Griffin Trade/Wall Injury's Effect on Playoff Picture

[boomershadow]

We currently sit at #7 in the East with a record of 28-23. At #9 are on the Pistons who just pulled off that trade for Blake Griffin. It looks like they're doing whatever they can to make a push for the playoffs. At #6 are the Wizards that just lost John Wall for 6 weeks with an injury. Do you think this affects where the playoff seeding is going to shake out?

[Tom White]

Is Griffin healthy these days? If he is, how long do you think he will last before another injury sidelines him?

I honestly don't follow the Clippers. I also don't stop and stare at car crashes, so at least I'm consistent. HA!

I wonder how Griffin will fit with Detroit's existing front court players. In particular, with Drummond, that lane could get really crowded at times.

Wall may miss about six weeks? That is going to hurt Washington. Full disclosure - Although Wall is undeniably talented I've never cared for his style of play. It leads to un-involvement of the others on the floor. It has also always seemed if he didn't have the ball, he tended to play un-involved himself.

Both teams will need time to adjust and will suffer for at least a while this season. Could bode well for the Pacers.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

Is Griffin healthy these days? If he is, how long do you think he will last before another injury sidelines him?

I honestly don't follow the Clippers. I also don't stop and stare at car crashes, so at least I'm consistent. HA!

I wonder how Griffin will fit with Detroit's existing front court players. In particular, with Drummond, that lane could get really crowded at times.

Wall may miss about six weeks? That is going to hurt Washington. Full disclosure - Although Wall is undeniably talented I've never cared for his style of play. It leads to un-involvement of the others on the floor. It has also always seemed if he didn't have the ball, he tended to play un-involved himself.

Both teams will need time to adjust and will suffer for at least a while this season. Could bode well for the Pacers.

Well, Blake Griffin has spent most or all of his career with DeAndre Jordan, so I don't think the spacing with him and Drummond is going to be an issue. Blake has been shooting a lot more 3s this year as well. The injury concerns are definitely legit though.

Yea, not having Wall is going to hurt the Wizards - especially being a team known for not really having a lot of depth.

[boomershadow]

I honestly don't follow the Clippers. I also don't stop and stare at car crashes, so at least I'm consistent. HA!

They're over .500 in the Western Conference the season after they traded probably their best player.

[Wizop]

Washington should slide but whether Detroit will move up or the opportunity will be seized by NY or even Charlotte is an open question to me.

[Yunsen]

To me Detroit is a worse New Orelans (pre Boogie injury). They have 0 depth and Blake is injury prone. As far as Washington I think they’re going to slide pretty hard and it’ll create a gap between the 7th and 8th seed depending on exactly how long Wall is out.

[Tom White]

I honestly don't follow the Clippers. I also don't stop and stare at car crashes, so at least I'm consistent. HA!

They're over .500 in the Western Conference the season after they traded probably their best player.

Yeah, you're right. I was speaking more of the various dramas they seem to have or had. Doc and his son (getting playing time over arguably better players). CP3 and Griffin sniping at each other at times. Those sort of things.

[pizza guy]

I'm definitely interested to see how the Pistons are affected. If (/when) Blake goes down with some injury, Detroit is going to be in trouble. But when he's healthy, they've probably got the best frontcourt in the East. They're going to be very tough. But outside of Kennard, that team is desperate for perimeter shooting. Blake is a major star in this league and that's going to be an adjustment for the Pistons.

The Wizards are already .500 without Wall in the lineup, in 12 total games. Beal is having a great season, individually. But Washington has been terribly underwhelming as a team. Maybe Beal and Oubre step up and they rise to the occasion. Or maybe the whole roster becomes dejected and detached. I took a look at their schedule for the next 6 weeks, and of their 20 games in that span, only 4 of them are (current) non-playoff teams. Overall, if they hang onto .500 while Wall is out, I think it'd be quite the accomplishment. It might not be enough though. Milwaukee, Indy, and Washington are in a dead heat for spots 5, 6, and 7, with Philly in 8th and the new Pistons in 9th. I think there's a chance here that Washington might drop to that 8th or 9th spot if they dip below .500 and MIL/IND simply continue on their current paces (but I think the Pacers have a considerably easier schedule over that same stretch).

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

I'm wondering if the Clippers would maybe try to flip Tobias Harris for a younger player/pick or if they view him as apart of their future core.

[Wizop]

Washington beat OKC tonight so reports of their death may have been premature.

Sent from my phone.

[Jake0890]

Guess who else just got hurt? KLove.

I would expect Washington and Cleveland to drop into the 5-8 spots and the us, the Pistons, and Bucks to be the beneficiaries of the shift.

[boomershadow]

Guess who else just got hurt? KLove.

And the team is only two games behind the Cavs.

We need to do some black magic or a crossroads deal or something aimed at keeping Oladipo healthy. All-Stars seem to be going down left and right after the lineups were announced.

[cruwinas]

Pacers will get a higher seed. With current Love injury - even first round home court advantage is very real.

[Pacersike]

Pacers will get a higher seed. With current Love injury - even first round home court advantage is very real.

When 3 returns and gives us a huge upgrade at the 3, we will be the best team in the East

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

Washington beat OKC tonight so reports of their death may have been premature.

Sent from my phone.

This is fairly common right after a star is injured.

Didn't the Pacers win their first game after the brawl with Fred Jones leading the way?

It typically wears off. They'll start losing some games as well most likely.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

Pacers will get a higher seed. With current Love injury - even first round home court advantage is very real.

Our record with Oladipo would have us at the #3 seed I believe. Going 0-5 without him wrecked us haha.

[Wizop]

Pacers will get a higher seed. With current Love injury - even first round home court advantage is very real.

Our record with Oladipo would have as at the #3 seed I believe. Going 0-5 without him wrecked us haha.

I think we'll have trouble passing Miami and Milwaukee, but a reverse jinx might be just what the Doctor ordered.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

Pacers will get a higher seed. With current Love injury - even first round home court advantage is very real.

Our record with Oladipo would have as at the #3 seed I believe. Going 0-5 without him wrecked us haha.

I think we'll have trouble passing Miami and Milwaukee, but a reverse jinx might be just what the Doctor ordered.

Haha true, I wasn't making any projections of us passing them. But with Oladipo, we are 28-18, which would have us as the #3 seed right now.

[cruwinas]

Our record with Oladipo would have as at the #3 seed I believe. Going 0-5 without him wrecked us haha.

I think we'll have trouble passing Miami and Milwaukee, but a reverse jinx might be just what the Doctor ordered.

Haha true, I wasn't making any projections of us passing them. But with Oladipo, we are 28-18, which would have us as the #3 seed right now.

Without Dipo Pacers are 0-5. And it's not like Pacers played all these games against GSW.
Without Myles Pacers are 9-7 (but Dipo and Domas were starting in those games).
Without Domas Pacers are 0-2. Home loss to Pelicans with Cousins and Davis, road loss to Pistons (with Drummond).

Conclusion: if before mention trio is healthy, Pacers are the top 3 team in the East. Earlier somewhere I wrote, that Pacers would overtake Celtics for #3 spot (I didn't expect Celtics to sustain their super hot start). But now situation is completely different. With the current state of Cavs, #3 spot in the East is available to claim. Pacers, stay healthy

Pacers can pass Miami. Heat has a superstar coach, but players win games. Just checked their schedule - it's more difficult than Pacers.
Bucks. After letting Kidd go they won four games in a row: home games against Suns, Nets and Sixers, one road game against Bulls. Unimpressive 4 games winning streak. Next game they play February 1 in Minnesota (that's a tough one). Their schedule after February first strength wise almost the same as Pacers. So no advantage here for the Pacers. Conclusion - if Pacers trio stays healthy - Pacers will leave Bucks behind in the standings then the regular season concludes.
Wizards lost Wall, that's a big disadvantage.
Horrible Cavs lost Love (maybe till the end of the regular season). Ugly team just got uglier.

For Pacers to overtake Celtics for #2 spot - it's almost mission impossible. But I wrote "almost", got me

All the things aside, it would be good for us if Pacers could see postseason

[Wizop]

if Pacers trio stays healthy - Pacers will leave Bucks behind in the standings

you need to factor in the return of Jabari Parker who has been injured but is coming back Friday.