How Real of a Chance do we Have to Make the Playoffs?

Leor_77 · Post #1 » by **Leor_77** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 12:20 am

We all know that the 1-13 start really killed us, but that's already over and done with. At this point, I feel that we are at a good place when we are at home and the crowd is supporting us. I think that the key to making the playoffs lies in winning a good percentage of our games on the road. Also, if the bottom half of the Western Conference (MEM, POR, GS, PHX, ETC.) start to really suffer against top Western Conference teams and anyone in the East, that'll help by a game or two.

Recently · Post #2 » by **Recently** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 12:22 am

I still think its unlikely but it went from impossible a month ago, to unlikely. Maybe in another month it will be very possible. I still got to think that its unlikely though, since we dug ourselves a pretty big hole early in the season.

RiversideClips · Post #3 » by **RiversideClips** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 12:38 am

I would love for the CLIPPERS to make the playoffs, but another LOTTERY addition & the guys knowing Vinny's system.
The Clips could be another Oklahoma if they make the playoffs or for sure next year.
These CLIPS are sure exciting!!

Post #4 » by **mkwest** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 12:55 am

We have a heavy home schedule right now. Most of the games this month are in California. The odds are still not in our favor, but the opportunity is still there for us. We have to learn how to win on the road, which is where most of our games will be played to end the season. February has that brutal stretch of 11 road games. We can't go 3-8 or something like that.

We're 5.5 behind Portland with Memphis, Phoenix, Golden State and Houston in between. Let's say Melo is traded to the East and Denver takes a slide; they are still 8 games ahead of us. That's a lot of ground to cover. It is totally possible, but we can't afford to let winnable games slip away.

I didn't make it to any games in 2006, but I will be there whenever we do make it back.

jflipclip · Post #5 » by **jflipclip** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 1:01 am

We need to finish off the month of January with a bang, then we'll talk after the treacherous road trip in February...

RiversideClips · Post #6 » by **RiversideClips** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 1:39 am

we will be over .500 on the Feb. road trip.

Post #7 » by **thanumba2clippersfan** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 5:52 am

I totally agree that we need to learn to win on the road. I'm pleased that we've been winning more, but I've noticed that we've had a lot of home games. That loss in Oakland is still driving me nuts. That road trip in February is really going to make or break our season. If we can't do well in February then there will be no playoffs. I personally think the playoffs should be a goal of the team until we are mathematically eliminated.

Leor_77 · Post #8 » by **Leor_77** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 1:08 am

Man, I was looking at the comparison of the East and West standings, and I almost barfed. Indiana is at 16-22, and is the 8th seed - The teams in the East worst than the 6th seed are trash...They must continually get their asses handed to them by the Western Conference teams. If we were in the East, we would easily be a 7th seed, and maybe even a 6th seed by the end of the season.

mj_shoefanatic · Post #9 » by **mj_shoefanatic** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 1:57 am

If we can go 29-14 or better for the rest of the season then we have a chance. A 41-41 or 39-43 record would still be a huge accomplishment considering how terrible we started the season initially.

supfoo · Post #10 » by **supfoo** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 2:24 am

RiversideClips wrote:we will be over .500 on the Feb. road trip.

they're probably going to have to do better than that though. assuming they go 5-5 on this road trip (excluding the game against the lakers since it's in LA), they have to go 24-9 the rest of the way, which is still very tough (something you'd expect from a 60 win team).

someone else mentioned in another thread that going 29-14 (to reach .500) from this point on is what you would expect from a 55 win team, and i'm not quite convinced that the clippers are that good yet. so if they go .500 on this road trip, they have to play even better than that. they basically have to be one of the best teams in the league.

that brutal schedule in the beginning of the season hurt a lot. they're doing a terrific job recovering but i don't see them going .500 without anything short of a miracle.

DunknDave · Post #11 » by **DunknDave** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 4:09 am

Just echoing what everyone has said------to make the playoffs, we'd have to play like one of the best teams in the league. If we did manage to make the playoffs, we'd definitely be one tough 8th seed though!!! Usually for us at this time of the year, we're out of the playoff race, so if we even get into the race, that would be sweet. If no playoffs this year but we continue playing like we have recently, we definitely have established ourselves as a team with a bright future. We've got to continue playing well-----that's the most important thing at this point. Playing well consistently is what makes a good team; let's finish this season strong!!!

jflipclip · Post #12 » by **jflipclip** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 4:37 am

For reference, here is the long road trip in Feb., excluding the Lakers game.

@ Atlanta
@ Miami
@ Orlando
@ New York
@ Cleveland
@ Toronto
@ Milwaukee
@ Minnesota
@ Oklahoma City
@ New Orleans

The first four games are a great test-- facing East's top teams minus Chicago and Boston. Trading Kaman for a that "right SF" may prove dividends for a road trip like this... it's just figuring out the suitors and that "right SF".

EDIT: I just noticed we play Chicago before the road trip, and then Boston after the road trip. heh