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Is next week. 5 games on the road. 5 Western Conference opponents. Only Houston would be in the playoffs if they started today, but they just lost McGrady. After Houston they get a day off and play a re-energized Suns team. Very likely an 0-2 start to the road trip.

Then the Bobcats go on to play Sacramento, Golden State, and LA Clippers. We better beat Sacto but GS and LAC are very talented and won't be easy games. Especially on the back end of a road trip.

The Lakers just came off their most successful road trip in a very long time going undefeated. The announcers were talking about how the Lakers are focused on the title and that is why they are playing so well right now.

The Bobcats aren't the Lakers but now that they have some veterans and a good rotation they need to be focused on making the playoffs. I think going 3 and 2 would be huge on this trip but if they lose 4 out of 5 or all 5 then this season is likely over at 82 games.

I was thinking about that too. If we want a realistic shot at the playoffs we need to win 4 of these 5...I think we'll need to finish around 39 wins, and to do so we'll have to finish above +.500 the rest of the way. That means we need to beat the teams we are supposed to beat, which would be everyone except the Suns on this road trip. (We match up well against all 5 teams, though. We shouldn't have a problem)

If we win all 5, even if we lose to Orlando we should be 2 or 1 game back out of 8th. Ideally I'd like to be in control of that spot by the end of March.

I'm more worried about the Bulls and Knicks than I am about the Bucks, Pacers, and Jersey. And if you look at the standings, we can realistically catch everyone but Boston, Cleveland, Orlando, and Atlanta (WOW at Atlanta being 4th in the east.)

Fifth seed would be incredible but not impossible. I think there will be a logjam of east teams around .500.

If we do make the playoffs the team I don't want to play is Cleveland. They always seem to dominate us. But that was before we had all these new players. Thankfully the trades are done and the players can just concentrate on playing and not think about if they may be leaving.

But our starters have to start putting the ball in the bucket. If Radman can continue to play great and Augustin stays healthy, the bench looks really tough.

Making the playoffs needs to happen for buisness reasons.

Amare is out!! Maybe we can make it 5 for 5.

With 28 games left I think we will need to win at least 16 of them and ideally 18+...

I'd say we have about a 25% chance to take that 8th spot so we'll see.

FYI: Scott Fowler at the Observer thinks we will only win 12/28 games and end the season with 34 wins (asked him in his chat thing today).

I have to say that I think we are catching a very big break right now, and if we take advantage of things, it will change my opinion of our chances to make the Playoffs. Here is what I see.

1. We just beat Indiana
2. Tonight vs Orlando, they have no Nelson or Alston at PG
3. Vs Rockets, they have no McGrady and no Alston
4. Vs Suns, they have no Amare S.
5. We finish the road trip vs Kings, Warriors and Clippers, the bottom of the barrell in the West.

We actually have a chance to run all 6 of these games, giving us a 7 game streak, and making it 9 of 10. I know that is something we usually dont even dream about over here, but with the teams we are playing being depleted and us being at full strength, it can actually happen. And if it does, we will likely move from 3.5 out of 8th spot to likely being within 1, .5, or even tied. And both of our 5 game road swings will have been finished also.

Elwren wrote:With 28 games left I think we will need to win at least 16 of them and ideally 18+...

I'd say we have about a 25% chance to take that 8th spot so we'll see.

FYI: Scott Fowler at the Observer thinks we will only win 12/28 games and end the season with 34 wins (asked him in his chat thing today).

Scott Fowler has been harsh on both Charlotte teams (Panthers and Bobcats), so that doesn't surprise me at all.

If the 'Cats come out of the trip with less than 2 wins, then the season is pretty much over. Houston actually scares me the most because they are 20-6 at home. Other than that, I see 2 very good chances at LAC and at Sacto and maybe some squeakers in GS and at PHX.

i'd be OK with 3-2 on the trip.

I'd be OK if the guys kept focus on one game at a time. And have the vets teach our draftees about mental toughness. This is as good a time as any for them to learn this.

August Us Seazr wrote:I'd be OK if the guys kept focus on one game at a time. And have the vets teach our draftees about mental toughness. This is as good a time as any for them to learn this.

FAILED TEST!

Amazing how the game after the trade deadline left the Bobcats.....DEAD.

This team does not have enough to reach the playofs this season. I wrote before the season how the lack of a PF would kill this team. They didn't get one until it was relatively late in the season. Diaw is a very good player but is not a prototype 4. Still, too many losses leave no room for error. The egg they laid last night at home against the Magic demonstrate this team needed more makeover before the deadline. The FO fell back in love with Felton and he took steps back. But the whole team played poorly. Now, go out and sweep or do 4-1 on this road trip and I'll say there's hope for a respectable finish, but still not a playoff spot

Bassman wrote:

August Us Seazr wrote:I'd be OK if the guys kept focus on one game at a time. And have the vets teach our draftees about mental toughness. This is as good a time as any for them to learn this.

FAILED TEST!

Amazing how the game after the trade deadline left the Bobcats.....DEAD.

This team does not have enough to reach the playofs this season. I wrote before the season how the lack of a PF would kill this team. They didn't get one until it was relatively late in the season. Diaw is a very good player but is not a prototype 4. Still, too many losses leave no room for error. The egg they laid last night at home against the Magic demonstrate this team needed more makeover before the deadline. The FO fell back in love with Felton and he took steps back. But the whole team played poorly. Now, go out and sweep or do 4-1 on this road trip and I'll say there's hope for a respectable finish, but still not a playoff spot

Agreed. This was a horrible way to lead into a big road trip in which we have to play our best. Everyone stunk it up last night - everyone.