Will we make the playoffs?

[JDR720]

We are currently the 8 seed, and 2.5 games ahead of 9th place (Pistons) and 3 games ahead of 10th (Wizards)..

and if we do make the playoffs, who is your preferred match-up?



Im going to say yes, If we just manage to stay around .500 we will make it. the Pistons and Wizards are the only competition and i cant see either of them turning it around. The highest seed we can get is 6th (2 games behind the nets) but i think we'll get the 7 seed over Miami. Would prefer Indy or the Bucks as the match-up.

[316Hornets]

I'll let you know after the trade deadline. If none of those 3 teams make trades, we won't make it.

Don't want to see the Bucks, Celtics, Pacers, or 76ers.

My reasoning. We are pretty fragile inside and all of those teams have guys that can take advantage. Add in the fact, that these teams often get favorable calls from refs.

[Hornet Mania]

Unless Kemba has a major injury, or 2-3 other starters go down like Cody did, we're in pretty good shape.

Of all the possible playoff matchups I'd take Milwaukee. I don't think we could win, and getting blown out is always a possibility as a low seed, but we've played them tough this year and it seems like the games could at least be competitive. I'd predict a gentleman's sweep, 4-1 series loss. I think the refs would be less infuriating than if we played Boston/Philly, and Toronto simply has too much depth they'd probably run us off the floor.

[BigSlam]

Nope

[euphorbus]

Ask us again on February 9th.

[GoBobs]

I would say it is likely a coin flip. Here is the strength of remaining schedule for the rest of the year.

http://www.tankathon.com/remaining_schedule_strength

Heat, Nets, and Hornets have the toughest remaining schedules and are all lumped together at 5,6, and 7

Pistons are 22nd, Orlando is 23rd, and Wiz are 26th.

It isn't out of the realm of possibility that Nets, Heat and Hornets all miss playoffs and Pistons, Magic, Wiz all make the playoffs. Nets also have some injury problems right now.

I really don't care if we make or miss, both have advantages and disadvantages. I am more interested in seeing some team improvement. The second half of the NBA season is kinda like the second half of a football game. I want to see what kind of adjustments JB can make.

If JB is a good coach and we don't have major injuries I think we make it.

[JDuaneWayne]

Yes. I think a lot of it has to do with out coach, he's still learning. The talent isn't going to change that much between now and the trade deadline even if we swing a few trades we just don't have the assets to move the needle.

I'll take our chances versus the Pacers minus Dipo to finally get out of the 1st round even though the matchup isn't great Biz would likely play a decent amount in that series.

[UNCNYC]

I'll let you know after the trade deadline. If none of those 3 teams make trades, we won't make it.

Don't want to see the Bucks, Celtics, Pacers, or 76ers.

My reasoning. We are pretty fragile inside and all of those teams have guys that can take advantage. Add in the fact, that these teams often get favorable calls from refs.

I don't mind that Pacers since V.O. is out for the season.

[Rich4114]

Really tough to say until after the trade deadline. I’m leaning towards no right now, because our schedule will be pretty brutal down the stretch and we don’t seem to beat the teams we are supposed to beat. All of those winnable games earlier in the season will haunt us.

At least if we do miss the playoffs, we are positioned for a mid lotto pick since all of the west teams are likely to have better records than us except Phoenix. Not that they’ll do much with their annual lottery pick but still.

[catch20two]

As long as we can avoid key/major injuries we should be able to make it into the playoffs.

I was optimistically hoping we could end this season about 3-5 games over .500 but I’m expecting us to be either at or below .500 barely getting in as a #7 or #8 seed.

[Eoghan]

Yeah I think so. Our team has been playing with each other for a while and we have a lot of veterans to lean on for experience. JB is way more adaptable than Clifford and actually seems to learn from his errors and the bench is pretty good when they're on. If we could swap some bad bigs for a decent center I'd have us as a lock.

I wouldn't mind meeting Milwaukee either. Philly could go either way. Terrified of Toronto and Boston.

[geraldwallace]

If no moves are made then no, we have a tough as hell schedule after the next 10 games and the Wizards have a rather easy one the rest of the way

[dmutombo321]

60% odds we finish in the 36-38 win range again and miss the playoffs

40% odds we narrowly sneak into the post season only to be toyed with and embarrassed by whichever of the vastly superior top 4 seeds we face. This is likely contingent on making a short sighted win-now trade...probably one that will further hamstring their long term cap situation and/or involve parting with their first round pick.

0% odds this franchise has a snowball's chance in hell of ever advancing beyond the second round of the playoffs any time during the next half decade without blowing things up, accumulating draft picks, shedding salary and restarting from scratch

[Rich4114]

60% odds we finish in the 36-38 win range again and miss the playoffs

40% odds we narrowly sneak into the post season only to be toyed with and embarrassed by whichever of the vastly superior top 4 seeds we face. This is likely contingent on making a short sighted win-now trade...probably one that will further hamstring their long term cap situation and/or involve parting with their first round pick.

0% odds this franchise has a snowball's chance in hell of ever advancing beyond the second round of the playoffs any time during the next half decade without blowing things up, accumulating draft picks, shedding salary and restarting from scratch

Actually it’s about 1% because if we miss the playoffs and end up with a top three pick (moving up from our usual 9-12 spot) we can have Zion or one of the other top guys coming out.

[316Hornets]

update:

no

[JMAC3]

Honestly I think we will, Also think the 6th seed is very much still in play for us.

Only thing that changed was top 4 teams east got better.


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[JDR720]

Im still a yes. the top east teams got better, but the teams we are competing with either got worse (WAS/DET) or stayed the same

[Braggins]

7th seed

[HornetJail]

Yes. Detroit got worse, Miami got worse, Washington got a lot worse. Orlando probably stayed the same but if Fultz comes back and is decent they might get a little better I guess?

If we miss the playoffs, Kemba's leaving and I'm probably following.

The problem is we'll probably be the worst 7th seed in years unless JB manages to figure out how to close games.

[HornetsFan29]

yes really by default I mean look who we battling for the last 2 spots.

Heat- they suck

wiz-they have been playing a little better latly but they did just lost to the hawks and also got worse after the deadline

magic- lol

pistons-has gotten worst since the deadline they prob going to fall further back.