2016 Playoffs Stretch Run
Jan 8, 2016 19:16:04 GMT -5
Tampa Bay Bull Sharks, fernans (MIAMI HEAT), and 1 more like this
Post by Miege22 on Jan 8, 2016 19:16:04 GMT -5
Remember last year's epic playoff chase? Last year, I started this thread with the following statement:
And it did! Last year's race to the playoffs was, arguably, the closest and most exciting we've seen since the league started. We had a division championship game in the final week, in which the loser would fail to even make the playoffs. We had a first time participant in the Boston Celtics. And we had a brand new division champion in Las Vegas. It was extremely exciting...
Well, this year is shaping up to be EVEN BETTER. This is due in large part to a revitalized Western Conference. For the first time since I can remember, the Western Conference appears to be the power conference. The West boasts the top-3 records in the league, and 4 of the top-5. If the playoffs started today, the defending Western Conference champions would be the 4th seed, and perennial power Utah would be on the outside looking in. And even though Kansas City and Memphis are long shots, they are still alive to sneak into the playoffs. Things will get crazy in these final five weeks.
In the Eastern Conference, things are a little muddier. All of the traditional powers (Brooklyn, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Toronto) are in line for the playoffs, but it's not as rosy as it may seem. Tampa Bay appears to have righted the ship after losing their first 2, and Toronto, despite losing to Brooklyn, looks to solidify their spot with Gobert back, but both Atlanta and Brooklyn have tenuous grasps on the final two spots. Brooklyn leads Cleveland by a game, but the Cavaliers hold the tiebreaker due to their head-to-head victory. Atlanta owns the tiebreaker on Cleveland, but faces Brooklyn next week in a crucial match-up that could decide the final playoff spot. Again, things are bound to crazy...
EAST
North
1. Toronto 7-3
2. Brooklyn 6-4
3. Cleveland 5-5
4. Chicago 4-6
5. Boston 3-7
South
1. Tampa Bay 8-2
2. Atlanta 6-4
3. Washington 4-6
4. Charlotte 3-7
5. Orlando 1-9
WEST
Midwest
1. Houston 9-1
2. Kansas City 5-5
3. Memphis 4-6
4. Oklahoma City 2-8
*5. Minnesota 1-9
Pacific
1. Golden State 8-2
2. Portland 8-2
3. Las Vegas 7-3
4. Utah 6-4
5. Los Angeles 3-7
*-eliminated
KEY GAMES
EAST
WEEK 12: BROOKLYN vs. ATLANTA
This game very well could decide a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. At the moment, Brooklyn looks as though they will defeat the Bulls, while the Hawks trail the Thunder in a game they could still, easily, pull off (If I had to guess, Atlanta should win, as they have a significant games played advantage over the final 3 days). If both teams come into this match-up at 7-4, the winner will likely lock up a spot. Brooklyn follows up this game with Orlando and Minnesota, while Atlanta still has Orlando and Washington left on the docket.
WEST
WEEK 14: KANSAS CITY vs. MEMPHIS
If these two teams are still alive by the start of week 14, one of them won't be by the end of it. That's not speculation either. It's a fact. This will either be an elimination game, or it will be irrelevant.
INTER-CONFERENCE
WEEK 12: UTAH vs. TORONTO
Toronto will enter this game 8-3, while the Jazz will be looking to hold off Golden State to move to 7-4. For the Jazz, things are simple: Win as many games as you can. The Jazz have already lost to Las Vegas, Houston, and Portland. They really can't afford to lose any more games if they want to make the playoffs. In Toronto, the Raptors are looking for their first division title. This looks to be one of only two tough games remaining on the schedule. Win this one against Utah, and the division moves north of the border for the first time ever.
WEEK 12: CLEVELAND vs. MEMPHIS
This is one of those wild card match-ups that don't appear to hold much weight when they happen, but could hold enormous ramifications at the end of the season. Cleveland sits a game back of the playoffs, but they own the tiebreaker on the Nets. Memphis may have dug themselves too large a hole to climb out of, having lost to Vegas, Golden State, and Houston in back-to-back-back weeks (not to mention Portland earlier this season), but the last 6 are winnable. Win out, and they make things interesting. The Grizzlies are also the type of team that no higher seed wants to face in the postseason. They are loaded with young talent that will see major minutes down the stretch. Young talent that knows how to produce. If the Grizzlies can pull of this comeback, they could make noise in the playoffs.
WEEK 13: KANSAS CITY vs. TORONTO
We've covered the Raptors, so we'll move right onto the Kings in what could be their last gasp at making a playoff run. The Kings are probably going to lose this week, dropping them to 5-6 and all but out of the race. But if there's hope for the Grizzlies, there's hope for the Kings. After playing Portland, the Kings have 3 winnable games on the schedule. This is the first of two tough ones. A loss to Toronto, likely knocks them out of the playoff race. However, a team with LeBron James always has a chance.
WEEK 13: UTAH vs. ATLANTA
A likely elimination game here. This will be either the 5th or 6th loss for one of these teams. Neither of them can afford to lose 5 or 6 games. Will Blake Griffin and Mike Conley be healthy for this match-up? That's the burning question.
With only a quarter of the season left to play, the playoff chase is currently setting up to be the best in league history.
And it did! Last year's race to the playoffs was, arguably, the closest and most exciting we've seen since the league started. We had a division championship game in the final week, in which the loser would fail to even make the playoffs. We had a first time participant in the Boston Celtics. And we had a brand new division champion in Las Vegas. It was extremely exciting...
Well, this year is shaping up to be EVEN BETTER. This is due in large part to a revitalized Western Conference. For the first time since I can remember, the Western Conference appears to be the power conference. The West boasts the top-3 records in the league, and 4 of the top-5. If the playoffs started today, the defending Western Conference champions would be the 4th seed, and perennial power Utah would be on the outside looking in. And even though Kansas City and Memphis are long shots, they are still alive to sneak into the playoffs. Things will get crazy in these final five weeks.
In the Eastern Conference, things are a little muddier. All of the traditional powers (Brooklyn, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Toronto) are in line for the playoffs, but it's not as rosy as it may seem. Tampa Bay appears to have righted the ship after losing their first 2, and Toronto, despite losing to Brooklyn, looks to solidify their spot with Gobert back, but both Atlanta and Brooklyn have tenuous grasps on the final two spots. Brooklyn leads Cleveland by a game, but the Cavaliers hold the tiebreaker due to their head-to-head victory. Atlanta owns the tiebreaker on Cleveland, but faces Brooklyn next week in a crucial match-up that could decide the final playoff spot. Again, things are bound to crazy...
EAST
North
1. Toronto 7-3
2. Brooklyn 6-4
3. Cleveland 5-5
4. Chicago 4-6
5. Boston 3-7
South
1. Tampa Bay 8-2
2. Atlanta 6-4
3. Washington 4-6
4. Charlotte 3-7
5. Orlando 1-9
WEST
Midwest
1. Houston 9-1
2. Kansas City 5-5
3. Memphis 4-6
4. Oklahoma City 2-8
*5. Minnesota 1-9
Pacific
1. Golden State 8-2
2. Portland 8-2
3. Las Vegas 7-3
4. Utah 6-4
5. Los Angeles 3-7
*-eliminated
KEY GAMES
EAST
WEEK 12: BROOKLYN vs. ATLANTA
This game very well could decide a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. At the moment, Brooklyn looks as though they will defeat the Bulls, while the Hawks trail the Thunder in a game they could still, easily, pull off (If I had to guess, Atlanta should win, as they have a significant games played advantage over the final 3 days). If both teams come into this match-up at 7-4, the winner will likely lock up a spot. Brooklyn follows up this game with Orlando and Minnesota, while Atlanta still has Orlando and Washington left on the docket.
WEST
WEEK 14: KANSAS CITY vs. MEMPHIS
If these two teams are still alive by the start of week 14, one of them won't be by the end of it. That's not speculation either. It's a fact. This will either be an elimination game, or it will be irrelevant.
INTER-CONFERENCE
WEEK 12: UTAH vs. TORONTO
Toronto will enter this game 8-3, while the Jazz will be looking to hold off Golden State to move to 7-4. For the Jazz, things are simple: Win as many games as you can. The Jazz have already lost to Las Vegas, Houston, and Portland. They really can't afford to lose any more games if they want to make the playoffs. In Toronto, the Raptors are looking for their first division title. This looks to be one of only two tough games remaining on the schedule. Win this one against Utah, and the division moves north of the border for the first time ever.
WEEK 12: CLEVELAND vs. MEMPHIS
This is one of those wild card match-ups that don't appear to hold much weight when they happen, but could hold enormous ramifications at the end of the season. Cleveland sits a game back of the playoffs, but they own the tiebreaker on the Nets. Memphis may have dug themselves too large a hole to climb out of, having lost to Vegas, Golden State, and Houston in back-to-back-back weeks (not to mention Portland earlier this season), but the last 6 are winnable. Win out, and they make things interesting. The Grizzlies are also the type of team that no higher seed wants to face in the postseason. They are loaded with young talent that will see major minutes down the stretch. Young talent that knows how to produce. If the Grizzlies can pull of this comeback, they could make noise in the playoffs.
WEEK 13: KANSAS CITY vs. TORONTO
We've covered the Raptors, so we'll move right onto the Kings in what could be their last gasp at making a playoff run. The Kings are probably going to lose this week, dropping them to 5-6 and all but out of the race. But if there's hope for the Grizzlies, there's hope for the Kings. After playing Portland, the Kings have 3 winnable games on the schedule. This is the first of two tough ones. A loss to Toronto, likely knocks them out of the playoff race. However, a team with LeBron James always has a chance.
WEEK 13: UTAH vs. ATLANTA
A likely elimination game here. This will be either the 5th or 6th loss for one of these teams. Neither of them can afford to lose 5 or 6 games. Will Blake Griffin and Mike Conley be healthy for this match-up? That's the burning question.