Playoff Watch 2020

Post #1 » by **codydaze** » Thu Feb 27, 2020 5:56 pm

The battle for the 8 seed out West should prove to be a bloodbath in the last 25 games. Current standings are:

8. Memphis Grizzles (32-33)

9. Portland Trailblazers (29-37) [3.5 GB]
9. New Orleans Pelicans (28-36) [3.5 GB]
10. Sacramento Kings (28-36) [3.5 GB]
12. San Antonio Spurs (27-36) [4 GB]
13. Phoenix Suns (26-39) [6 GB]

I will update the OP daily to keep it current, do you think we get in or just miss out?

[Updated through 3/10/20]

Post #2 » by **codydaze** » Thu Feb 27, 2020 5:58 pm

The back to back that starts tonight against OKC and then tomorrow against Memphis will be super important for our playoff hopes. If we could pick up two wins we should be in a very good spot to make a legitimate push.

The next four games will be Detroit, Washington, a banged up Philly team and a banged up Portland team. Dame might be back for the Portland game but those should all be winnable games, just need to play with some fire and go take it.

BoogieTime · Post #3 » by **BoogieTime** » Thu Feb 27, 2020 7:11 pm

Only 3.5 back, it’s in sight

Need the Memphis game

SmellingColors · Post #4 » by **SmellingColors** » Sat Feb 29, 2020 4:36 pm

If the Pelicans lose to the Lakers and we beat the Pistons, we'll be tied for the 9th spot. I think we have our 2 games against the Pelicans left this year too. I voted saying we probably wouldn't make the playoffs, but we definitely have a shot. Especially with this stretch of games (Pistons, Wizards, 76ers on the road without Simmons and maybe Embiid, and Blazers) before the Raptors who we played tough and the Pelicans. If we can 3-2 over that stretch we'll be at 28-36. During that stretch, the Pelicans play the Lakers, Mavericks, Wolves twice, and Heat. The Heat have been dropping some, but if the Pelicans go 2-3 over that stretch they'll be 28-36 when we play. Pretty dramatic. After the season we've had, it's at least exciting to be in the mix for the playoffs.

Lost in LA · Post #5 » by **Lost in LA** » Sat Feb 29, 2020 6:27 pm

If we can get around 36 wins, it won't be a disaster as it looked a month ago, but we may lose Giles out of stupidity from the front office.

Post #6 » by **codydaze** » Mon Mar 2, 2020 5:59 pm

Updated the OP as of Monday morning. In a three-way tie for 9th! 3 games back from the playoffs right now.

SmellingColors · Post #7 » by **SmellingColors** » Tue Mar 3, 2020 5:22 am

Maybe I've been writing off the Grizzlies too early. Two convincing wins, after losing to us, against the Lakers and Hawks. They're almost back to .500 already...

Post #8 » by **codydaze** » Tue Mar 3, 2020 8:12 pm

Updated through Monday.

Big game against Washington today, this is a must win.

Portland and Memphis with big wins yesterday, sounds like Portland will be getting Dame back soon so they're shaping up to finish strong.

Today's Key Games:
SA @ CHA
MIN @ NOP
TOR @ PHO
WAS @ SAC

SmellingColors · Post #9 » by **SmellingColors** » Wed Mar 4, 2020 5:30 am

codydaze wrote:Updated through Monday.

Big game against Washington today, this is a must win.

Portland and Memphis with big wins yesterday, sounds like Portland will be getting Dame back soon so they're shaping up to finish strong.

Today's Key Games:
SA @ CHA
MIN @ NOP
TOR @ PHO
WAS @ SAC

Only game that didn't break for us was SA so we're now tied with SA for 9th and the Pelicans dropped back a game in the loss column.

EDIT: Scratch that I think we're in sole possession of 9th right now.

Post #10 » by **codydaze** » Wed Mar 4, 2020 5:32 am

Updated OP after tonight's results. We now have sole possession of the 9th spot and are 3 games back from Memphis and the 8 seed.

Post #11 » by **codydaze** » Thu Mar 5, 2020 5:37 pm

Memphis and Portland picked up big wins yesterday but the Pels fell in overtime to Dallas. Tonight is a big game for us, no Simmons or Embiid for Philly so we need to take advantage of them being shorthanded and come out with a win. Looks like it's going to be a three team race between Memphis, Portland and Sacramento and it's Memphis' spot to lose.

Post #12 » by **codydaze** » Mon Mar 9, 2020 4:52 pm

Tough loss to Toronto last night puts us at 4 games back and tied with NOP for the 9 spot. Huge game wednesday night against the Pels, really a must win. Game is going to be on ESPN so hopefully we can go get a win.

Memphis has a pretty tough schedule to close out March too, we need every win we can get from here on out. I say 40-41 wins could do it, but 42 should be a lock for the 8 spot.

BoogieTime · Post #13 » by **BoogieTime** » Tue Mar 10, 2020 3:24 am

Monstrous game against Pelicans. For the standings, and to stem the tide of last nights heartbreak

Win, all is back on track. Lose, pretty hard to come back from

LightTheBeam · Post #14 » by **LightTheBeam** » Tue Mar 10, 2020 6:04 pm

Feels like any chances we had significantly decreased with Philly and Toronto. We've been playing great basketball, but we needed to steal 1 if not both of those. Especially Philly down Simmons/Embid/Richardson.

4 games down with 18 left is tough but good news is Memphis has a super tough schedule with games vs

Jazz, Thunder (x2), Bucks, Celtics, Raptors(x2), Mavs, Nuggets, 76ers, and Rockets. Thats 11 incredibly tough games. Then they have a handful of games vs Blazers (x2), Spurs, Pelicans (x2), Magic that arent exactly gimmes. So I could definitely see them going 6-12 maybe even worse.

But as I've said the last month, its going to come down to the Pelicans who the NBA wants in the playoffs. Zion vs Lebron would have INSANE ratings. We play them twice, I have a feeling the refs will have a big hand in those games. However if we manage to pull both off Id feel pretty good.

Looking at Kings and Pelicans schedule, it doesnt look promising.

Post #15 » by **City of Trees** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 2:35 am

Memphis with the 2nd toughest remaining schedule just lost one of their lay up games against Orlando.

Ouch town population Memphis

SmellingColors · Post #16 » by **SmellingColors** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:45 am

I may be in the minority, but I actually don't think losing the Raptors/Sixers games are the worst. There are going to be hiccups, but I thought this record leading up to the Pelicans was about where we'd realistically be and that that's an okay place to be right now. I think this playoff race will come down to who can beat who among the Blazers, Pelicans, Spurs, and us. I also think that's how it should be. If we can beat these teams down the stretch when it matters (Pelicans twice, Spurs twice is already 4 games closer to .500) then I think we'll get in partly because these teams will want it the most and if we have the ability to win against them, then that'll translate into wins against many of the other teams down the stretch. If we can't, then it was fools gold to end the season and we move on to the draft. I'd be very surprised if we win those 4 games and don't make the playoffs though or vice versa.

Post #17 » by **codydaze** » Wed Mar 11, 2020 7:04 pm

Big time loss for Memphis last night but Portland was able to get a win over Phoenix. Tonight's game will be huge for us, really need to beat New Orleans, especially since it's on national tv

A win would give us sole possession of the 9 seed again and bring us to 3 games back from Memphis. This race is going down to the final 3-4 games of the season.

Post #18 » by **KF10** » Thu Jun 11, 2020 1:37 am

I'm sure you guys know that the Kings were invited to be in that 22-team collective in Orlando to restart the season.

The schedule hasn't come yet but surely this gives the Kings a "better" shot at making the playoffs, right? Especially with that "play-in" rule?

BoogieTime · Post #19 » by **BoogieTime** » Wed Jun 17, 2020 6:34 am

I fear Portland the most, with those bigs back

Will be all kinds of weird watching the Kings play meaningful games in these months