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So i'm sitting here with a severely fractured clavial, and decided i'd do something completely useless.

So I looked at all the Western Conference contender's records & schedules and made a rough prediction of how things will ultimately look. Enjoy.


Toughest Remaining Schedules
(Games vs +500 Teams/Road Games/Road Trips of 3+ Games)

1. GSW 15/14/2
2. NOH 14/13/2
3. DEN 14/12/2
4. PHX 16/12/2
5. SAS 15/12/1
6. HOU 13/12/2
7. POR 10/11/1
8. LAL 12/9/2
9. DAL 13/9/1
10. UTA 12/9/1

I also took into account how teams fare on the road, as well as road games vs. +500 teams combined.

Record from Here on Out
(W-L, W %)

1.LAL 17-5/.772
2. UTA 16-6/.727
3. SAS 17-7/.708
4. DAL 15-7/.681
5. NOH 16-8/.666
6. PHX 15-8/.652
7. HOU/DEN 14-9/.608
8.POR 9-13/.409
9. GSW 9-15/.375




Final Record

1. LAL 59-23
2. SAS 58-24
3. NOH 55-27
4. UTA 54-28
5. DAL 55-27
6. PHX 54-28
7. HOU 53-29
8. DEN 49-33

Out of contention:

9. GSW 45-37
10. POR 40-42

Playoff Bracketology

#1 L.A. "Memphis officially ruined it for everyone else in the west" Lakers
#8 Thuggets

#4 Jazzy Chair
#5 Dallass

#2 Spurzzzzzz...
#7 Rockettes

3# Whornets
#6 Phoenix "worst trade in NBA history" Suns

1. Lakers
2. Spurs
3. Hornets
4. Utah
5. Mavs
6. Suns
7. Warriors
8. Rockets

9. Nuggets

You could probably shuffle 6-9 around, considering that the Suns have been terrible since their trade, the Rockets are doing great know, but they are certainly fragile without Yao, the Warriors and Nuggets are teams that can easily be HOT or in a slump. I think 1-5 are locks in those spots, as long as there aren't major injuries.

San Antonio has one 3 game road trip and 3 two game trips leftn but they're a good road team.

The Lakers have one tough stretch remaining; a four-game road trip @ Houston, New Orleans, Dallas and Utah.

I ranked the DEN schedule more difficult that PHX because their two remaining trips include a 5 and a four game trip against more difficult teams.

Other factors that could change my predictions:

Injuries
San Antonio tunrning it on as usual
Phoenix finding chemistry
Phoenix getting even worse
Houston losing all their momentum and falling out of contention

blahblah blahbla blha blah. blah?

Probably something like this:
1. Los Angeles
2. San Antonio
3. New Orleans
4. Utah
5. Dallas
6. Phoenix
7. Denver
8. Houston

9. Golden State

I think Houston's probably going to start struggling a little bit pretty soon. I'm impressed that they've been able to win a few without Yao, but without him they are BY FAR the worst team in playoff contention, at least on paper. Their second best player is Shane Battier and their second best scorer is...Bobby Jackson. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they (or Denver) missed the playoffs.

i wouldn't be surprised if Houston fell off the charts either, but at the same time you have to realize that Yao Ming is not the reason they've been winning, it's defense and great teamwork. Everyone is contributing, from McGrady to Landry. So far they've played great defense without Yao.

Plus, take a look at Denver's and Golden States schedules. They are brutal.

Deke is doing a good job for Houston controlling the paint, BUT, with his old age and inabilities on offense, it'll eventually catch up to Houston, it'll be a dog fight for the 7th and 8th seed.

1. San Antonio Spurzz
2. Los Angeles Lakerzz
3. Utah Jazz
4. New Orleans Hornets
5. Dallas Mavericks
6. Golden State Warriors
7. Houston Rockets
8. Denver Nuggets

9. Sorry Phoenix... just don't see it happening. Perhaps singing Lue or Giricek might give you enough to make the push.

LOL at Whorenets.


IMO, that was a very good post/prediction by ele.ven. The only thing I would change to his list is Golden State and Denver. I really don't see more than one team from the Northwest making the playoffs with how tough the West is right now. That is the reason why its so dang important for the Jazz to beat the Thuggets on Saturday. If we don't beat them in the Northwest, I doubt we're even in the Playoffs.

1. Lakers
2. Spurs
3. Jazz
4. Hornets
5. Suns
6. Mavs
7. Worriors
8. Rockets

The Nuggs are done! The Rockets get in but don't get far without Yao! Worriors nock off Spurs! Think I'm crazy? The Spurs have not beat them this year! I'm hoping for a Jazz/ Lakers WCF!

i think every team wants to face the suns first. easy way to win the first round.

sarah42 wrote:i think every team wants to face the suns first. easy way to win the first round.

yup.

so what did you damage?

hope both you and AK get better. seems like everyone and their mom is getting hurt.

My question is why would a Whorenets fan even come over here???

copperhead is that you?

first of all, this rivalry...i don't care about. so there isn't this hate, not from me anyway. i'm not hating on deron or this team cuz i like the hornets.

the suns suck now and i think both teams want to play them in the first round. if you disagree, whatever.

whorenets? lol. not as cute as the fakers. or the Queens.

i also wanted to know why the OP was hurt.