is tied for 4th


.468 FG% is good for 6th in the league
.397 3P% is good for 1st in the league



Now add in Morrows 3Pt shooting off the Bench . Morrow may even see some time at end of games since Mayo has turned it over alot in crunchtime . And the Dallas Offense gets even better ,


Dirk
17.3 PPG since January 10th
19.4 PPG .479 FG% 8-11 3P .727% over the last 5

Carter
15.9 PPG 39-77 3P .506% since January 10th
17.0 PPG 19-30 3P .633% over the last 5

[OneWhoKnocks]

looking at the rockets schedule, i wouldn't be surprised if they actually climb up to 5th/6th seed. Golden State I feel will be around there too.

I think the Jazz will do fine even though they do seem to have a relatively difficult schedule. If they go .500 they'll still be 5 wins over .500 and honestly that may be all they need. Lakers on the other hand need to put on one hell of a streak.

If the lakers can't go on a 10+ win streak or at least 2 6+ win streaks, i highly doubt they can make the playoffs. Their schedule in april looks pretty tough.