Eye on the Prize (Current Standings)

[shrink]

Even with MIN's recent successes, we still holds a firm grasp on being one of two teams with the most ping pong balls in the lottery.

Its interesting to note just how tight the race is right now to make the play-offs. We could use it to our advantage. Some teams are probably pretty nervous, and might be willing to overpay for just a little more production to get them in the play-offs. In addition, in a race stacked this tightly, now would be a good time to try to trade for a pick. Some of these teams may not make the play-offs, and it might turn into a swap that turns into the #1 pick in the draft.

Houston 30 20
Portland 28 22
Sacramento 23 26
Philadelphia 21 30
Indiana 21 30
Chicago 20 30
Milwaukee 19 32
Charlotte 18 32
L.A. Clippers 16 32
New York 15 36
Memphis 13 37
Seattle 13 37
Minnesota 10 38
Miami 9 39

East
NJN 21-29
ATL 21-26

West
GSW 30-20 (t)
DEN 30-19

[slinky]

from that list which teams have shown a history or have other circumstances that would limit there ability to trade their first pick?

are any teams more willing to trade their pick?


example...a team like POR might trade be more willing because of their influx in young guys, but at the same time might be a tad less willing to trade inside the division...(although I dont always buy that common theory, teams will pull off deals they believe are in their favor regardless of trading partner).

[theGreatRC]

POR sounds interesting. They have too many players, and they have draft picks that they don't necessarily need, and we need all the help we can get for a new pick. What would they want though? They are stacked with young talent; they could use another point guard, but I doubt they want the return of Bassy.

[Basti]

POR sounds interesting. They have too many players, and they have draft picks that they don't necessarily need, and we need all the help we can get for a new pick. What would they want though? They are stacked with young talent; they could use another point guard, but I doubt they want the return of Bassy.

could they use a player like gomes? before someone starts flaming me fot this I'm just curious about his trade value. if we could get their pick + x (jack mabye?) for gomes (+filler if necessary) would anyone do that? I'm just curios

[Varejao17]

I wouldn't...

[TheProdigy]

The Blazers are stacked with talent at the 2-5 positions. Their biggest need is a starting-quality point guard. They wouldn't want Telfair back, and unless we're willing to give up Foye or the 1st round pick, a trade with them probably wouldn't work. Add in the fact that teams generally do not like to trade with other teams within their division...

[dunkonu21]

Did anyone else watch Miami on Sunday?....At times they looked REALLY good. Even good enough to get a scream out of me. JWilliams-Wade-DWright-Marion-Bloutn is really a very talented line-up with a lot of athleticism. This team is like 9-ish games out, with that horrible record. I wonder if they can't make a run. They played the stacked Lakers really hard and almost beat them, if they can play the Lake show close then they should be able to play ANYONE.

[horaceworthy]

Miami's an interesting team to watch, because they're kind of like what we wished we could be last year.

Athletic, defensively versatile PF that rebounds well and can stretch the defense, Wade (who does what we hoped Foye could do), a true PG, Blount, a good rebounding SF to cover up for Blount's rebounding woes (Wright), Ricky as a 6th man, and a solid defensive big with a jumper to rotate in as well (Haslem). They've even got the vet coach with a great track record that most of us wanted as well.

[Worm Guts]

Williams was driving me crazy yesterday by shooting 3's on fast breaks. It's a 5 on 1, take the layup.

[Basti]

if miami would still somehow make it into the playoffs I certainly don't know wether I should be happy about gettting the pick or I should be embarrassed how bad the east is

[shrink]

Houston 31 20
Portland 28 23
Sacramento 23 27
Philadelphia 22 30
Indiana 21 31
Chicago 20 31
Milwaukee 19 33
L.A. Clippers 17 32
Charlotte 18 34
New York 15 36
Memphis 14 37
Seattle 13 37
Minnesota 10 40
Miami 9 41

East
ATL 21-27
NJN 23-29

West
GSW 31-20 (t)
DEN 32-19


TEAM 1000 PICK 1 PICK 2 PICK 3
Team 1 250 25.00% 21.51% 17.77%
Team 2 199 19.90% 18.81% 17.12%
Team 3 156 15.60% 15.74% 15.59%
Team 4 119 11.90% 12.60% 13.30%
Team 5 88 8.80% 9.66% 10.68%
Team 6 63 6.30% 7.10% 8.12%
Team 7 43 4.30% 4.94% 5.79%
Team 8 28 2.80% 3.26% 3.89%
Team 9 17 1.70% 2.00% 2.41%
Team 10 11 1.10% 1.30% 1.58%
Team 11 8 0.80% 0.95% 1.15%
Team 12 7 0.70% 0.83% 1.01%
Team 13 6 0.60% 0.71% 0.87%
Team 14 5 0.50% 0.59% 0.73%

[shrink]

25 Games Remaining

Eleven of our next 12 games are against lottery-bound teams.

I actually think we're going to come in second, but it will be Memphis that slides infront of us. Miami is in the Eastern Conference and will be playing more East Coast teams the rest of the way. Seattle with Durant and Green, is young and has a greater potential for improvement than Memphis or us.

We don't play Miami again, but we play Memphis three times and Seattle twice. We may also be concerned about NYK (1 game) and CHA and LAC (2 games each), though I doubt they could move up and pass us. Of course, there are no head-to-head tie-breakers in the NBA Draft. If teams end with the same record, their position is determined by a coin flip.

Miami 11 45 .196
Minnesota 12 45 .211
Memphis 14 45 .237
Seattle 15 43 .259
New York 18 41 .305
Charlotte 19 39 .328
LA Clippers 19 38 .333
Milwaukee 22 37 .373
Indiana 23 36 .390
Chicago 23 35 .397
Atlanta 24 32 .429
Sacramento 26 32 .448
Portland 31 28 .525
Denver 35 23 .603

East
New Jersey 26 32 .448
Philadelphia 27 33 .450

West
Golden State 35 22 .614

MIN Remaining Schedule
Mar 2 vs Seattle
Mar 4 vs Charlotte
Mar 5 at Utah
Mar 7 at Sacramento
Mar 8 at LA Clippers
Mar 11 vs Portland
Mar 14 at Seattle
Mar 15 at Portland
Mar 17 vs LA Clippers
Mar 19 vs Memphis
Mar 21 at Indiana
Mar 22 vs New York
Mar 26 at Houston
Mar 28 at San Antonio
Mar 30 vs Utah
Apr 1 vs Detroit
Apr 2 at Utah
Apr 4 at Phoenix
Apr 6 vs Memphis
Apr 8 at Charlotte
Apr 9 vs New Orleans
Apr 11 at Orlando
Apr 12 at Memphis
Apr 15 at Detroit
Apr 16 vs Milwaukee

[deeney0]

I think it's hard for the Wolves NOT to finish 4th worst. They're better than Seattle and Memphis (who they play 3 more times, not twice as you said.) But I guess we'll see.

[kandiking]

7th pick here we come

[B Calrissian]

We don't play Miami again, but we play Memphis three times and Seattle twice. We may also be concerned about NYK (1 game) and CHA and LAC (2 games each), though I doubt they could move up and pass us. Of course, there are no head-to-head tie-breakers in the NBA Draft. If teams end with the same record, their position is determined by a coin flip.

Mar 19 vs Memphis

Apr 6 vs Memphis

Apr 12 at Memphis

[shrink]

I'll go edit it.

[shrink]

MEM won last night. Our next nine games are against non-play-off teams, but our next two road games (at SAC, at LAC) are back to back, and conclude with our fourth game in five days.

Here are the bottom five teams:

11-47 MIA Lost 2 in a row, 2-8 in last 10
12-48 MIN Lost 5 in a row, 2-8 in last 10
15-46 MEM Won 1 in a row, 1-9 in last 10
16-45 SEA Lost 2 in a row, 3-7 in last 10
18-43 NYK Lost 4 in a row, 3-7 in last 10

[C.lupus]

What's up with Miami? We lose 5 in a row and still can't pass them. Sheesh.

[shrink]

I'm always happy to see the young Wolves win. Its good for their confidence, and good for their soul.

16 games left, with three vs. MEM, who also won tonight to maintain a tie. SEA slipped behind (in front?) of us.

11-54 MIA

16-51 SEA
16-50 MIN
16-50 MEM

19-48 NYK

21-45 LAC
23-43 MIL

TEAM 1000 PICK 1 PICK 2 PICK 3
Team 1 250 25.00% 21.51% 17.77%
Team 2 199 19.90% 18.81% 17.12%
Team 3 156 15.60% 15.74% 15.59%
Team 4 119 11.90% 12.60% 13.30%
Team 5 88 8.80% 9.66% 10.68%
Team 6 63 6.30% 7.10% 8.12%
Team 7 43 4.30% 4.94% 5.79%
Team 8 28 2.80% 3.26% 3.89%
Team 9 17 1.70% 2.00% 2.41%
Team 10 11 1.10% 1.30% 1.58%
Team 11 8 0.80% 0.95% 1.15%
Team 12 7 0.70% 0.83% 1.01%
Team 13 6 0.60% 0.71% 0.87%
Team 14 5 0.50% 0.59% 0.73%

[Cy32]

What's up with Miami? We lose 5 in a row and still can't pass them. Sheesh.

Miami has their eye on the prize...but they still may not get it.

It seems to me there is a lot bigger gap between the East and the West this year. If I recall correctly at least the 8th seed in the East at the end of the season doesn't usually have a .500 record but it is close whereas this yearit's 29-38 compared to the current 8th seed in the West at 41-24. Some things need to be adjusted when there is that much difference. I guess it could mean their are at least a few strong teams in the East beating up on their own because they play teams in their conference more times but I don't think many Eastern teams fall into the power house category this year.

The usuall power houses in the West are sure beat down this year with some of them in danger of not even making the play-offs.

http://www.nba.com/standings/team_recor ... d_Cnf.html