2017 Playoffs Stretch Run
Jan 9, 2017 22:55:30 GMT -5
Tampa Bay Bull Sharks, Kots (Colorado GM), and 3 more like this
Post by Miege22 on Jan 9, 2017 22:55:30 GMT -5
As is our yearly custom around here, it's time to take a look at the standings as we gear up for the final five weeks of the regular season.
EAST
The Eastern Conference is on the verge of a couple of historic events. For starters, the Brooklyn Nets, a team that has won two titles and appeared in every playoffs since the league started is 2-9. They have already been eliminated from the postseason, making it the first time in league history they will not take part in the second season. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls are looking to end their postseason drought and make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. With five games to go, they trail the 4th-seeded Toronto Raptors by a game, and the Raptors own the tiebreaker (essentially giving them a two game edge). While the Bulls don't necessarily need to run the table, they are going to need some help. The rest of the East looks relatively normal. Tampa Bay is leading the way at 10-1. Atlanta is firmly in the 3rd slot at 8-3. The surprise here is Washington, who is also 10-1, though the Bull Sharks own the tiebreaker.
1. Tampa Bay 10-1
2. Washington 10-1
3. Atlanta 8-3
4. Toronto 7-4
5. Chicago 6-5
6. Cleveland 5-6
7. Orlando 4-7
^-8. Brooklyn 2-9
^-9. Charlotte 2-9
^-10. Boston 0-11
WEST
Things are a little more jumbled in the Western Conference, though a new favorite has emerged for the third straight season. After years of Utah domination, Las Vegas broke through in 2015 as the team to beat. Last year that honor went to Houston. This year, after years of building assets, Memphis has emerged as one of the scariest juggernauts this league has seen in years. The Grizzlies are led by a fearsome frontcourt featuring Joel Embiid, Karl-Anthony Towns, Julius Randle, Serge Ibaka and Paul George. The Grizzlies are young, they're deep, and they own the 2017 draft picks of Boston and Minnesota, both likely to be top-5. Right behind Memphis are Houston and Golden State, both of whom have separated themselves from the pack. After those two, we get into the jumbled mess that is the final spot. The Jazz, Lakers and Gamblers are all tied at 6-5, but Utah has already defeated both LA and LV.
1. Memphis 10-1
2. Houston 9-2
3. Golden State 9-2
4. Utah 6-5
5. Las Vegas 6-5
6. Los Angeles 6-5
7. Oklahoma City 4-7
8. Kansas City 3-8
9. Portland 2-9
^-10. Minnesota 1-10
PREDICTIONS
The easiest call is Memphis locking up the #1 seed. The Grizzlies are almost certainly going 15-1, as their schedule was remarkably front-loaded. Houston has the inside track on the 2 seed, and four of their last five are gimmes. The Warriors also have four locks on their schedule, but their fifth game is Washington, while Houston's is Los Angeles. Best guess is Houston lands the two, and GS the three, but it's really irrelevant as these two are assuredly going to face each other in the semis. The last spot? Utah. Las Vegas still has to play Washington and Tampa, while LA finishes the season with Houston, Toronto, and Washington. Given that Utah already owns the tiebreaker, it would take a miracle for them to miss out.
In the East, Tampa Bay should land the top seed... and then things get interesting. Washington will likely land the number two, as the league has never adhered to the rule that division winners are guaranteed a top-2 seed. However, division titles have been used as a tiebreaker between a third seed and four seed (2015 - Tampa and Toronto both finished 10-6, though Tampa received the three seed, despite losing the head-to-head, because they were a division winner). If Atlanta finishes third, and there's no guarantee that will happen as they face Washington, Tampa and Utah in three of their last four, then the two division winners will face off in the semis. If Toronto and Atlanta finish tied, Toronto will avoid the division winner as they will win the tiebreaker due to their division crown. Got it?
EAST
The Eastern Conference is on the verge of a couple of historic events. For starters, the Brooklyn Nets, a team that has won two titles and appeared in every playoffs since the league started is 2-9. They have already been eliminated from the postseason, making it the first time in league history they will not take part in the second season. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls are looking to end their postseason drought and make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. With five games to go, they trail the 4th-seeded Toronto Raptors by a game, and the Raptors own the tiebreaker (essentially giving them a two game edge). While the Bulls don't necessarily need to run the table, they are going to need some help. The rest of the East looks relatively normal. Tampa Bay is leading the way at 10-1. Atlanta is firmly in the 3rd slot at 8-3. The surprise here is Washington, who is also 10-1, though the Bull Sharks own the tiebreaker.
1. Tampa Bay 10-1
2. Washington 10-1
3. Atlanta 8-3
4. Toronto 7-4
5. Chicago 6-5
6. Cleveland 5-6
7. Orlando 4-7
^-8. Brooklyn 2-9
^-9. Charlotte 2-9
^-10. Boston 0-11
WEST
Things are a little more jumbled in the Western Conference, though a new favorite has emerged for the third straight season. After years of Utah domination, Las Vegas broke through in 2015 as the team to beat. Last year that honor went to Houston. This year, after years of building assets, Memphis has emerged as one of the scariest juggernauts this league has seen in years. The Grizzlies are led by a fearsome frontcourt featuring Joel Embiid, Karl-Anthony Towns, Julius Randle, Serge Ibaka and Paul George. The Grizzlies are young, they're deep, and they own the 2017 draft picks of Boston and Minnesota, both likely to be top-5. Right behind Memphis are Houston and Golden State, both of whom have separated themselves from the pack. After those two, we get into the jumbled mess that is the final spot. The Jazz, Lakers and Gamblers are all tied at 6-5, but Utah has already defeated both LA and LV.
1. Memphis 10-1
2. Houston 9-2
3. Golden State 9-2
4. Utah 6-5
5. Las Vegas 6-5
6. Los Angeles 6-5
7. Oklahoma City 4-7
8. Kansas City 3-8
9. Portland 2-9
^-10. Minnesota 1-10
PREDICTIONS
The easiest call is Memphis locking up the #1 seed. The Grizzlies are almost certainly going 15-1, as their schedule was remarkably front-loaded. Houston has the inside track on the 2 seed, and four of their last five are gimmes. The Warriors also have four locks on their schedule, but their fifth game is Washington, while Houston's is Los Angeles. Best guess is Houston lands the two, and GS the three, but it's really irrelevant as these two are assuredly going to face each other in the semis. The last spot? Utah. Las Vegas still has to play Washington and Tampa, while LA finishes the season with Houston, Toronto, and Washington. Given that Utah already owns the tiebreaker, it would take a miracle for them to miss out.
In the East, Tampa Bay should land the top seed... and then things get interesting. Washington will likely land the number two, as the league has never adhered to the rule that division winners are guaranteed a top-2 seed. However, division titles have been used as a tiebreaker between a third seed and four seed (2015 - Tampa and Toronto both finished 10-6, though Tampa received the three seed, despite losing the head-to-head, because they were a division winner). If Atlanta finishes third, and there's no guarantee that will happen as they face Washington, Tampa and Utah in three of their last four, then the two division winners will face off in the semis. If Toronto and Atlanta finish tied, Toronto will avoid the division winner as they will win the tiebreaker due to their division crown. Got it?