Post by Miege22 on Jan 7, 2019 12:44:06 GMT -5
Four weeks remain in the regular season, and literally nothing has been decided yet. Honestly can't remember the last time that happened. Let's see where we stand:
WEST
1. Memphis Grizzlies (11-1)
MAGIC NUMBER: 1
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Brooklyn (9-3), Cleveland (0-12), Seattle (7-5), Las Vegas (3-9)
OUTLOOK: Yeah, they're going to be in. The Grizzlies have already done all the difficult work, now all that's left is coasting to the finish line. Two more wins, and they can lock up the top seed for the 3rd straight year.
2. Houston Rockets (9-3)
MAGIC NUMBER: 2
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Toronto (2-10), Portland (6-6), Minnesota (6-6), Golden State (5-7)
OUTLOOK: Highly unlikely they lose out to miss the playoffs. They have the tiebreakers on Seattle and KC, so two more wins and they're officially in.
3. Utah Jazz (8-4)
MAGIC NUMBER: 3
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Boston (8-4), Las Vegas (3-9), Chicago (6-6), Oklahoma City (6-6)
OUTLOOK: Given the schedule, they should be pretty safe. Realistically, wins over Vegas and OKC should be enough to get them in.
4. Kansas City Kings (7-5)
MAGIC NUMBER: 4
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Colorado (5-7), Minnesota (6-6), Portland (6-6), Tampa Bay (7-5)
OUTLOOK: Still a mystery. Winning the next three should be enough to get it done, since one has to assume Seattle loses to Memphis. Bottomline: they control their own destiny.
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5. Seattle Supersonics (7-5)
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Oklahoma City (6-6), Tampa Bay (7-5), Memphis (11-1), Portland (6-6)
OUTLOOK: They suddenly need some help. Losing two of the last three by the margins they did (1 steal, 3 boards vs. KC; 4 points, 2 boards vs. GS) is simply devastating. We'd be talking about them as a 2-seed with those two wins (and they'd have all but clinched a playoff spot). Their win over Utah still looms large, though. Just tie the Jazz, and it'll get them in.
6. Portland Trailblazers (6-6)
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Minnesota (6-6), Houston (9-3), Kansas City (7-5), Seattle (7-5)
OUTLOOK: We've got a rock-paper-scissors situation brewing between Portland, Minnesota and OKC. A Portland win over Minnesota would effectively knock both teams out of the race. A loss results in chaos. We mentioned it in the recap, but beat Minny, KC and Seattle, and Portland should be back in the playoffs.
7. Oklahoma City Thunder (6-6)
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Seattle (7-5), Orlando (3-9), Brooklyn (9-3), Utah (8-4)
OUTLOOK: Well, their game against Seattle this week looks like it might just be an elimination game. If the fourth place West team doesn't get 10 wins, it's going to be a nightmare figuring that one out.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves (6-6)
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Portland (6-6), Kansas City (7-5), Houston (9-3), Colorado (5-7)
OUTLOOK: Not as terrible as it looks. Three wins may not be enough to get them in, but winning the next three should get in. Does your head hurt? Mine's starting to.
9. Golden State Warriors (5-7)
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Tampa Bay (7-5), Boston (8-4), Las Vegas (3-9), Houston (9-3)
OUTLOOK: I mean, technically, yeah, they could get in. They'd have to win out, and this schedule is TOUGH.
10. Las Vegas Gamblers (3-9) - ELIMINATED
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EAST
1. Brooklyn Nets (9-3)
MAGIC NUMBER: 1
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Memphis (11-1), Washington (5-7), Oklahoma City (6-6), Atlanta (7-5)
OUTLOOK: It's not the easiest schedule in the world, nor is it the most difficult. Given they need one win or one more loss from each of Washington, Chicago and Colorado, the Nets should be back in the playoffs again.
2. Boston Celtics (8-4)
MAGIC NUMBER: 2
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Utah (8-4), Golden State (5-7), Atlanta (7-5), Toronto (2-10)
OUTLOOK: The Celtics have two winnable games left on their schedule and two toss-ups. Win the ones they should, and they'll be in.
3. Tampa Bay Bull Sharks (7-5)
MAGIC NUMBER: 4
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Golden State (5-7), Seattle (7-5), Washington (5-7), Kansas City (7-5)
OUTLOOK: This is a fascinating one because of the tiebreakers. They own the tiebreakers against the teams above/tied with them (Brooklyn, Atlanta, Boston), but not the ones against the teams below them (Chicago, Colorado, Orlando). That's why their magic number is 4. If they keep winning, they could jump to the top spot. Falter, and they could miss it entirely.
4. Atlanta Hawks (7-5)
MAGIC NUMBER: 4
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Las Vegas (3-9), Chicago (6-6), Boston (8-4), Brooklyn (9-3)
OUTLOOK: Terrifying. Atlanta absolutely has to beat the Gamblers. Win or lose that game, though, and the next one against Chicago might just be an elimination game. Then finishing up against Boston and Brooklyn? Oof.
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5. Chicago Bulls (6-6)
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Washington (5-7), Atlanta (7-5), Utah (8-4), Cleveland (0-12)
OUTLOOK: Despite the loss to Brooklyn, the Bulls appear to be peaking. Win the next two, and they'll get in (unless disaster strikes against the Cavs or the Hawks somehow beat Boston and Brooklyn).
6. Colorado Swannies (5-7)
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Kansas City (7-5), Toronto (2-10), Cleveland (0-12), Minnesota (6-6)
OUTLOOK: There's still hope! The Swannies still have two wins on the schedule with Toronto and Cleveland in weeks 14 and 15. Now, they're in a tough spot because they lost to both Chicago and Atlanta, but if they win out, Chicago loses to Utah and Washington, and Atlanta loses to Chicago, Boston and Brooklyn, then the Swannies are in. They could still win the division too, if Tampa Bay goes in the tank.
7. Washington Wizards (5-7)
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Chicago (6-6), Brooklyn (9-3), Tampa Bay (7-5), Orlando (3-9)
OUTLOOK: The loss to Boston was absolutely devastating, but it wasn't a total killer. Thanks to their East-heavy schedule down the stretch, they have some control over their destiny. If they win out, then they just need another Tampa loss and one Swannies loss to sneak in.
8. Orlando Magic (3-9)
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Cleveland (0-12), Oklahoma City (6-6), Toronto (2-10), Washington (5-7)
OUTLOOK: I know, I know, but hear me out. This IS possible, but there is literally only one scenario in which this happens. First, Orlando has to win out. Second, Tampa Bay has to lose out. Third, Chicago has to lose out. Fourth, Washington has to lose to Brooklyn. Fifth, Colorado has to finish 6-10. If those five things happen, and ONLY those five things (which, in reality, are more like 15-20 things), then Orlando will get in by virtue of their tiebreakers over Tampa Bay and Washington. If Chicago wins any of their last four games, Tampa wins any of their last four games, Washington beats Brooklyn, Colorado wins two games, or Orlando loses one, then they are officially eliminated. We're in the endgame now, everyone.
9. Toronto Raptors (2-10) - ELIMINATED
10. Cleveland Cavaliers (0-12) - ELIMINATED
WEST
1. Memphis Grizzlies (11-1)
MAGIC NUMBER: 1
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Brooklyn (9-3), Cleveland (0-12), Seattle (7-5), Las Vegas (3-9)
OUTLOOK: Yeah, they're going to be in. The Grizzlies have already done all the difficult work, now all that's left is coasting to the finish line. Two more wins, and they can lock up the top seed for the 3rd straight year.
2. Houston Rockets (9-3)
MAGIC NUMBER: 2
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Toronto (2-10), Portland (6-6), Minnesota (6-6), Golden State (5-7)
OUTLOOK: Highly unlikely they lose out to miss the playoffs. They have the tiebreakers on Seattle and KC, so two more wins and they're officially in.
3. Utah Jazz (8-4)
MAGIC NUMBER: 3
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Boston (8-4), Las Vegas (3-9), Chicago (6-6), Oklahoma City (6-6)
OUTLOOK: Given the schedule, they should be pretty safe. Realistically, wins over Vegas and OKC should be enough to get them in.
4. Kansas City Kings (7-5)
MAGIC NUMBER: 4
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Colorado (5-7), Minnesota (6-6), Portland (6-6), Tampa Bay (7-5)
OUTLOOK: Still a mystery. Winning the next three should be enough to get it done, since one has to assume Seattle loses to Memphis. Bottomline: they control their own destiny.
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5. Seattle Supersonics (7-5)
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Oklahoma City (6-6), Tampa Bay (7-5), Memphis (11-1), Portland (6-6)
OUTLOOK: They suddenly need some help. Losing two of the last three by the margins they did (1 steal, 3 boards vs. KC; 4 points, 2 boards vs. GS) is simply devastating. We'd be talking about them as a 2-seed with those two wins (and they'd have all but clinched a playoff spot). Their win over Utah still looms large, though. Just tie the Jazz, and it'll get them in.
6. Portland Trailblazers (6-6)
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Minnesota (6-6), Houston (9-3), Kansas City (7-5), Seattle (7-5)
OUTLOOK: We've got a rock-paper-scissors situation brewing between Portland, Minnesota and OKC. A Portland win over Minnesota would effectively knock both teams out of the race. A loss results in chaos. We mentioned it in the recap, but beat Minny, KC and Seattle, and Portland should be back in the playoffs.
7. Oklahoma City Thunder (6-6)
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Seattle (7-5), Orlando (3-9), Brooklyn (9-3), Utah (8-4)
OUTLOOK: Well, their game against Seattle this week looks like it might just be an elimination game. If the fourth place West team doesn't get 10 wins, it's going to be a nightmare figuring that one out.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves (6-6)
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Portland (6-6), Kansas City (7-5), Houston (9-3), Colorado (5-7)
OUTLOOK: Not as terrible as it looks. Three wins may not be enough to get them in, but winning the next three should get in. Does your head hurt? Mine's starting to.
9. Golden State Warriors (5-7)
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Tampa Bay (7-5), Boston (8-4), Las Vegas (3-9), Houston (9-3)
OUTLOOK: I mean, technically, yeah, they could get in. They'd have to win out, and this schedule is TOUGH.
10. Las Vegas Gamblers (3-9) - ELIMINATED
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EAST
1. Brooklyn Nets (9-3)
MAGIC NUMBER: 1
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Memphis (11-1), Washington (5-7), Oklahoma City (6-6), Atlanta (7-5)
OUTLOOK: It's not the easiest schedule in the world, nor is it the most difficult. Given they need one win or one more loss from each of Washington, Chicago and Colorado, the Nets should be back in the playoffs again.
2. Boston Celtics (8-4)
MAGIC NUMBER: 2
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Utah (8-4), Golden State (5-7), Atlanta (7-5), Toronto (2-10)
OUTLOOK: The Celtics have two winnable games left on their schedule and two toss-ups. Win the ones they should, and they'll be in.
3. Tampa Bay Bull Sharks (7-5)
MAGIC NUMBER: 4
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Golden State (5-7), Seattle (7-5), Washington (5-7), Kansas City (7-5)
OUTLOOK: This is a fascinating one because of the tiebreakers. They own the tiebreakers against the teams above/tied with them (Brooklyn, Atlanta, Boston), but not the ones against the teams below them (Chicago, Colorado, Orlando). That's why their magic number is 4. If they keep winning, they could jump to the top spot. Falter, and they could miss it entirely.
4. Atlanta Hawks (7-5)
MAGIC NUMBER: 4
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Las Vegas (3-9), Chicago (6-6), Boston (8-4), Brooklyn (9-3)
OUTLOOK: Terrifying. Atlanta absolutely has to beat the Gamblers. Win or lose that game, though, and the next one against Chicago might just be an elimination game. Then finishing up against Boston and Brooklyn? Oof.
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5. Chicago Bulls (6-6)
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Washington (5-7), Atlanta (7-5), Utah (8-4), Cleveland (0-12)
OUTLOOK: Despite the loss to Brooklyn, the Bulls appear to be peaking. Win the next two, and they'll get in (unless disaster strikes against the Cavs or the Hawks somehow beat Boston and Brooklyn).
6. Colorado Swannies (5-7)
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Kansas City (7-5), Toronto (2-10), Cleveland (0-12), Minnesota (6-6)
OUTLOOK: There's still hope! The Swannies still have two wins on the schedule with Toronto and Cleveland in weeks 14 and 15. Now, they're in a tough spot because they lost to both Chicago and Atlanta, but if they win out, Chicago loses to Utah and Washington, and Atlanta loses to Chicago, Boston and Brooklyn, then the Swannies are in. They could still win the division too, if Tampa Bay goes in the tank.
7. Washington Wizards (5-7)
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Chicago (6-6), Brooklyn (9-3), Tampa Bay (7-5), Orlando (3-9)
OUTLOOK: The loss to Boston was absolutely devastating, but it wasn't a total killer. Thanks to their East-heavy schedule down the stretch, they have some control over their destiny. If they win out, then they just need another Tampa loss and one Swannies loss to sneak in.
8. Orlando Magic (3-9)
REMAINING SCHEDULE: Cleveland (0-12), Oklahoma City (6-6), Toronto (2-10), Washington (5-7)
OUTLOOK: I know, I know, but hear me out. This IS possible, but there is literally only one scenario in which this happens. First, Orlando has to win out. Second, Tampa Bay has to lose out. Third, Chicago has to lose out. Fourth, Washington has to lose to Brooklyn. Fifth, Colorado has to finish 6-10. If those five things happen, and ONLY those five things (which, in reality, are more like 15-20 things), then Orlando will get in by virtue of their tiebreakers over Tampa Bay and Washington. If Chicago wins any of their last four games, Tampa wins any of their last four games, Washington beats Brooklyn, Colorado wins two games, or Orlando loses one, then they are officially eliminated. We're in the endgame now, everyone.
9. Toronto Raptors (2-10) - ELIMINATED
10. Cleveland Cavaliers (0-12) - ELIMINATED