Official Lotto Odds Thread

[LBPTarHeel27]

LOOKS LIKE IT IS....



NBA LOTTO STANDINGS
Updated 3/31

1. Philadelphia 76'ers 9-66
2. LA Lakers 16-59
3. Phoenix Suns 20-55
4. Brooklyn Nets 21-53
5. Minnesota Timberwolves 25-50
6. New Orleans Pelicans 27-47
7. New York Knicks 30-46
8. Sacramento Kings 30-45
9. Milwaukee Bucks 31-44
9. Orlando Magic 31-43 (.5 Games Back of Milwaukee)

REMAINING SCHEDULE
4 Home Games
4 Road Games

Tues, March 1 8:30 PM
@ Mavericks LOSS

Wed, Mar 2 7:00 PM
vs. Bulls WIN

Fri, Mar 4 7:00 PM
vs. Suns LOSS

Mon, Mar 710:30 PM
@ Warriors LOSS

Tue, Mar 8 10:30 PM
@ Lakers LOSS

Fri, Mar 11 10:00 PM
@ Kings WIN

Sat, Mar 12 10:30 PM
@ Trail Blazers LOSS

Tue, Mar 15 7:00 PM
vs. Nuggets WIN

Wed, Mar 16 7:00 PM
@ Hornets LOSS

Fri, Mar 18 7:00 PM
vs. Cavaliers LOSS

Sun, Mar 20 4:30 PM
@ Raptors LOSS

Mon, Mar 21 7:30 PM
@ Celtics LOSS

Wed, Mar 23 7:30 PM
@ Detroit LOSS

Fri, Mar 25 8:00 PM
@ Miami LOSS

Sat, Mar 26 7:00 PM
vs. Chicago WIN

Tue, Mar 29 7:00 PM
vs. Brooklyn WIN

Thu, Mar 31 7:00 PM
@ Indiana

Fri, Apr 1 8:00 PM
@ Milwaukee

Sun, Apr 3 6:00 PM
vs. Memphis

Wed, Apr 6 7:00 PM
vs. Detroit

Fri, Apr 8 7:00 PM
vs. Miami

Sun, Apr 10 6:00 PM
@ Miami

Mon, Apr 11 7:00 PM
vs. Milwaukee

Wed, Apr 13 8:00 PM
@ Charlotte

[j-ragg]

Would be shocked if we made it but I would be happy.

[Jiwol]

Would be shocked if we won more than 10 games.

[LBPTarHeel27]

It's all about positivity and optimism. Let's enjoy these final 24 games. We have started to see some real growth from Aaron Gordon. Mario made his first start last night and looked good, despite some foul trouble.

Sure, it is a long shot that we get in but all I am looking for is continued growth. I want our guys to put themselves in position to sneak in. Finish strong...if we miss the playoffs, let it be because the other teams ahead of us just didn't lose enough down the stretch...not because we didn't win enough.

[BadMofoPimp]

Magic have to go 17-7 the rest of the way to ensure a playoff appearance. Can that be accomplished?

[UCFJayBird]

Would be shocked if we won more than 10 games.

I'd be shocked if we won less than 10.

Bulls (in free fall) x2, Suns, Lakers, Kings, Nuggets, Brooklyn, Milwaukee x2

That's 9 games right there against teams with worse records or are really struggling of late (Chicago). There's also a lot of games that could go either way, like Dallas (we already beat), Detroit x2 (though they're playing really well lately), Miami x3, Charlotte x2.

I still say we wind up right around 40 wins, but definitely going to be tough (and I think 41 wins will get into the playoffs).

The New York loss was very disappointing. But outside of that the team has been playing very well lately.

[RYgoBOOM]

I'm hoping for it!

[LBPTarHeel27]

@ Mavericks....I want to see a win here. We have some tough road trips and this is just a quick 1 away and back home for two. We are coming off a game where we put up season highs. Need to ride the momentum and get a winning streak started.

vs. Bulls...this will be a tough one but at least it is at home. Elf will need to limit Rose and Vuc will need to minimize or cancel out Pau's production.

vs. Suns...Needs to be a win. A poor team that has basically thrown in the towel on the season. Our last home game before a big LA road trip.

@ Warriors...Rest Dipo, Fournier, and Vuc. Let the young(er) guys see what it is like to go all out against the best.

@ Lakers...Gotta be a win. Can't lose to LA.

@ Kings...Another one that needs to be a win. It will be tough to come out of an LA road trip at 2-1 but it has to happen if we are going to get in.

@ Trail Blazers...They have been hot, hopefully they cool off by this game. In Portland, it will be a tough game to win.

vs. Nuggets...we don't win in Denver very often but it is one of the games that has to be a W.

@ Hornets...one of the teams we are trying to overtake. Therefore, a must win. Begins a stretch where we play 7 Eastern Conference playoff teams in a row.

vs. Cavaliers & @ Raptors ...The East's top two teams. A split would be huge but unlikely.

@ Celtics...I imagine Boston finishing the season incredibly strong. Not optimistic here.

@ Detroit...another team we are trying to jump. Must win.

@ Miami...A playoff team but one that is very beatable. Needs to be a win.

vs. Chicago...tough game at home, the kind that we need to win if we are going to get in.

vs. Brooklyn...bottom feeder. Has to be a win.

@ Indiana...while they are the furthest out in front, they are still a team that we are trying to jump. We have to be better than them.

@ Milwaukee...Between Skiles, Jennings, and Ily all heading back to Milwaukee, I think we win.

vs. Memphis...tough game but injuries make this a winnable game for us.

vs. Detroit...trying to hop them, must win.

vs. Miami & @ Miami...Between these two and the previous one, we need to win at least 2 of 3 against Miami down the stretch.

vs. Milwaukee...home game against a bad team. Must win.

@ Charlotte...hopefully Charlotte is sitting at 8 with us a half game back at 9. It'd be a great way to finish the season.

[LBPTarHeel27]

Magic have to go 17-7 the rest of the way to ensure a playoff appearance. Can that be accomplished?

I think it is. It will all come down to winning the games they should (teams with lesser records), beating the teams that we are competing with for that final playoff spot, and surprising 1 or 2 teams along the way by winning a game we shouldn't.

[Nyce_1]

Magic have to go 17-7 the rest of the way to ensure a playoff appearance. Can that be accomplished?

I had great hope that we'd make the playoffs. But that NY loss left a bad taste in my mouth and I can't see them playing above their heads to win 17 more games. I don't see them winning tomorrow in Dallas, @ GS, vs Cavs, any of the 4 games in that mid-March road trip vs. Tor, Bos, Det, Miami,@ Indy, Home vs. Det, and that home/away vs Miami. That's 11 losses right there, bringing our loss total to 43 - below .500 for the year.

[LBPTarHeel27]

While the New York loss was incredibly disappointing and a bit of set back, there is still a lot of optimism based on our recent schedule. February was a successful month, IMO.

Ended January by beating a hot Celtics team. That was followed by losses to OKC, SA, & LAC...nothing surprising there. The OKC game was very winnable and we were in the SA game until the 4th quarter. Followed those expected losses by beating the Hawks two times in a row. Another loss to the Spurs but we were right there. A good win against a western conference playoff team by beating Dallas in OT. We then had a tough loss that was a game we need to win against Indy. Since they are a team we are competing with for a playoff spot, we need to win that game. However, we responded by winning a game we should win and put up a lot of points doing so against Philly. We had a solid showing for most of the game against GSW but lost, as expected. Then we had the big let down in NYC. This was really the only true let down in the month of February. We finished out the month by having our best showing of the season and ride some decent momentum in to March.

We need to do better in March but I think we are set up to do so.

[BadMofoPimp]

Magic have to go 17-7 the rest of the way to ensure a playoff appearance. Can that be accomplished?

I think it is. It will all come down to winning the games they should (teams with lesser records), beating the teams that we are competing with for that final playoff spot, and surprising 1 or 2 teams along the way by winning a game we shouldn't.

What it comes down for me from what I usually witness from teams is they go on a 5-7 game winning streak then play .500 ball in the other games. That winning streak usually gets those teams into the playoffs.

[LBPTarHeel27]

Tonight, we need Cleveland to take care of Indiana + Philly to upset Washington + Houston beating Milwaukee wouldn't hurt but doesn't really help that much. An Indiana loss would essentially create a 4 way tie to fill the final three playoff spots with us 4 games back of those 4 teams. A Washington loss would move us to 1/2 game away from tying them.

[Nyce_1]

Tonight, we need Cleveland to take care of Indiana + Philly to upset Washington + Houston beating Milwaukee wouldn't hurt but doesn't really help that much. An Indiana loss would essentially create a 4 way tie to fill the final three playoff spots with us 4 games back of those 4 teams. A Washington loss would move us to 1/2 game away from tying them.

I was pissed to find out Cavs were resting Lebron vs Washington yesterday. Of all the teams, why THEM. smh. I hope Philly pulls the upset.

As for Hou vs Mil. We gotta protect the ping pong balls also, lol. Hoping for Bucks win to bring them closer to us.

[UCFJayBird]

While the New York loss was incredibly disappointing and a bit of set back, there is still a lot of optimism based on our recent schedule. February was a successful month, IMO.

Ended January by beating a hot Celtics team. That was followed by losses to OKC, SA, & LAC...nothing surprising there. The OKC game was very winnable and we were in the SA game until the 4th quarter. Followed those expected losses by beating the Hawks two times in a row. Another loss to the Spurs but we were right there. A good win against a western conference playoff team by beating Dallas in OT. We then had a tough loss that was a game we need to win against Indy. Since they are a team we are competing with for a playoff spot, we need to win that game. However, we responded by winning a game we should win and put up a lot of points doing so against Philly. We had a solid showing for most of the game against GSW but lost, as expected. Then we had the big let down in NYC. This was really the only true let down in the month of February. We finished out the month by having our best showing of the season and ride some decent momentum in to March.

We need to do better in March but I think we are set up to do so.

That's been my thought process as well. The NYK game was extremely disappointing, but honestly I'm not THAT surprised. It was the second night of an incredibly emotional game in which the Magic gave the defending champs a run for their money and just couldn't stop Curry. That's draining, and then to fly up north and play the very next night, not too surprising of a loss. Should've won, obviously. That's the cost of being a young team, it's more difficult for them to bounce back from a loss like that.

But overall the team has been playing extremely well the last few weeks and since the trade has really been clicking offensively. Gotta find a way to crank up the defense at the same time but i'm optimistic this team can at least make a serious run for the playoffs.

[KillMonger]

The only way we have any kind of shot is if we play together on both ends. We need to kill the isolation and move the ball. No more looking off people that are wide open, I'm looking at you fournier and dipo. No more Jason Smith chucking without other options on the play. No more weak, soft azz defense..... Tall order but if we can do that maybe we can make a push

[OrlandoDream]

Ive tried to be as optimistic as I can but we have to be realistic and say with the way we have been playing this year, I would be very surprised if we make the playoffs. We have won a couple of games here and there and right when you think we are about to turn the corner, we lose to teams we should have beat(Knicks). After the terrific start, post dreadful January, we have yet to show any level of consistency.

I fear that it might be too late this year but hey baby steps at a time. We have already surpassed last years win total and still have 20+ games to go. Im sure we all wanted to make the playoffs this year but I think we can say that we have showed growth this year and could call it a success as long as we finish the season strong. Even if we dont make the playoffs. We have established something special this year, made some trades, and cleared alot of cap space to sign some max players. Who knows what Rob has in mind.

Overall, despite some record breaking heartbreakers, I have thoroughly enjoyed this year and look forward to see continuing improvement these next 24 games. Lets end it strong and show promise for next season! #Kapayaaaa

[Nemesis21]

I think we go .500 in final 24 games, putting us at 38-44. That could get us the 8th seed.

[BCS]

Well the playoffs could very well be in our hands but we got to take care of business against the teams we are competing against, that's the main part. A win tomorrow will substitute the NY loss imo and we are right back on track.

[Skin]