It's 35. The formula for magic numbers is M = G - W - L + 1 where G is the number of games in a season, W is the number of wins for our team, and L is the number of losses for the other team. This formula works for any sport. So, to calculate the magic number for the Rockets to get the 4th seed we'll plug in 82 for G, 32 for W, and 16 for L (# of losses by Dallas). All that comes out to 35, meaning any combination of Rockets wins or Dallas loses that add to 35 then we get the 4th seed. Of course, if another team takes over the 4th seed, then you'll have to recalculate it. FYI, magic numbers for 3rd, 2nd, and 1st seeds for the Rox are 36, 38, and 39, respectively. JB
Except for the fact that the only team we can catch for a top 3 seeds is San Antonio. The top 3 seeds goes to the division winners.
Yea... But realistically I think I would RATHER stay in 6th seed if possible - ONLY so if San Antonio clinches the #1 seed it would give us an opporunity to face them in the Western Conference Finals. I think we would have a better shot playing Seattle in the 1st round than we would with Phoenix or San Antonio. But then again, Sacramento/Dallas would be a viable spot. But I got a feeling we will end up clinching the #5.
With Seattle coming and then twice more (IIRC) we'll see if you are needing to be careful what you wish for.
As of 3/11, after the two games have finished... To clinch playoffs over the lower of LA and Den: 82 – 35 – 29 + 1 = 19 To clinch seed over Mem: 22 To clinch seed over Sac: 24 To clinch seed over Dal: 27 For LA or Den to clinch seed over us: 82 – 31 – 25 + 1 = 27 For Mem to clinch seed over us: 24 For Sac to clinch seed over us: 20 For Dal to clinch seed over us: 19 I found the same formula @ http://mathworld.wolfram.com/MagicNumber.html Go Rox!
I missed the fun last year. I just got curious about the formula tonight. The folks at RIOT (http://128.32.125.151/~basket/detail_calc.html) seem to think you need linear programming to get the right answer: They say this way gives the answer much farther in advance. Maybe TxCowboy96 should have called them back on 2/21.
Um no, because you don't win titles in the regular season. The Magic number for a championship is 16.... as in 16 wins in the postseason.
Um no, because you can't win the championship unless you make the playoffs. You can't use 16 as a magic number for the championship because you can't make up games later if you don't get four out of seven in the earlier rounds. I'm not taking this nearly as seriously as it may sound.
God I hate Magic Number thread! Actually I hate seeing all the math more. Let's start this thread again in April? Agree?
So on 2/21 we were 23.5 games from ensuring the playoffs. So now I believe our magic number is now at 14. with 19 games left to go. Woot! Go ROX!
Well we are now sitting 6.5 games ahead of the Timberwolves. Timberwolves have 14 games left to play with 5 teams over .500 The Rockets have 15 games left to play with 8 games with teams over .500. I think the Rockets can clinch a playoff spot within the next 2 weeks. Probably by the Lakers game on April 7th - I think they will clinch a play-off spot but by then it will be a seeding issue. Sacramento has 13 games left on their schedule with 7 of them who have over .500 record. Dallas has 16 games left on their schedule with 10 of them with over a .500 record but I think they have the most brutal schedule they have 10 of their remaining 16 games on the road. So we'll see - we are 1 game out of 5th Seed and 3.5 out of 4th seed. I think we need to clinch either the 4th or 5th seed because it doesnt look like San Antonio will clinch the number 1 seed with Duncan out and they more likely will drop to #2.
With TD injured, I think we have better chance to win San Antonio. Enen if TD comes back for playoff, I don't think TD can play the same level as before.
WOW, this thread is alot more tame that it was last year at this time... I guess our team is playing better so we dont have to worry about not making the playoffs as much...
Nah, the competition's just not as good. We've got virtually the same record as last year at this point.
yes last year we were 39-28 at this point compared to 40-27 but then proceeded to finish the season 6-9 because of the injury to cato. i dont think that will happen this year i expect no less than 47 wins for the rest of the season. as for the competition the traditional powerhouses from last year minn/lakers/spurs have decline but there is still very good competition out there suns have been amazing, same with sonics, while the spurs (healthy spurs) still are the team to beat in the league. Dallas,Sacramento,Memphis and Denver still are having good season to add to the competition. The east too has become better overall despite the fall of Indiana. btw what is the magic number? i believe the suns and spurs clinched their spots with their 49th win, but i dont know if that same number would hold form with the rockets at this point
