Pick/Playoff Watch

[moss_is_1]

With it getting slower around here lets take a look at that Jazz pick(lotto protected).

Western Conference standings:
1. OKC(35-12)
2. SAS(30-14) - 3.5 games back
3. LAL(29-18) - 6 games back

These teams have already clinched a spot.

4. Memphis(25-19)
5. LAC(26-20)
6. Dallas(27-21)

I would say these teams are all locks to make it.

7.Denver(26-21)
8.Houston(25-22)

9.Utah(24-22) 1/2 game back
10.Phoenix(23-24) 1 1/2 games back
11.Minnesota(23-25) 2 games back

Let's look at the remaining schedules for each team, along with injuries to key players, to get an idea of what to expect.

Denver -Injuries - Danillo Gallinari(out about a month, broken thumb).
Schedule: @UTAH, @MIN, @CHI(B2B), @TOR, @CHA, @ORL, @NO, VS PHX, @GS(B2B), VS GS, VS MIN, @LAL, VS HOU, @HOU(B2B), VS LAC, @PHX, VS ORL, @OKC, @MIN(B2B)

Just starting a huge road trip for them, also playing some pretty good teams.

Houston - Injuries - Kyle Lowry(no return date, bacterial infection), Kevin Martin(shoulder, no return date yet)
Schedule: VS GS, VS DAL, VS SAC, @DAL(B2B), VS MEM, VS IND, @CHI(B2B), @LAL, @SAC, @POR(B2B), VS UTA, VS PHO, @DEN, VS DEN(B2B), @DAL, @NOH(B2B), VS GS, @MIA, VS NO

Utah - Injuries - Josh Howard(out for the season), Earl Watson(Sprained ankle), Raja Bell(Shoulder)

Schedule: @SAC, VS DEN(B2B), @ATL, @NJN(B2B), @BOS, VS SAC, @LAC(B2B), @POR, VS PHX, VS GS, @SAS, VS SAS(B2B), @HOU, @NOH, @MEM(B2B), VS DAL, @POR, VS ORL, VS PHO, VS POR

Phoenix - Injuries - NONE

Schedule: @IND, @ CLE, VS SAS, @LAC(B2B), VS NOH, @SAC, @UTA(B2B), @DEN, VS LAL(B2B), @MIN, @MEM, @HOU, @SAS(B2B), VS POR, VS OKC, VS LAC(B2B), VS DEN, @UTA, VS SAS(B2B)

Minnesota - Injuries Ricky Rubio(Torn ACL, out for year), Nikola Pekovic(Ankles, day to day), Michael Beasley(Toe, day to day).

Schedule: @OKC, VS Den, @MEM, @CHA(B2B), VS BOS, @POR, @SAC(B2B), VS GS, @NOH, VS PHX, @DEN, VS LAC(B2B), VS OKC, @IND, VS MEM(B2B), @DET, VS GS, VS DEN.

We can still definitely make the playoffs. We play a lot of the teams ahead of us, plus we own the tie breaker with Houston.

[prefuse73]

come on baby

(7) Wolves
(8) Jazz

We make the playoffs and get a pick.

[Krapinsky]

Welp, I just added Utah to my league pass account. This way I can route for our pick on some nights when the Wolves aren't playing. That way when the draft hits I can talk myself into this years equivalent to Luke Babbit being the second coming of Larry Bird, only to have my hopes dashed when Kahn trades the pick on draft night for a meddling veteran that I'll eventually talk myself into too. Then I'll find out two years later that it didn't matter because both players suck.

Can't wait!

[moss_is_1]

Welp, I just added Utah to my league pass account. This way I can route for our pick on some nights when the Wolves aren't playing. That way when the draft hits I can talk myself into this years equivalent to Luke Babbit being the second coming of Larry Bird, only to have my hopes dashed when Kahn trades the pick on draft night for a meddling veteran that I'll eventually talk myself into too. Then I'll find out two years later that it didn't matter because both players suck.

Can't wait!

That's the spirit!

[pumunga]

Minnesota - Injuries Ricky Rubio(Torn ACL, out for year), Nikola Pekovic(Ankles, day to day), Michael Beasley(Toe, day to day).

idk if its a definite possibility to make the playoffs if 3 of our 4 best players are out or day-to-day.
but last time i was a downer i got called 'not a true fan' so i predict we win out and play 16 games in the playoffs, and land the jazz pick with the best possible outcome.
#bepositive

[Yes We Kahn]

I wouldn't say the Clips are a lock. They've lost 3 in a row, 6 of their last 9, 12 of their last 19... They're in free fall and Vinny has allegedly fallen out of favor with the players.

Their schedule doesn't look horrible, but I'd still put them in a group of 6 teams (LAC, DEN, HOU, UTAH, PHO, MIN) fighting for 3 spots (6, 7, 8).

Clippers - Injuries - Chauncy Billups (Torn Achilles, out for the year), Mo Williams (knee, day to day), Kenyon Martin (shoulder, day to day)
Schedule: vs MEM, vs NOH, vs PHO, vs POR, vs UTAH, @ DAL, vs LAL, @ SAC, vs SAC, @ MEM, @ OKC, @ MIN, vs GSW, vs OKC, @ DEN, @ PHO, vs NOH, @ ATL, @ NYK

[kmgarnett21]

Reading this thread is just kinda depressing. If Rubio were healthy, we'd be a LOCK for the playoffs 110% no doubt. And maybe even be as high as 5 or 6 and looking to do some damage in the playoffs.

[Yes We Kahn]

Reading this thread is just kinda depressing. If Rubio were healthy, we'd be a LOCK for the playoffs 110% no doubt. And maybe even be as high as 5 or 6 and looking to do some damage in the playoffs.

[moss_is_1]

I wouldn't say the Clips are a lock. They've lost 3 in a row, 6 of their last 9, 12 of their last 19... They're in free fall and Vinny has allegedly fallen out of favor with the players.

Their schedule doesn't look horrible, but I'd still put them in a group of 6 teams (LAC, DEN, HOU, UTAH, PHO, MIN) fighting for 3 spots (6, 7, 8).

Clippers - Injuries - Chauncy Billups (Torn Achilles, out for the year), Mo Williams (knee, day to day), Kenyon Martin (shoulder, day to day)
Schedule: vs MEM, vs NOH, vs PHO, vs POR, vs UTAH, @ DAL, vs LAL, @ SAC, vs SAC, @ MEM, @ OKC, @ MIN, vs GSW, vs OKC, @ DEN, @ PHO, vs NOH, @ ATL, @ NYK

Yeah, I just realized that.

Utah wins tonight, but so does Houston. Utah/Denver tomorrow on ESPN.

[LordBaldric]

Welp, I just added Utah to my league pass account. This way I can route for our pick on some nights when the Wolves aren't playing. That way when the draft hits I can talk myself into this years equivalent to Luke Babbit being the second coming of Larry Bird, only to have my hopes dashed when Kahn trades the pick on draft night for a meddling veteran that I'll eventually talk myself into too. Then I'll find out two years later that it didn't matter because both players suck.

Can't wait!

Wish I had League Pass Krapinsky!!!

[Scottypax]

I wouldn't say the Clips are a lock. They've lost 3 in a row, 6 of their last 9, 12 of their last 19... They're in free fall and Vinny has allegedly fallen out of favor with the players.

Their schedule doesn't look horrible, but I'd still put them in a group of 6 teams (LAC, DEN, HOU, UTAH, PHO, MIN) fighting for 3 spots (6, 7, 8).

Clippers - Injuries - Chauncy Billups (Torn Achilles, out for the year), Mo Williams (knee, day to day), Kenyon Martin (shoulder, day to day)
Schedule: vs MEM, vs NOH, vs PHO, vs POR, vs UTAH, @ DAL, vs LAL, @ SAC, vs SAC, @ MEM, @ OKC, @ MIN, vs GSW, vs OKC, @ DEN, @ PHO, vs NOH, @ ATL, @ NYK

What a shocker!

[Scottypax]

I find myself eerily cheering for Utah and Houston. I really like what Mchale has done over there.

[post0115]

I would rather we didn't get the pick this year so we get more cap room without the cap hold for the pick. It would also give us more time to use it in a trade.

[Worm Guts]

I would rather we didn't get the pick this year so we get more cap room without the cap hold for the pick. It would also give us more time to use it in a trade.

That's a valid point, but there's also some solid wing prospects that expected to go in the late teens.

[moss_is_1]

Update after last night:

Memphis and LAC both lose last night to tighten up the standings.

4. Dallas(27-21)
5. Memphis(25-20)
6. LAC(26-21)
7. Denver(26-21)
8. Houston(26-22)

9. Utah(25-22) 1/2 game out
10. Phoenix(23-24)
11. Minnesota(23-25)
12. Portland(22-25)

Key games tonight:
Denver @ Utah - on ESPN at 9:30
Dallas @ SAS
Phoenix @ Indiana
Portland @ LAL
Minnesota @ OKC

[moss_is_1]

Update:

4. Memphis(25-20)
5. LAC(26-21)
6. Dallas(27-22)
7.UTAH(26-22)
8. Houston(26-22)

9.Denver(26-22)
10. Phoenix(24-24)
11. Minnesota(23-26)

Key games: LAC defeated Memphis
Dallas@Houston on NBATV.

[shangrila]

GO UTAAHHHHHHHHHH

[bluethunder0005]

I'm not entirely sold now on how much I'd like him but Harrison Barnes had a dreadful tournament and he wasn't going to be taken very highly before that. If Utah makes the playoffs it wouldn't shock me if Barnes was there around the 17th pick or so.

[karch34]

I'm not entirely sold now on how much I'd like him but Harrison Barnes had a dreadful tournament and he wasn't going to be taken very highly before that. If Utah makes the playoffs it wouldn't shock me if Barnes was there around the 17th pick or so.

Anything is possible, but that's a huge fall for someone who has been considered around top 3 for two years. Can't remember anyone falling that much in recent history. I think Rudy Gay was considered #1 by some before the year he came out and dropped to 7. I want to say there was someone awhile back that was considered top of lottery and dropped to second round awhile back though. Anyone remember that? Last name was like Porter and Warriors took him in second?

[Devilzsidewalk]

I'm not entirely sold now on how much I'd like him but Harrison Barnes had a dreadful tournament and he wasn't going to be taken very highly before that. If Utah makes the playoffs it wouldn't shock me if Barnes was there around the 17th pick or so.

Anything is possible, but that's a huge fall for someone who has been considered around top 3 for two years. Can't remember anyone falling that much in recent history. I think Rudy Gay was considered #1 by some before the year he came out and dropped to 7. I want to say there was someone awhile back that was considered top of lottery and dropped to second round awhile back though. Anyone remember that? Last name was like Porter and Warriors took him in second?

Chris Taft?

As for Barnes, I'm sure he still goes top 10. On the grounds of purely draft slotting though, both Barnes and P Jones made bad choices coming back for sophomore years (and yes I'm also bitter b/c both were on my radar last year and I was pissed they ran out on us. Have fun catching alley oops from Jarret Jack instead of Rubio you jerks *sniff*.)

Personally, I think you can make a case for Barnes, Sullinger, Kidd-Gilchrist, Lamb, and maybe even Drummond @ pick 2. I guess Robinson too, though he'd be out of the top 10 for me.