Exactly, in regards to Dallas. Hopefully, we match up now with them a lot better, maybe moreso like we do against OKC (and NOT like we do against Minn). As far as the Bests in the East... one thing to consider - and hope for - maybe the Miami game will be meaningless for them. It is the second to last game of the season for us. Maybe their playoff seeding will be set already and they rest the big dogs.
Forgot to say, I can see 10-9, but I'm going with 11-8, possibly 12-7, depending on when Kyle and/or K-Mart gets back (and depending on whether or not Miami "plays" in that late game).
You actually could have won over that crowd too, by telling them to follow the Dallas schedule if you want that pick this year. Plus, you could show the Knicks schedule versus the Bucks. see: you can welcome both sides to your thread. But, I did get a chuckle out of your 1st two paragraphs.
lol, I hear you. Not sure I care to win over that crown though. I actually was in the process of writing a LONG post detailing each of the NBA Champions since the mid 80's as well as the top ten picks of the last ten years, in an attempt to show the "pro tankers" there's no guarantee that's a better way to win a title (regardless what Morey and some at the annual conference may say...lol). There's a tad bit of "CYA" in Morey's comments such as "Being bad is definitely a way to get better" or whatever his exact comments were. It's obvious that's a little bit of "See, it's harder to do it this way, so be more patient with me" I think....lol. As Herm said, you play to win the game. No one cherishes the back to back titles more than I do. While there's no way we win those titles without Dream, there were MANY who wanted to run him out of town - several times, as those in Dallas did with Dirk. Winning a title is a combination of many things. Draft, trades, free agency, coaching, timing, injuries, etc. There are only so many Dreams or Duncans. "Tanking" - unless it is for a CLEAR CUT FRANCHISE CHANGER - and unless you make the decision to do it WELL in advance of the season before that player is available - is NOT a good decision. Not good for anything. The players, the fans, the organization, etc. The odds are greater that you descend into Clipper/King/Wizard-land and are unable to get out for five or ten years (or more), as opposed to becoming the Thunder.
We play a lot of tough teams tho. Us making the playoffs depend on dragic not blowing his load before Lowrey comes back
Damn...damn....damn..... Jason Thompson missed a couple free throws late. Al Jefferson offensive rebounds saves Jazz in Sacramento. Hopefully Portland holds in to beat Memphis though...
Actually, Dallas plays San Antonio tomorrow. So come Saturday, we'll either be a game and a half back (still behind them if we win) or a half game back, in which case, yes, we'd be ahead of Dallas if we won.
remainder of the season 11-7 3/24 vs Dallas (W) 3/26 vs Sac (W) 3/27 @ Dallas (L) 3/30 vs Memphis (W) 4/1 vs Indiana (W) 4/2 @ Chicago (L) 4/6 @ LA (L) 4/8 @ Sac (W) 4/9 @ Portland (L) 4/11 vs Utah (W) 4/13 vs Phoenix (W) 4/15 @ Denver (L) 4/16 vs Denver (W) 4/18 @ Dallas (L) 4/19 @ NO (W) 4/21 vs GS (W) 4/22 vs Miami (L) 4/26 vs NO (W)
I'd certainly take that overall record to end the season. Not sure we'll win every home though. Also, the game against Miami is "@", not "vs".
lol... it's easy to do when you're looking at the schedule. Easy to get carried away counting the "W's" for home games. Hollinger (for what it's worth) has the cutoff at 35. He's got us finishing one game back (with 34 wins) of Dallas, Denver and Utah and two games back of the Clips. I'm not sure if that's updated through tonight's games or not. Not sure we finish 8-10 like his projections are showing though. I think winning at least 10, especially with 9 home games left, is not a long shot.
Here's predictions of all their schedules. I'm not sure about the tie-breakers. Seems like Denver is the odd man out, which surprised me. Also, I'm curious to see what happens with the Clipper's coaching with Vinny Del Negro. Dallas remaining schedule 11-7 (next 18 games) 38-28 (final record) Spoiler Fri 23 @ San Antonio (L) Sat 24 @ Houston (L) Tue 27 vs Houston (W) Thu 29 @ Miami (L) Fri 30 @ Orlando (W) April Mon 02 vs LA Clippers (L) Wed 04 vs Memphis (W) Fri 06 vs Portland (W) Sat 07 @ Memphis (W) Tue 10 vs Sac (W) Thu 12 @ GS (W) Fri 13 @ Portland (W) Sun 15 @ LA Lakers (L) Mon 16 @ Utah (W) Wed 18 vs Houston (L) Fri 20 vs GS (W) Sat 21 @ Chicago (L) Thu 26 @ Atlanta (W) Rockets remainder of the season 11-7 (next 18 games) 37-29 (final record) Spoiler 3/24 vs Dallas (W) 3/26 vs Sac (W) 3/27 @ Dallas (L) 3/30 vs Memphis (W) 4/1 vs Indiana (W) 4/2 @ Chicago (L) 4/6 @ LA (L) 4/8 @ Sac (W) 4/9 @ Portland (L) 4/11 vs Utah (W) 4/13 vs Phoenix (W) 4/15 @ Denver (L) 4/16 vs Denver (W) 4/18 @ Dallas (L) 4/19 @ NO (W) 4/21 vs GS (W) 4/22 vs Miami (L) 4/26 vs NO (W) Clippers remaining schedule 11-8 (last 19 games) 37-29 (final record) Spoiler Sat 24 vs Memphis (L) Mon 26 vs NO (W) Wed 28 vs Phoenix (L) Fri 30 vs Portland (W) Sat 31 vs Utah (W) April Mon 02 @ Dallas (L) Wed 04 vs LA (L) Thu 05 @ Sac (W) Sat 07 vs Sac (W) Mon 09 @ Memphis (L) Wed 11 @ OKC (L) Thu 12 @ Minnesota (W) Sat 14 vs GS (W) Mon 16 vs OKC (L) Wed 18 @ Denver (W) Thu 19 @ Phoenix (L) Sun 22 vs NO (W) Tue 24 @ Atlanta (W) Wed 25 @ NY (W) Memphis remaining schedule 11-10 (next 21 games) 36-30 (final record) Spoiler Sat 24 @ L.A. Clippers (L) Sun 25 @ L.A. Lakers (L) Tue 27 vs Minnesota (W) Fri 30 @ Houston (L) Sat 31 @ Milwaukee (L) April Mon 02 @ Oklahoma City (L) Tue 03 vs GS (W) Wed 04 @ Dallas (L) Fri 06 @ Miami (L) Sat 07 vs Dallas (L) Mon 09 vs LA Clippers (W) Wed 11 vs Phoenix (W) Thu 12 @ San Antonio (L) Sat 14 vs Utah (W) Sun 15 @ NO (W) Tue 17 @ Minnesota (W) Wed 18 vs NO (W) Fri 20 @ Charlotte (W) Sat 21 vs Portland (W) Mon 23 vs Cleveland (W) Thu 26 vs Orlando (L) Utah's remaining schedule 11-8 (next 19 games) 36-30 (final record) Spoiler Fri 22 vs Denver (W) Sun 25 @ Atlanta (L) Mon 26 @ New Jersey (W) Wed 28 @ Boston (L) Fri 30 vs Sacramento (W) Sat 31 @ LA Clippers (L) April Mon 02 @ Portland (W) Wed 04 vs Phoenix (W) Fri 06 vs Golden State (W) Sun 08 @ San Antonio (L) Mon 09 vs San Antonio (L) Wed 11 @ Houston (L) Fri 13 @ New Orleans (W) Sat 14 @ Memphis (L) Mon 16 vs Dallas (W) Wed 18 @ Portland (W) Sat 21 vs Orlando (L) Tue 24 vs Phoenix (W) Thu 26 vs Portland (W) Nuggets remaining schedule 9-10 (next 19 games) 35-31 (final record) Spoiler Fri 23 @ Utah (L) Sun 25 @ Minnesota (L) Mon 26 @ Chicago (L) Wed 28 @ Toronto (W) Fri 30 @ Charlotte (W) April Sun 01 @ Orlando (L) Wed 04 @ New Orleans (W) Fri 06 vs Phoenix (W) Sat 07 @ Golden State (W) Mon 09 vs Golden State (W) Wed 11 vs Minnesota (W) Fri 13 @ LA Lakers (L) Sun 15 vs Houston (W) Mon 16 @ Houston (L) Wed 18 vs LA Clippers (L) Sat 21 @ Phoenix (W) Sun 22 vs Orlando (L) Wed 25 @ Oklahoma City (L) Thu 26 @ Minnesota (L)
Western Conf. Playoff race is too close to determine seeding. 1 game determines spots 4-8. So if any team goes on a losing streak, they could drop from 3rd in the west to out of the playoffs. My prediction, Rockets lock down 5th or 6th seed.
