Yes lets all root for Miami and Chicago, dont think they want to lose considering they have a shot at the play ins. Spurs and Blazers are closely behind but they might be leaning more towards tanking.
Tonight, the Warriors and Lakers are right where I want them at #4 and #5. If they meet in the 1st round, at least one eye gets put out. Then the surviving eye will be stabbed by OKC in the 2nd round and we can be done with both teams! Assuming the Rockets stay at #2 or #3, I'm becoming less concerned with who they face and more concerned about them playing their best. Still hoping for the Grizzlies.
The Suns finishing in the #9 spot is actually attainable. I didn’t want to get my hopes up but Chicago, Miami, Dallas and Portland aren’t tanking. And the Suns just lost KD. These teams are only separated by 2 games. I can’t help but get a little excited.
That’s why I’m going for the Nuggets to win tonight because they need to stay ahead of the Lakers and the Rockets just need to win as much as possible to stay ahead of Denver. That’s why I hated losing that game last night because it was very winnable.
Yea we really need to try to keep the 2nd seed... that would be ideal. And anyone other than Warriors in the first round we will have a chance against.
PHX is now 2-12 without KD LMAO. Booker is just extremely overrated. Can't shoot 3s and also a bad defender. In the Milwaukee game its actually the other guards who tried to make a run at the end.
I was rooting for the wolves tonight so that we have a better chance of staying at #2. Denver losing keeps us 2 games in front of them. Why is that a bad thing again? Just trying to understand your viewpoint.
Should we blame booker when they have basically one big and has a defense that somehow allowed a dame-less bucks team to shoot nearly 70% from the field for an entire game?
I really hope they slip to 9. I am seeing Khaman Maluach go as high as #5 in mocks now. Assuming we won't be in the top 4-5, he's who I'd love to the Rockets to be able to pick (also assuming we don't trade the pick away).
The difference between picking #12 and #9 feels massive to me. You can create a little package to move up from #9 something like Cam / Tate + future first is good for a few spots I reckon. There is going to be a serious talent that is picked from 5-7. In loaded drafts at the top there is always some guy that gets overshadowed a bit. Moving up from #12 feels like you would need to part with one of more serious assets and I don't think that is feasible for us. I also don't think anyone picked at #12th will help immediately either.
Phoenix has six remaining games: OKC, Boston, NY, Golden State, SA, and Sacramento. Is their defense good enough to win two of those? Two games separate lottery picks #9 to #12. That's the difference between a 20% shot at a top-4 selection or a 7% chance.
The #9 pick is possible but unlikely. For it to happen, Portland would have to either tie or surpass Phoenix in the standings. If PHX wins 2 more games, then Portland needs 4 more wins to tie. If PHX wins only one more game, then Portland needs 3 more wins to tie. If the records end up tied at the end of the season, there would be a draw to determine who gets the better pick.
I think Asa Newell fits our system and could be a good small ball Center if alongside Tari and Amen on the wings
Ok. I'll play along. Portland's remaining six games are LA, GS, Toronto, SA, Utah, and Chicago. Two definite losses, but won't Vegas favor the Trailblazers in three of the last four? We clearly need them to win four of six and Phoenix to keep losing. It's possible.
I do think that Portland wins 3 more games, but I also think Phoenix may win 2 more as well. I'm hoping that the bottom falls out for Phoenix, but right now they're still playing hard.
PHX’s next 4: BOS, NYK, GSW, OKC. They will be a heavy underdog in all of them. I think more likely than not PHX loses all 4. The question is, if they are 35-45 after that (lol), will they be totally eliminated from the play in? Probably yes, given SAC and DAL’s schedule both should be at 38 wins by then. Then I’d presume PHX shuts Booker and KD down for the final 2 games. 35-47 and the #9 pick is a real possibility.
