Playoff Race.

[jod23]

Seen as their is plenty of interest in the last few playoff spots in both Conferences I thought I would start a thread to monitor the events as we close in on the playoffs.

In the West you have Phoenix, Houston, Golden State and perhaps even Seattle fighting for one spot. And in the East you have Milwaukee, Washington, New York and maybe even Orlando and Boston all fighting for two spots.

Makes for fun stuff down the stretch. Right now I believe the Suns and Houston are in a tie for the final spot in the West, not sure who has the tie-breaker in head to head this season.

In the East thanks the MJ, the Wizards have got two HUGELY important road wins, coming back to back over Portland and Seattle, on their 6 game western road trip. And have a decent shot to go 3-3 on their killer road trip with the Lakers and Denver to come. That would be a huge boost for Wizards, particularly after how they started the trip with the no show in Phoenix.

So the Wizards now sit half a game in front of Milwaukee. Orlando still have the Texas Turnpike to go through, Boston have lost 6 straight and are now tied with Orlando for 7th spot. Orlando face Milwaukee on the last day of the season....

Excitement plus...thoughts?

 

[Dingster]

I`m leaning towards the Suns in the west. Keep waiting for Houston to fall over, but I don`t think that I`m giving them enough credit. I`d like to see Golden State make it, but don`t think it`s going to happen.

It`s going to be even tougher in the East. The Bucks aginst the will of MJ. Washington have made it tougher on themselves by dropping a couple of easier games, but the last two wins puts them back into contention.

Hopefully both come down to the last game of the season.

 

[Fall Out Boy]

On a related note, am i the only one who finds it ludicrous that a team with a 34-37 record is actually in the playoffs (as we speak).?

It appears that mediocrity is rewarded in the NBA.

 

[Renegade]

Hopefully i DOESN'T come down to the Magic-Bucks game. Hopefully Milwaukee can get something going and be assured of a spot by that game. George Karl after the loss to Denver said the Bucks are fine, no concern about them missing out. Bull****! I remember Milwaukee needed a win on the final day of the season to make the playoffs last year and got blown out by about 40 pts.
8th - Bucks
9th Wizards
Sorry MJ

 

[coxon]

Originally posted by jod23


Makes for fun stuff down the stretch. Right now I believe the Suns and Houston are in a tie for the final spot in the West, not sure who has the tie-breaker in head to head this season.

rockets have it over the suns in the case of a tie... 3-1 in their 4 games this season..

 

[Fall Out Boy]

Re: Re: Playoff Race.

Originally posted by coxon
rockets have it over the suns in the case of a tie... 3-1 in their 4 games this season..

Marbury's injury could be the deciding factor.

The Suns won't keep winning if Steph isn't around.

 

[you_idiot]

Originally posted by phatandphreaky
On a related note, am i the only one who finds it ludicrous that a team with a 34-37 record is actually in the playoffs (as we speak).?

It appears that mediocrity is rewarded in the NBA.

It's been that way for years. It's not a recent phenomenon, by any stretch of the imagination.

Having said that, I'd be tickled pink if the Warriors upset the odds and grab the #8 seed.

 

[jod23]

Originally posted by Renegade
Hopefully i DOESN'T come down to the Magic-Bucks game. Hopefully Milwaukee can get something going and be assured of a spot by that game. George Karl after the loss to Denver said the Bucks are fine, no concern about them missing out. Bull****! I remember Milwaukee needed a win on the final day of the season to make the playoffs last year and got blown out by about 40 pts.
8th - Bucks
9th Wizards
Sorry MJ

I hope the Wizards already have the last playoff spot wrapped by the last day of the season, but if it is still up for grabs Im glad the Magic play the Bucks.

T-Mac loves the history of the game and he loves MJ. If he knows what he does could determine whether or not MJ gets into the playoffs....well look out for a 50 point game and an Orlando win!

 

[Iverson]

I hope the Wiz get the last one in the east.

It would be fitting to see Jordan bow out in the playoffs.

 

[tige19]

Orlando are gonna hand out some major headaches to whoever faces them in the playoffs id love to see the Magic off againts the Pacers id back our boys over Indiana any day.

As for the Wizards i think there gonna struggle and The Bucks are realy a 10 game a season better team than Washington.

 

[Fall Out Boy]

Originally posted by tige19
id love to see the Magic off againts the Pacers id back our boys over Indiana any day

Didn't the Pacers beat the Magic by a lazy 36 earlier in the season?

Also, have Orlando beaten them this year?

 

[tige19]

Originally posted by phatandphreaky
Didn't the Pacers beat the Magic by a lazy 36 earlier in the season?

Also, have Orlando beaten them this year?

Yeah Pacers beat us easily and i dont think we have beaten them this year but you gotta remeber that the games played againts Indiana were before the the GG trade and the Pacers from the first half of the season are a different ball club than the Pacers now not playing to well at all.

 

[Renegade]

Bucks knocked off the heat by 22 pts today and MJ's Wizards lost to Denver by 16
That brings us almost even again in the race. Wizards scored 72 pts against the Nuggets....doesn't get much worse than that.

 

[Fall Out Boy]

Originally posted by Renegade
Wizards scored 72 pts against the Nuggets....doesn't get much worse than that.

Denver are actually very effective on the defensive end.

They are top 5 in least points allowed, i think.

Still, its a shocking result for the Wizards. They really are a very ordinary conveyance.

 

[jod23]

Originally posted by phatandphreaky


Still, its a shocking result for the Wizards. They really are a very ordinary conveyance.

Denver havent actually being playing that bad of late and playing them last on a 6 game road trip, their is obviously going to be a lot of fatigue. Still it's a disappointing result but I wouldnt say it was shocking.

Half a game behind the Bucks now. Milwaukee have an absolute dream run till the end of the season now so they should make it. If the Wiz hang in their though the Bucks last two games are against the Pacers and Magic. Two games they could lose.

Ah well....Go Wizards, let's get an upset win over the Kings at MCI.

 

[Renegade]

Bucks just beat the Heat again, this time by 5 pts. Now they're a full game ahead of the Wizards.

 

[Portmanteau]

Surely AI would slot into the 5th in the MVP race after clinching Philly's play-off spot today against Orlando.

'Stats' missed out on trip-dips by one assist.

 

[jod23]

Big day today....Bucks have the Rockets, Wizards have the biggest task in Pro Ball with the Kings.

Go Wizards.

 

[jod23]

Oh and in the West, the Suns have bitchslapped Houston out of 8th spot and Seattle are making a big run at both of em. Houston need to get back on track with a win over the Bucks today...please.

Yao has to dominate against the lack of a frontcourt in Milwaukee.

 

[coxon]

Originally posted by jod23

Yao has to dominate against the lack of a frontcourt in Milwaukee.

thats if the ballhogs give him the ball...

he'll end up taking about 7,8 shots..

and it will be a shootout/brick fest between casell/payton v. francis/mobley...

 

[thehardaway]

The Wizzers slip further behind with their loss, the Bucks further ahead with their win. Phoenix are now a game and a half ahead of the Rockets in the West

 

[you_idiot]

Originally posted by jod23
Oh and in the West, the Suns have bitchslapped Houston out of 8th spot and Seattle are making a big run at both of em.

Bearing all this in mind, I think it's time for the Golden State Warriors to throw in the towel on the playoff hunt... as much as it pains me to admit this.

Just too many teams to leapfrog over, in too short a space of time.

 

[Renegade]

lovin it. Bucks next 4 games are against teams below .500
And if we take them all the Wizards will pretty much need to finish 8-0 to have a chance.
Hate to see Michael leave by missing the playoffs but Anthony Mason's long awaited championship ring is more important

 

[jordy23]

go the hornets and spurs

 

[jod23]

Disappointing for MJ fans as the playoff dream gets further away and as games start to disappear. 2 games out now and the Bucks have a dream run home. Stupid Bucks. I think I will hate them forever if they manage to keep MJ out of the playoffs.

Bucks have the tough task of beating the Cavs up next Wiz have the Hawks. But it's not all gone yet. An upset with the Cavs and win over the Hawks can get it back to just 1 game.

West looks sown up now with Phoenix grabbing that 8th spot. I dont think Houston have it in them. Seattle were making a charge but then they lost. GSW are gone. What's more interesting in the West is the Lakers and Utah and the Portland/Minnesota battle.

T-Wolves and Blazers are going to play eachother in the first round, their is no doubt about that, but who has home court advantage is the challenge. As for Utah and LA, well IMO I believe that LA is purposely losing games to stay behind Utah because they actually want Sac Town in the first round. That of course is a mistake which will see their 3 year reign come to an end.

Although getting by Utah for the 6th seed doesnt make it any easier against the Spurs who along with the Kings look like real title favourites.

Go Wiz!