PLAY OFF Watch!

[Klomp]

Now that everyone is at the AllStrar Break...

T5. Los Angeles Lakers (20-14) - 2 games ahead
T5. Houston Rockets (20-14) - 2 games ahead
7. Memphis Grizzlies (19-15) - 1 game ahead
8. Portland Trailblazers (18-16)
---------------------------------------------------
9. Denver Nuggets (17-16) 0.5 game back
10. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (17-17) 1 game back
11. Utah Jazz (15-17) 2 games back
12. Golden State Warriors (13-17) 3 games back

Upcoming Schedule
2/28 at Los Angeles Clippers (20-11, 3rd seed)
2/29 at Los Angeles Lakers (20-14, 5th seed)
3/1 at Phoenix Suns
3/3 at Portland Trailblazers (18-16, 8th seed)
3/5 vs. Los Angeles Clippers (20-11, 3rd seed)
3/7 vs. Portland Trailblazers (18-16, 8th seed)
3/9 vs. Los Angeles Lakers (20-14, 5th seed)


Quick breakdown of final 32 games:

4-game road trip (including final back-to-back-to-back)
4-game homestand (including three games against current playoff teams)
9 of 10 games on road (including 7 consecutive and stretch of 3 of 4 against playoff teams)
8 home games and 6 road games from March 30 to end of season

28 games vs. Western Conference teams, 4 games vs. Eastern Conference teams
16 games against current playoff teams, 16 games against teams not currently in playoffs
9 games against Northwest Division opponents

[theGreatRC]

Thanks for breaking that down, Klomp.

I think the biggest thing is that we only play 4 games against Eastern conference teams...We could really use more games against Eastern teams, but if we want to make the playoffs it shouldn't matter.

[Vindicater]

I think we will push hard but falter at the end as the pressure of being in the playoff chase gets to our younger guys.

They will be better for it though and we will easily make the playoffs next season

[Klomp]

Thanks for breaking that down, Klomp.

I think the biggest thing is that we only play 4 games against Eastern conference teams...We could really use more games against Eastern teams, but if we want to make the playoffs it shouldn't matter.

BTW those four games are @ CHA, vs BOS, @ IND, and @ DET.

[Klomp]

I think we will push hard but falter at the end as the pressure of being in the playoff chase gets to our younger guys.

They will be better for it though and we will easily make the playoffs next season

We play 12 of our next 20 games against current playoff teams. If we get through this stretch and are still within striking distance, I think we get in as 8 of our last 12 are against teams out of the playoffs.

[Klomp]

Another interesting stat to look at:

In the first 34 games of his first season as head coach of the Sacramento Kings, Rick Adelman started out 15-19 in the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season. They finished the season by winning 12 of the final 16 games, ending up with the 6th seed in the West.

[Dalvin]

Hope we finish as a 7th seed. So we can match up with SA on the first round. Upset in the making!

And also, I hope HOU and DAL finishes between 3rd to 6th seed wherein HOU or DAL finishes their 1st round opponent. Then we meet in them in the 2nd round! Another good match up for us!

And lastly, whichever one of HOU and DAL that finishes in the other side of the bracket gets to the Western Conference Finals.

There you are, our way to the Finals! LOL

I can dream, can I?

[Grits n Gravy]

man i'm just hoping klove manages to get some rest at the all star break....dude looked absolutely shot the last 2 games, especially this last one against utah. i think we will falter down the stretch but it's not inconcievable for kobe, pau, kyle lowry, luis scola, mike conley, rudy gay, lemarcus alridge and gerald wallace all to go down with season ending injury's in the first week back after all star weekend.

[Biff Cooper]

Thanks for breaking that down, Klomp.

I think the biggest thing is that we only play 4 games against Eastern conference teams...We could really use more games against Eastern teams, but if we want to make the playoffs it shouldn't matter.

I was thinking the same thing, but looking back on the first half of the season, we are only 5-9 against the east and 12-8 against the west. Maybe we are better off staying away from the east.

[phonzadellika]

My bold prediction:

Malcolm Lee is everything we dream about (almost) and ends up starting as the 2-guard. Our perimeter defense between Rubio/Lee/Johnson is top in the league. Johnson and Lee's offense is just good enough to not be a complete and utter liability. We barely squeak into the playoffs.

[Twolves1Fan]

I would love nothing more than for our TWolves to get into the playoffs. What a learning experience that would be. We might be too young and inexperienced to do much damage but I promise that we'd be a 'tough out'. If we could get a taste of the playoffs this year, watch out for next season!

Gotta get that SG problem fixed though.

[Basti]

Thanks for breaking that down, Klomp.

I think the biggest thing is that we only play 4 games against Eastern conference teams...We could really use more games against Eastern teams, but if we want to make the playoffs it shouldn't matter.

BTW those four games are @ CHA, vs BOS, @ IND, and @ DET.

Facing Indiana on their court will be the toughest game, I think. Boston can be beat by any team these days but they can also beat any team. You can't predict anything there. Detroit has been playing much better recently so I'm not sure about this one. Charlotte shouldn't be much of a problem (theoretically).

I'd predict either we split the 4 games or win 3 of 4.

[Klomp]

Even though most everyone here has seemingly given up on our playoff chances, I'll update this post anyways.


5. Los Angeles Clippers (23-17) - 2 games ahead
6. Denver Nuggets (23-19) - 1 game ahead
7. Dallas Mavericks (23-20) - 0.5 games ahead
8. Houston Rockets (22-20) -
---------------------------------------------------
9. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (22-21) 0.5 games back
T10. Utah Jazz (20-21) 1.5 games back
T10. Portland Trail Blazers (20-21) 1.5 games back
12. Phoenix Suns (19-22) - 2.5 games behind
13. Golden State Warriors (17-21) - 3 games behind



Upcoming Schedule
3/15 at Utah Jazz
3/16 at Los Angeles Lakers (25-16, 3rd seed)
3/18 at Sacramento Kings
3/19 at Golden State Warriors
3/21 at San Antonio Spurs (27-13, 2nd seed)
3/23 at Oklahoma City Thunder (32-19, 1st seed)

[Saltine]

Considering that Houston just lost Lowry for two to four weeks with a bacterial infection and now needs to play Jonny Flynn, we still have a shot

[karch34]

Houston also has Thunder and Clippers in their next 3 games. Utah is playing Wed at Phx, so that's favorable for us. Think we'll go at least 4-3 on this trip and be in it to the end.