The race for 8th

[Arizona_Sting]

OKC and NOP both fucking lose and we have Sacramento at home and we can't win. Pathetic.

 

[Arizona_Sting]

Magic, Pistons, Hornets, Celtics, Bucks, Kings (2 times)

These are our wonderful home losses.

 

[bksballer89]

Magic, Pistons, Hornets, Celtics, Bucks, Kings (2 times)

These are our wonderful home losses.

Also the Heat

 

[bksballer89]

I said way back in December that the Suns wil regret losing all those home games to Eastern Conference teams

 

[WiggyRuss]

the Suns I think are in an interesting position- in that they have young talent- and I think that in the next 2 years or so the West is might/will substantially change in composition.

First- San Antonio- Duncan cant play more than another year or two AT MAX after this year. Ginobili is really slowing down- and Parker is no longer a top point guard. They do have Leonard- but a dynasty cant last forever

Second- OKC- Durant is a free agent after next year. Who knows what happens- if he goes to Washington- which i think there is about somewhere between 20-33%- that changes the composition of the West

Third- Memphis- Marc Gasol is a free agent- he is also surprisingly above 30. Zbo is getting up there

Fourth- Dallas- Dirk really took a step back this year. Tyson Chandler is old. Montae Ellis is their best player right now but he is not a spring chicken anymore either.

Fifth- Alridge is a free agent- if he stays- the Blazers are in great shape with him and Lillard together for the foreseeable future- and he will probably stay.


I think the West will have some MAJOR MAJOR shifts going on in the next 2-3 years between retirements, free agent moves etc.----not saying any of those teams cant reload at a moments notice- but a young team that positions itself well, that has some young building blocks in place,and has a good coach like the Suns- could make an upward movement IF things break right.

teams like the Suns, Lakers, Twolves, Pelicans, ---all have in some way or another positioned themselves with either very good young talent , or cap room, or a combination of both- it will be interseting to see which of those teams makes the right moves- and which dont.



I do have to say on a tangentially related note- If I am the Cavs- with how Love's back has been- I am a little nervous on giving him 5 years 110 million dollars. Now since the Cavs have LeBron and Kyrie- they would be fine talent wise- just lose some flexibility if Love's back is really a serious issue- which- i dont know if it is- but i am a little nervous about.

Where it COULD burn a team- is if they sign him to be THE MAN- and he cant be because of his back. For the Cavs he would be a really good but really overpaid 3rd guy.

Say the Suns sign him either this offseason - or he signs back with the Cavs one year and goes FA the following year when the cap goes way up and he can get 25 million a year.....

if he is what he was in Minnesota- he would be AMAZING for at eam like the Suns- who need a front court scorer- would would love his spacing- and could protect him with Len at center.- the thing is- if Love has already played his best ball and cant be a #1- that will seriously hamstring a team.

 

[logic]

Magic, Pistons, Hornets, Celtics, Bucks, Kings (2 times)

These are our wonderful home losses.

Ironic, this looks a lot like a list of teams that you say shouldn't make the playoffs so your Suns can get in.

 

[bksballer89]

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?

Funny how things changed out east. Indiana & Charlotte went into major slumps so now Miami is in 7th with 2 less losses than indy, bos, Charlotte, & Brooklyn. On top of that due to winning the season series with Brooklyn & Boston, Miami now basically have a 3 game advantage over Boston & 3.5 over Brooklyn with Indiana & Charlotte being 2 & 2.5 gb of Miami

 

[Arizona_Sting]

Ironic, this looks a lot like a list of teams that you say shouldn't make the playoffs so your Suns can get in.

Well the Suns are notorious for beating good teams and losing to bad ones.

 

[Arizona_Sting]

Wins over the Spurs, Thunder, Rockets (2) , Mavs (3), Warriors, Cavs, Wizards, Bulls, Blazers… then losses like that. I just don't get it. And they're actually 1-1 against all those teams listed in my previous post besides the Kings… just dropped games at home they should've won.

 

[Wishbone]

Not liking the Thunders chances now. Lost to Memphis last night and have Houston and SA next so I think that's 3 straight losses. Probably just as well to miss this year and come back hungry and healthy next year.

 

[bksballer89]

Yeah doesn't look good.

The Ibaka injury destroyed OKC

Sucks to see a team with their window closing fast lose a year basically due to injuries

 

[bksballer89]

New Orleans is now in 8th and own the TB

 

[wildturkey]

NO shouldn't blow this with the way OKC has played of late but you never know. The Pels are one of those teams where they'll lure you in with something good and then do something completely baffling that makes you wonder why you put faith in them

 

[bksballer89]

NO shouldn't blow this with the way OKC has played of late but you never know. The Pels are one of those teams where they'll lure you in with something good and then do something completely baffling that makes you wonder why you put faith in them

Based on my prediction, I have OKC at 45-37 with wins over Sac, Portland, & Minnesota while I have New Orleans at 44-38. Harder schedule so I think they lose to Memphis, Houston, & San Antonio.

New Orleans need Portland to play all their guys vs OKC

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

OKC basically cratered once they got Kanter

He is the classic stat-whore player who is so god awful bad on defense he makes every team worse

Ibaka certainly hurts, but Kanter makes every team he is on dreadfully bad at defense

No surprise UTAH has a winning record since the trade. They get better by not playing him.

 

[Wishbone]

That's bullshit. Westbrook and Kanter have great chemistry. Losing 3 starter is why they cratered. Plus losing Nick Collison. Stick a fork in this season and come back healthy and strong next season.

 

[logic]

Two great games for the playoff race tonight.
NO at Grizzlies: Pelicans trying to hold a grip on the #8 seed while #3 Grizzlies look to move to #2 or slide to #5 (looking at #6).
Rockets at Spurs: Rockets tying to hold on to #2 but with the way the Spurs and Clippers have been playing could be looking at #5 or #6. This is a good one because these teams meet again in Houston on Friday also.

 

[bksballer89]

Two great games for the playoff race tonight.
NO at Grizzlies: Pelicans trying to hold a grip on the #8 seed while #3 Grizzlies look to move to #2 or slide to #5 (looking at #6).
Rockets at Spurs: Rockets tying to hold on to #2 but with the way the Spurs and Clippers have been playing could be looking at #5 or #6. This is a good one because these teams meet again in Houston on Friday also.

You forgot Boston @ Detroit. If Detroit win as I expect we will have a 3 way tie for 8th if Indiana beat the Knicks as I expect

 

[logic]

You forgot Boston @ Detroit. If Detroit win as I expect we will have a 3 way tie for 8th if Indiana beat the Knicks as I expect

And somehow Detroit has still not been officially eliminated

 

[bksballer89]

If Westbrook suspension stands, I think the Pelicans make it thanks to the tiebreaker.

If it is overturned I think OKC win their final 2 games to make it