Remaining Schedule for all teams: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>NBA strength of schedule ranks. Sorry Portland, the free ride's over. <a href="http://t.co/OBTWyAbIhN">pic.twitter.com/OBTWyAbIhN</a></p>— Ed Kupfer (@EdKupfer) <a href="https://twitter.com/EdKupfer/statuses/423615444834992128">January 16, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Eastern Conference: 6. Washington 20-21 13.0 games behind 7. Brooklyn 18-22 14.5 8. Charlotte 19-25 15.5 9. Detroit 17-25 16.5 10. Cleveland 15-27 18.5 11. New York 15-27 18.5 Western Conference: 6. Warriors 26-17 7.0 7. Phoenix 24-17 8.0 8. Dallas 25-19 8.5 9. Memphis 20-20 11.5 10. Denver 20-2112.0 11. Minnesota 20-21 12.0 Opniion: East: Everyone in it right now makes it West: Phoenix drops out while Wolves make a late rally to get in. Who do you guys think gets in?
Honestly, I have no clue about either teams. Going by Offensive and Defensive ratings, Minnesota is top 10 in both offense and defense. Memphis is 0-10 in the division and have had the least amount of road games in the NBA so far. But they have been playing well due to getting over that health hump and Lee trade.
When your the best team in the worst conference, it will always look this way. Depressingly easy from a western conference point of view.
Warriors aren't a bubble team. My guess is Dallas gets one of the last two spots in the West. If Phoenix falls off as I expect, Memphis or Minny gets in. Just don't care enough about the East and don't watch enough of their games to have a strong opinion. Teams with 34 or 35 wins shouldn't sniff the playoffs.
Portland has had a ridiculously easy schedule so far, but they have a number of impressive wins, so I wouldn't be surprised to see them stick around the top 4.
Sadly, I think the Hawks will fall from #3 to as low as 11th in Eastern Conference. Too many losses Horford, now Teague, and even Antic, which means basically no bigs or go to players. If Detroit can trade Josh Smith, I'll choose them as one of teams, but as long as he's there. They will be looking from outside. The East will remain unchanged, but I think New York may push the hardest towards the 8 spot. The West...I'm choosing the Grizzlies to capture 7th seed, while Phoenix falls to 8th leaving Dallas outside of the playoffs.
Love how remaining schedule has all the East teams in the lower half (easy schedule) and all the West on the top (hard schedule). My guess: West -- Memphis, Sota instead of Phoenix, Mavs. East -- Knicks instead of Charlotte.
As much as I like the way Phoenix is playing right now, I don't think they will maintain their current standings without Bledsoe. And by the time he comes back, it might be too late. Dallas will drop out as well (because... it's Dallas). Minnesota and Memphis (with Gasol back) I can see taking the 7-8 spot. As for the East, I have no clue what's gonna happen. Other than the 1-2 spot, ANY of the eastern spots is up for grabs.
hopefully minny rallies. The amount of close losses they have is ridicolous. There schedule easens up a bit also, so theres that.
Pretty sure Memphis is going to make playoffs and will be one of the few legit competitors out of west. Why is golden state a bubble team and the rockets aren't?
My guess for the West is that Memphis will get in as the 7th, Dallas at the 8th and Phoenix will drop out.. Minny's too much of a mess right now.. For the East, I seriously believe that Atlanta will fall to the 7th with Charlotte and Detroit battling for the 8th spot.
