Magic Numbers for both the Mavs and Jazz to make the playoffs is at 1. If the Rockets were to make the playoffs, they can be only the 8th seed. 7th seed is not possible. A three way tie at 41-41, means Jazz are 7th, Rockets 8th and Mavs are out of the playoffs.
Mavs magic number to clinch a playoff spot is 1. Jazz need help if they only win 1. We would have to lose one as well. Thus, their magic number is 2. Rockets hold tie-breaker vs Jazz, and are only down 1 game in the loss column with 2 games to go.
Dallas @ Utah Utah @ LA Lakers San Antonio @ Dallas I see everyone winning their home games. Lakers should be in try-hard mode for Kobe's final game. I have a hard time believing we'll beat the Timberwolves tomorrow, though.
Thought Id up this since the rockets are getting closer to clinching a playoff spot. After yesterday's games the rockets magic number is 5. http://www.playoffstatus.com/nba/westernwinmagicnumbers.html The rockets have the 2nd lowest magic number of any team in current playoff position behind only San Antonio.
Good time to resurrect this thread. The 3rd seed is looking very good for the Rockets after last night. They clinched the season series with the Clippers, essentially putting them up 6 in the loss column. And Utah lost at home to the T'Wolves which puts the Rockets up 5 in the loss column over them with a chance to clinch the season series next Wednesday. The 2nd seed is a virtual impossibility at this point with the Spurs only having 13 losses(thanks a lot, Pacers!). So basically the Rockets are playing to solidify the #3 spot, get homecourt over every team other than Golden State and San Antonio, and put enough distance between themselves and OKC that it makes it hard for sportswriters to not give James the MVP.
5 more wins and were in the playoffs after many experts predicted we would fall short this year. This is when we exceed better.
I concur. Not to overlook the Rockets 1st round opponent, but the next logical question would be, what opponent do you want the Spurs to face. The Spurs are still the Spurs, but I think they - like the Rockets - have a potential 1st round loss upset in them. I kind of feel it would be neat to see the Clippers slide to 7th. Not sure who I'd want the Rockets to face either. Oh well, 1st round even won't be easy.
The Spurs are 0-1 vs the Grizzlies(with 3 games remaining), 1-2 vs the Clippers, 1-1 vs the Jazz(with 2 games remaining), and 1-0 vs the Thunder(with 2 games remaining). We'll have a better idea of how they measure up to those 4 teams by season's end, but right now, I agree that the Clippers falling to 7th would be nice. I don't see that happening though. Even with LA's recent struggles, their remaining schedule isn't tough enough to drop them that low.
Due to the blazers losing tonight the magic number is down to 2. A win tomorrow night against the cavaliers plus a loss by the blazers to Phoenix will clinch a playoff spot.
