GAME 81 -- The Rockets (45-35) @ The Suns (24-56) --

[DirtyDez]

Rockets are frauds.

[MelosSoreWrist]

I see what you are saying, but I think SA is playing possum a bit. I don't think they lay down for you guys like they did the other night.

Its a long shot either way but the Spurs without manu and out of form Parker is a better matchup than fully healthy Thunder.

What if GS loses tonight(which doesn't look likely) and against Portland. Would the Lakers (if they won) move up to sixth and face Denver?

They would. And Denver is banged up as well. Gallinari out. Faried hurt.

But Portland has lost 11 in a row. They are already on vacation. I doubt they beat the Warriors... should they lose tonight against the Spurs.

[Cutter]

PJ "There's 100's of him in the D-League" Tucker is dominating Harden this game.

[Cutter]

PJ "There's 100's of him in the D-League" Tucker is dominating Harden this game.

Who was the troll who gave him that title?

Dragic and Harden together would be the best backcourt in the league, easily.

It was #2 who said it.

[RunDogGun]

MSW, Houston might be thinking the same thing, by losing tonight and beating LA, they would face SA, instead of Denver.

[Funky Tut]

Yay 6th pick in the draft. Instant D-leager...

[Bulk]

The breakdown of this victory:

The good: Houston has to win wednesday against the Lakers or they will fall to the 8th seed and face OKC
The bad: We lose the strategical draft placement battle against Cleveland
The ugly: If HOU can't beat us, it seems unlikely they will beat the Lakers with some refs help. Lakers will get 7th seed.

[Funky Tut]

The breakdown of this victory:

The good: Houston has to win wednesday against the Lakers or they will fall to the 8th seed and face OKC
The bad: We lose the strategical draft placement battle against Cleveland
The ugly: If HOU can't beat us, it seems unlikely they will beat the Lakers with some refs help. Lakers will get 7th seed.

Houston vs LAL+refs/Stern

[MelosSoreWrist]

The breakdown of this victory:

The good: Houston has to win wednesday against the Lakers or they will fall to the 8th seed and face OKC
The bad: We lose the strategical draft placement battle against Cleveland
The ugly: If HOU can't beat us, it seems unlikely they will beat the Lakers with some refs help. Lakers will get 7th seed.

Houston vs LAL+refs/Stern

I'll take those odds!

[MelosSoreWrist]

MSW, Houston might be thinking the same thing, by losing tonight and beating LA, they would face SA, instead of Denver.

Houston could've won tonight and lost to LAL to try to get SA without risking a OKC matchup.

[RunDogGun]

We had a few guys have an incredible game, I don't think it reflects poorly on Houston. Chandler just came back from injury, and I don't think Artest is recovered enough to guard Harden. And if he does, Meeks can't guard Chandler.

The big thing would be keeping Pau in check, and Asik needs to stay out of foul trouble. But it all depends on if Memphis rests some guys, since they can't move up (I think).

[Bulk]

We had a few guys have an incredible game, I don't think it reflects poorly on Houston. Chandler just came back from injury, and I don't think Artest is recovered enough to guard Harden. And if he does, Meeks can't guard Chandler.

The big thing would be keeping Pau in check, and Asik needs to stay out of foul trouble. But it all depends on if Memphis rests some guys, since they can't move up (I think).

According to some people in the Lakers board, Memphis will get the HCA against the Clippers even by being the 5th seed if they get a better record, meaning they have an incentive to win Wed.

[RunDogGun]

Denver has beaten the Grizz three times, so Denver owns the tiebreaker there, and Memphis can't get over LAC (division leader), so Memphis can rest some guys if they want.

[RunDogGun]

We had a few guys have an incredible game, I don't think it reflects poorly on Houston. Chandler just came back from injury, and I don't think Artest is recovered enough to guard Harden. And if he does, Meeks can't guard Chandler.

The big thing would be keeping Pau in check, and Asik needs to stay out of foul trouble. But it all depends on if Memphis rests some guys, since they can't move up (I think).

According to some people in the Lakers board, Memphis will get the HCA against the Clippers even by being the 5th seed if they get a better record, meaning they have an incentive to win Wed.

I get what you are saying. But then the seeding is dumb.

[JMac1]

Goran Dragic is fast....I repeat Goran Dragic is sooooooooooo fast

He has sprinter's form when he accelerates!

[Jdiddy701]

Was anybody at the game? I heard Kendall and Keff got into it. A punch was thrown to Marshall from Keef is that true????

[gaspar]

Saw this on twitter:

Amin Elhassan ‏@AminESPN

Markieff Morris just got in a heated argument with someone in the huddle during the timeout.....I think it was Kendall Marshall?

BrightSideoftheSun ‏@BrightSideSun

Marcus Morris having to be restrained from going after Kendall Marshall in the huddle? What? Seems ok after a few words... #SunsVsRockets

Craig Grialou ‏@Craig620

#Suns teammates exchanging words in huddle: Markieff Morris and Kendall Marshall...got heated then calmed down #SunsVsRockets

[sunsdragic]

One more game left season is over

[MathiasPW]

Battle for best seed vs Cleveland wasn't so much affected. Their last game is vs Charlotte, ours vs Denver. We'll most likely tie in the final record.

In that case, according to Wikipedia: "In the event that teams finish with the same record, each tied team receives the average of the total number of combinations for the positions that they occupy. In 2007, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Portland Trail Blazers tied for the sixth worst record. The average of the 6th and 7th positions in the lottery was taken, resulting in each team getting 53 combinations (the average of 63 and 43). Should the average number not be an integer, a coin flip is then used to determine which team or teams receive the extra combination(s). The result of the coin flip is also used to determine who receives the earlier pick in the event that neither of the tied teams wins one of the first three picks via the lottery."

So that would mean the average between 156 (3rd seed) and 119 (4th seed) = 137 combinations, or a 13,75% chance of landing the 1st pick.