The race for 8th

[wildturkey]

Little over a month left and its getting tight.

8th) OKC 34-28
9th) NO 33-29
10th) PHX 33-30

Things are still pretty stagnant in the West with no one able to gain any ground. Despite Westbrook's strong play, the Thunder aren't winning many games yet neither NO or Phoenix have been able to take advantage of that.

7th) CHA 27-33
8th) IND 27-34
9th) MIA 27-34
10th) BOS 25-35
11th) BKN 25-35

The East has gotten itself a log jam thanks to injuries and just plain bad basketball. To make it more fun, some of those teams might not even want to make it because their records are so poor they could potentially win the draft lottery.

So, how you see it shaking out?

 

[Arizona_Sting]

I think both will remain the same. OKC gets 8th & CHA-IND get 7th-8th seeds.

 

[thunderc]

8th in the west won't be a contest before it's over. I still say the Thunder make it to 7.

 

[trojanfan12]

8th in the west won't be a contest before it's over. I still say the Thunder make it to 7.

Yeah, I think it ends up:

5.) Spurs
6.) Clippers
7.) Thunder
8.) Mavs

 

[bksballer89]

OKC in the west

Indy and Miami in the east

 

[msgkings322]

Yeah, I think it ends up:

5.) Spurs
6.) Clippers
7.) Thunder
8.) Mavs

So with 20 to play (for OKC) and 18 (for Dallas) you think OKC will make up 5 games? I know Dallas is shaky lately but that's a lot of ground to make up.

 

[trojanfan12]

So with 20 to play (for OKC) and 18 (for Dallas) you think OKC will make up 5 games? I know Dallas is shaky lately but that's a lot of ground to make up.

Dallas is 5-5 over their last 10 games and has a 2 game losing streak. They have been pretty bad against winning teams and in their final 18 games, they play the Cavs, Clippers, Thunderx2, Grizzlies, Spursx2, Sunsx2, Rockets, Warriors and Trailblazers.

Unless the Mavs are suddenly going to start beating good teams, I could see the Mavs going 9-9 (or worse) over their last 18 games and could see OKC going 15-5 or better over their last 20. If that happened, they would both finish 49-33 and it would come down to tiebreakers. If OKC does better than 15-5 or the Mavs worse than 9-9, OKC would jump them.

 

[Demonjoe93]

Oklahoma City will get the final spot.

As for the East, I think Indiana will get the seventh spot, and Charlotte will get the final one.

 

[Hambombs]

Dallas is 5-5 over their last 10 games and has a 2 game losing streak. They have been pretty bad against winning teams and in their final 18 games, they play the Cavs, Clippers, Thunderx2, Grizzlies, Spursx2, Sunsx2, Rockets, Warriors and Trailblazers.

Unless the Mavs are suddenly going to start beating good teams, I could see the Mavs going 9-9 (or worse) over their last 18 games and could see OKC going 15-5 or better over their last 20. If that happened, they would both finish 49-33 and it would come down to tiebreakers. If OKC does better than 15-5 or the Mavs worse than 9-9, OKC would jump them.

To much ground to make up IMO

 

[Arizona_Sting]

OKC isn't playing good enough basketball to get the 7 seed. Plain and simple.

 

[Ragingcroc]

I'm kind of sad we've lost the last few games and fell behind on the race for 8th place. On the other hand, it would be better for the Pistons to get a lottery pick anyway. Brandon Jennings will be pretty good trade bait if he recovers and won't play the 6th man. I'm not a huge fan of Reggie Jackson but we got him for peanuts and he's playing much better than stats show.

 

[BallIsLife32]

I think OKC will make it to the 8th seed and if I was OKC I would actually avoid the 7th seed. 8th or anything 6th and above is fine but I am pretty sure GS will be the 1st seed and MEM will be the 2nd seed. Memphis is scary in the playoffs, anyone has an ok chance against GSW except for Dallas... Memphis will tear you apart and for an OKC team who has battled all season with injuries and a lot of other unfortunate things wouldn't want to go to a game 7 with Memphis is the first round only to either lose and go home or go on to the next round banged up by the tough grit and grind Memphis team. I don't think will be a good playoff team because they so heavily rely on the jump shot that some nights wont work for them, that is why I say anyone has a chance against them in the playoffs ( except the Mavs because they simply can't stop Golden State ).

Oh and OKC in my mind is no doubt making the playoffs. It's the question of where they will end up in the playoffs we should be asking. Pheonix is just about done and just might turn into the team they were last year that in simple terms sucked. New Orleans just isn't ready. I love Anthony Davis but New Orleans as a team, at this moment, aren't getting to the playoffs. Next year they will be better and with the aging Spurs who just might be done next year potentially not making the playoffs, that is an open spot they will be eying. Free agency is also coming up for Kevin Durant at the end of the season and if OKC doesn't play their cards correctly and get Durant back they'll have a big problem on their hands, no matter how good Westbrook is Durant is their core when it comes to May.

Now for the East I have Indiana and Charlotte/Boston coming out. Boston is getting better with Thomas but I don't know if they can pull it out to make the playoffs this year, none of these teams are very good however. Unaware of when PG13 is coming back but with him, possible playoff run??? Unlikely but anything is possible in the NBA.

EAST

1 Atlanta
2 Cleveland
3 Chicago
4 Toronto
5 Washington
6 Milwaukee
7 Indiana
8 Charlotte

WEST

1 Golden State
2 Memphis
3 Houston
4 Los Angeles ( Clippers )
5 Portland ( No Wes M. )
6 Dallas
7 San Antonio
8 Oklahoma City

 

[HurricaneDij39]

BUILT NOT BOUGHT!!!

Going to Pacers/Heat on April 5th. Should be intense. Eliminating them from the Playoffs would be good payback for the last three years. At least for now...

 

[thunderc]

Anyone think it's possible that the Pelicans may not exactly get the best effort of the other playoff teams the rest of the way? Hadn't even considered it til last night when memphis gave up a big lead to them. Not saying it happened but it's a possibility.

 

[bksballer89]

No especially not in early March.....Maybe in April I can see that happening but in early March? hell no

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

If the Thunder miss the playoffs AND James Harden wins the MVP, Durant is gone in a year.

I don't think he wants to stick aronud long term in that organization, but those might finally make up his mind.

 

[GNG]

OKC isn't playing good enough basketball to get the 7 seed. Plain and simple.

How far the mighty have fallen.

 

[GNG]

If the Thunder miss the playoffs AND James Harden wins the MVP, Durant is gone in a year.

I don't think he wants to stick aronud long term in that organization, but those might finally make up his mind.

Durant hasn't played very well this season.

 

[thunderc]

Durant coming back soon, along with Adams. They are going to win a very high percentage of what they have left.

 

[Clayton]

OKC in the west

Indy and Miami in the east

I think this would be far and away the best scenario. Those are the three teams that have a lot to put together but are the scariest if they actually get their issues solved.