RealGM

Just over halfway into the season, the western conference has 10 teams who project to 45 wins or better. things are so tight at the top that the Lakers fell from the best record to 6th seed in a week and are just 2 games ahead of the 9th team and have just one home game left before a 9 game road trip.

With their win tonight, Utah jumps from the 9th seed to the 4th seed in one night by taking over the division lead.

With their loss tonight, the Spurs are just 2 1/2 games ahead of the 9th seed after the first night of their own 9 game road trip that includes games at Phoenix, Washington, Boston, Toronto and Cleveland. And to date they've clearly benefited record wise from having 8 more home games than road games heading into tonight's game.

An 11th team, Sacramento, is showing some signs of life after getting their players healthy, and are just 6 games out of 8th seed in the loss column. Can they get back in the race?

Golden State, in 7th place, perhaps gets a boost when Webber joins them later this week.

So, of the 10 (or 11) teams in contention, which ones miss the playoffs?

Whichever team gets a serious injury.

Hollinger thinks it'll be GS and Denver. Denver is a real enigma, because they seem to get blown out so much, but have a great record anyway. Utah I'm sure is in.

Bubble teams: Portland, Houston, GS, Denver, LA Lakers, Sacramento

I think of those 6 (assuming there are 3 available spots) Houston, LA and Denver get the last three spots.

Portland: Great young team, I just don't think they can keep it up for so long. Clearly overachieving.

Houston: Great team, 2nd best defense in the league, injury problems, clearly underachieving. Starting to catch fire of late. Do you really want to bet against them making the playoffs?

GS: Consistency is key. They have been HOT with SJax in town. They live and die by their 3 point shooting, and it will always be their greatest strength and weakness. Most potential (IMO) to have a string of mediocre games.

Denver: Great record. But Melo is injured. And they seem to get blown out by the good teams. They could drop.

LA Lakers: Injuries to Ariza and especially Bynum hurt. They will continue to slowly (or not so slowly) drop in the standings until they get him back. They have to hope to get him back while they are still in playoff contention. I think they will keep a spot.

Sacramento: Up and comers. Unfortunately (and its only midway into the season too) I think they are too many games back. They're what, 6 games out of last place? Only 4? Whatever. Its just too much ground to make up. They've got injury issues of their own with Martin, and Bibby/Miller could get hurt at anytime. Not to mention potential Artest suspensions. I don't see it.

1. New Orleans
2. Phoenix
3. Dallas
4. (By seeding) Jazz
5. San Antonio
6. Denver
7. Houston
8. LA Lakers

My 2 cents.

wouldnt it be insanely weird if the Spurs miss the playoffs?

RoxFan08 wrote:1. New Orleans
2. Phoenix
3. Dallas
4. (By seeding) Jazz
5. San Antonio
6. Denver
7. Houston
8. LA Lakers

My 2 cents.

That first round matchup would be nightmare for the Jazz!!

^Yeah, they'd get their asses kicked in 5 or 6.

Anyways, IMO:

1. Phoenix
2. New Orleans
3. Dallas
4. Utah
5. San Antonio
6. L.A. Lakers
7. Golden State
8. Denver

Lakers have a nine game road trip coming up with relatively tough competition. I'm not sure they can retain their playoff spot after that trip... especially without Bynum.

I could see Denver starting to suck bigtime in the last half of the season.

I think:
1. Suns
2. Mavericks
3. Hornets
4. (By seeding) Jazz
5. Spurs
6. Rockets
7.Warriors/Lakers
8. Warriors/Lakers

9.Nuggets
10.Kings
11.Blazers
12.Clippers
13.Grizzlies
14.Wolves
15.Sonics





I would like:
1. Hornets
2. Suns
3. Mavericks (first round exit vs warriors)
4. (By seeding) Nuggets (easy)
5. Rockets
6. Warriors
7. Spurs
8. Lakers

1. Phoenix
2. Dallas
3. San Antonio
4. Utah
5. New Orleans
6. Denver
7. LA Lakers
8. Golden State

9. Houston
10. Portland
11. Sacramento

imagine warriors vs suns in the playoffs.... it might actually happen this year.. i think houston and portland miss the playoffs
1. new orleans
2. phoenix
3. dallas
4. spurs
5. lakers
6. denver
7. warriors
8. utah

i just can't see houston sstaying healthy, yao's out, tmac doesnt have a back. and portland's a great team, but they have a tough schedule ahead.

I could care less as long as my Lakers get IN

But I can sure tell you one thing, it's gonna be damn good to watch the Western Conference go at it in the playoffs

There are so many good teams, even from the 6th to 8th seed because those teams will still give the top 3 a run for their money and possible upset.

Imagine if Dallas ended up with the 1st spot and Phoenix ended up with 2nd, Lakers with 7th and Golden State with 8th.

I'm not taking into consideration the correct seeding/division format

1. Dallas Mavs
2. Phoenix Suns
3. Hornets
4. Spurs
5. Utah Jazz
6. Denver Nuggets
7. Lakers
8. Warriors

All Fun to Watch Series:

Round 1:
Mavs vs Warriors (Warriors have had their Number)
Suns vs Lakers (Lakers have dominated Suns with Bynum this year)
Spurs vs Jazz (Interesting Match-ups)
Nuggets vs Hornets (Intriguing match-up as well)

i see it like this

hornets, suns, mavs, and spurs : basically locks

fighting for the last 4 spots

nuggets
jazz
lakers
rockets
warriors

left out

blazers
kings

I really wouldn't be too bad with the Jazz playin the Spurs in the first round. If they (the Jazz) play like they are right now for the rest of the season I think they could beat anyone in a series of 7.

Are the kings playing well? I never really thought of them as a playoff team.

J~Rush wrote:Are the kings playing well? I never really thought of them as a playoff team.

yeah, they have played well lately ever since bibby came back, but i dont think that will be enough for them to make the playoffs

btw, reggie theus ftw!

Kings are 19-24 and have won six of their last ten. They need a thirteen game swing from five games below .500 to eight games above to even tie for the eighth spot.

Not happening anytime soon.

the trailblazers will make the playoffs and you can quote me on that!

^^^Why would we want to quote you on that? Theres a pretty damn good chance that they will.

I included the kings in the discussion because they just got healthy, have won 4 of the last 6, and have a 5 game home stand starting wednesday. They conceivably could be about .500 by the all star break. They are also just 6 losses out of the 8 seed. They don't have much margin for error, but I think they belong in the discussion.