2015 Playoffs Stretch Run
Jan 18, 2015 22:19:40 GMT -5
Kots (Colorado GM), studiscus(Vegas), and 1 more like this
Post by Miege22 on Jan 18, 2015 22:19:40 GMT -5
With only a quarter of the season left to play, the playoff chase is currently setting up to be the best in league history. Here's where things stand:
EAST
North
1. Brooklyn: 10-2
2. Boston: 9-3
3. Toronto: 8-4
*-4. Cleveland: 5-7
*-5. Chicago: 3-9
South
1. Tampa Bay 8-4
2. Orlando 8-4
3. Atlanta 7-5
*-4. Washington 5-7
*-5. Charlotte 1-11
WEST
Midwest
1. Houston 9-3
2. Oklahoma City 7-5
3. Minnesota 5-7
*-4. Kansas City 2-10
*-5. Memphis 0-12
Pacific
x-1. Las Vegas 10-2
2. Utah 8-4
3. Portland 6-6
4. Golden State 6-6
*-5. Seattle 3-9
*-eliminated
PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
EAST
This conference is kind of a cluster at the moment. Six different teams could win a division, let alone make the playoffs. At the moment, the Nets hold the inside track. They currently sit at 10-2 with victories over Boston, Toronto, and Tampa Bay. Two wins, or several combinations of a win and various other losses, could clinch a playoff spot for Brooklyn. Their magic number to win the division (any combination of wins and Boston losses) is 3.
The Celtics look like the next safest bet to make the postseason. Boston is 9-3 with wins over Toronto, Tampa Bay and Atlanta. The remaining schedule, however, is brutal. Boston will face Houston, Las Vegas, and a streaking Golden State team over the next four weeks.
Toronto, despite trailing Boston by a game, should have the easier road to the playoffs. They face Kansas City, Seattle and an injury-depleted Trailblazers team before finishing up with Oklahoma City. They own wins over Orlando and Tampa Bay, but if they finished tied with Atlanta and Boston, they will be in a world of trouble having lost to both.
In the South division, the Bull Sharks are now a step ahead having defeated Orlando. There is a good chance this team will need to win the division to make the playoffs. They've lost to Brooklyn, Boston and Toronto. It could come down to the final week of the season, when Tampa Bay faces off with Atlanta.
Orlando still has two huge games remaining on the schedule when they play Brooklyn and Atlanta in back-to-back weeks. Win both, and their chances of making the playoffs look great. Lose one or both, and that will likely take them out of the running.
Atlanta got a huge win this past week taking down Brooklyn to keep their playoff hopes alive. There is no doubt that Atlanta's season is coming down to the last two weeks when they face Orlando and Tampa Bay.
WEST
The Western conference has caught up to the East, somewhat, after a slow start. However, the playoff race here may be even crazier than out east. Seven teams are still alive, and all seven could still, technically, win a division.
While all seven are still in the running for a division, one team has clinched a playoff spot: the Las Vegas Gamblers. The Gamblers became the first team in the league to secure a playoff spot with their win over Washington this past week. However, they lost their head-to-head match-up with Utah, meaning their magic number to clinch the division is 3.
The Jazz narrowly avoided their first three-game losing streak in franchise history, beating Toronto last week. They can still win the division if they finished tied with Las Vegas, and they likely need at least two wins to make it to the playoffs.
Portland is back from the dead after winning 4 of their last 5 and three in a row. Unfortunately, they are kind of behind the 8-ball. Portland has lost to Houston, Utah, Golden State, OKC, and Las Vegas. The only team still alive in the conference that they've beaten is Minnesota. To make matters worse, they have been hammered by the injury bug, and their next three opponents are Orlando, Toronto, and Tampa Bay.
Meanwhile, Golden State has won four in a row to jump back into the playoff race, and they can make it five in a row with a win over Washington. After that, however, they face three of the top four in the East: Boston, Brooklyn and Orlando. Much like Portland, Golden State is going to need a borderline miracle.
In the Midwest, Houston has the inside track despite having just lost to OKC. The Rockets have a two game lead on the Thunder, and two of their last four opponents are Kansas City and Seattle. One more win gets them in.
Oklahoma City appears to be peaking at the perfect time, winning their fifth in a row against Houston. The Rockets also own wins over Golden State and Portland, which will be huge down the stretch. The schedule is not easy though, as the Thunder face Utah, Minnesota and Toronto in the final three weeks of the season.
Minnesota is hanging on by a thread right now after a brutal loss to the Kings all but ended their playoff hopes. Minnesota faces Brooklyn this week, and a loss combined with a Thunder win against the Grizzlies (basically a guarantee) ends their season.
Update next week
EAST
North
1. Brooklyn: 10-2
2. Boston: 9-3
3. Toronto: 8-4
*-4. Cleveland: 5-7
*-5. Chicago: 3-9
South
1. Tampa Bay 8-4
2. Orlando 8-4
3. Atlanta 7-5
*-4. Washington 5-7
*-5. Charlotte 1-11
WEST
Midwest
1. Houston 9-3
2. Oklahoma City 7-5
3. Minnesota 5-7
*-4. Kansas City 2-10
*-5. Memphis 0-12
Pacific
x-1. Las Vegas 10-2
2. Utah 8-4
3. Portland 6-6
4. Golden State 6-6
*-5. Seattle 3-9
*-eliminated
PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
EAST
This conference is kind of a cluster at the moment. Six different teams could win a division, let alone make the playoffs. At the moment, the Nets hold the inside track. They currently sit at 10-2 with victories over Boston, Toronto, and Tampa Bay. Two wins, or several combinations of a win and various other losses, could clinch a playoff spot for Brooklyn. Their magic number to win the division (any combination of wins and Boston losses) is 3.
The Celtics look like the next safest bet to make the postseason. Boston is 9-3 with wins over Toronto, Tampa Bay and Atlanta. The remaining schedule, however, is brutal. Boston will face Houston, Las Vegas, and a streaking Golden State team over the next four weeks.
Toronto, despite trailing Boston by a game, should have the easier road to the playoffs. They face Kansas City, Seattle and an injury-depleted Trailblazers team before finishing up with Oklahoma City. They own wins over Orlando and Tampa Bay, but if they finished tied with Atlanta and Boston, they will be in a world of trouble having lost to both.
In the South division, the Bull Sharks are now a step ahead having defeated Orlando. There is a good chance this team will need to win the division to make the playoffs. They've lost to Brooklyn, Boston and Toronto. It could come down to the final week of the season, when Tampa Bay faces off with Atlanta.
Orlando still has two huge games remaining on the schedule when they play Brooklyn and Atlanta in back-to-back weeks. Win both, and their chances of making the playoffs look great. Lose one or both, and that will likely take them out of the running.
Atlanta got a huge win this past week taking down Brooklyn to keep their playoff hopes alive. There is no doubt that Atlanta's season is coming down to the last two weeks when they face Orlando and Tampa Bay.
WEST
The Western conference has caught up to the East, somewhat, after a slow start. However, the playoff race here may be even crazier than out east. Seven teams are still alive, and all seven could still, technically, win a division.
While all seven are still in the running for a division, one team has clinched a playoff spot: the Las Vegas Gamblers. The Gamblers became the first team in the league to secure a playoff spot with their win over Washington this past week. However, they lost their head-to-head match-up with Utah, meaning their magic number to clinch the division is 3.
The Jazz narrowly avoided their first three-game losing streak in franchise history, beating Toronto last week. They can still win the division if they finished tied with Las Vegas, and they likely need at least two wins to make it to the playoffs.
Portland is back from the dead after winning 4 of their last 5 and three in a row. Unfortunately, they are kind of behind the 8-ball. Portland has lost to Houston, Utah, Golden State, OKC, and Las Vegas. The only team still alive in the conference that they've beaten is Minnesota. To make matters worse, they have been hammered by the injury bug, and their next three opponents are Orlando, Toronto, and Tampa Bay.
Meanwhile, Golden State has won four in a row to jump back into the playoff race, and they can make it five in a row with a win over Washington. After that, however, they face three of the top four in the East: Boston, Brooklyn and Orlando. Much like Portland, Golden State is going to need a borderline miracle.
In the Midwest, Houston has the inside track despite having just lost to OKC. The Rockets have a two game lead on the Thunder, and two of their last four opponents are Kansas City and Seattle. One more win gets them in.
Oklahoma City appears to be peaking at the perfect time, winning their fifth in a row against Houston. The Rockets also own wins over Golden State and Portland, which will be huge down the stretch. The schedule is not easy though, as the Thunder face Utah, Minnesota and Toronto in the final three weeks of the season.
Minnesota is hanging on by a thread right now after a brutal loss to the Kings all but ended their playoff hopes. Minnesota faces Brooklyn this week, and a loss combined with a Thunder win against the Grizzlies (basically a guarantee) ends their season.
Update next week