[Calm Down] Sitting at 0.632 and #2 Seed in the Western Conference!

The Warriors and Rockets would edge out the Nuggets as division winners, so Denver would be #5. The Warriors and Rockets would apply two team tie breaks, and the only way the Warriors and Rockets wind up 51-31 is with the Warriors winning the game on Sunday. That would give them the 2-1 edge in head to head record, so the Warriors would get #3 and Rockets would be #4.[/QUOTE]

 

Hopefully the Rockets avoid that scenario. I'd rather not play Denver in the first round. Plus that would mean OKC in the Semifinals.

 

Actually, if the Lakers fall below 51-31, and the Rockets, Nuggets, and Warriors tie at 51-31. The seeding would be:
1) OKC Thieves
2) Warriors
3) Rockets
4) Nuggets

If the Lakers finished at 51-31 or better as well, they'd win the Pacific Division and the Rockets take the Southwest. They win the multi-team tie break but the Lakers win the head to head over the Rockets and get the better seed. The Nuggets and Warriors tied their head to head and would have identical conference records, so they'd be seeded based on their records against the rest of the playoff field, which won't be set until after the play in. The seeding would be:
1) OKC Thieves
2) Lakers
3) Rockets
4 & 5) Warriors and Nuggets

At this point, there's no way the Rockets can fall below the #3 seed.

 

This is incredibly confusing. Thanks for summarizing it for us.

 

Damn I really want the Lakers and Warriors to have to matchup in the first round so one of them can't avoid a first round exit.

 

That's why I'm hoping Denver to win out. We only need to win one more game and the Lakers to lose at least one game to secure the #2 seed. There's really very little risk of losing the second seed for the Rockets at this point. Having Nuggets to keep ahead of the Lakers and Warriors would push those two teams to #4 and #5.

 

So many people want Denver to lose, lose, lose and I keep saying they need to WIN.

 

Who do we root for today (Sat, Apr 5)?

Feels like the Heat is the only obvious choice.

 

Heat.

Maybe Dallas too, but I don't think it matters. The Suns aren't going to catch the Mavs.

 

in other words, all the Rockets have to do is win one specific game. They could go 1-3 in their last 4 as long as they BEAT LA.

any 2 wins also does it.

 

LA has back to back AT OKC....

DD

 

Opponents be like

 

Cougars in the Final.

 

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (64-13)
• Clinched No. 1 seed and first-round playoff series vs. No. 8 seed (determined by play-in tournament)

2. Houston Rockets (51-27)
• Clinched playoff berth
• Net rating: 5.5
• Magic number for No. 2 seed: 2
• Remaining strength of schedule: .599
• Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed (clinched no lower than No. 4)

3. Los Angeles Lakers (47-30)
• Net rating: 0.9
• Magic number for top-six seed: 3
• Remaining strength of schedule: .647
• Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)

4. Denver Nuggets (47-31)
• Net rating: 3.7
• Magic number for top-six seed: 3
• Remaining strength of schedule: .579
• Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)

5. Golden State Warriors (46-31)
• Net rating: 3.0
• Magic number for top-six seed: 5
• Remaining strength of schedule: .509
• Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)

6. Minnesota Timberwolves (45-32)
• Net rating: 4.6
• Magic number for top-six seed: 5
• Remaining strength of schedule: .392
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)

7. Los Angeles Clippers (45-32)
• Net rating: 4.4
• Magic number for top-six seed: 5
• Remaining strength of schedule: .527
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)

8. Memphis Grizzlies (45-32)
• Net rating: 4.5
• Magic number for top-six seed: Do not control own destiny
• Remaining strength of schedule: .496
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)

 

Additionally if we beat Lakers we are #2.

 

Has it ever been this tight in the West with just one week left in the regular season? There's only 1.5 games separating #3 from #8, and #5–#8 are essentially tied.

 

If you consider the Lakers play their next 2 games at OKC, the battle for #3-#8 is really wide open.

 

looks like GSW gets the third seed to me based on the remaining schedules and how well they are playing, UNLESS we beat them tonight! Pretty tough to play 5 against 8 though.

 

Just for fun - AI simulations for regular season seating based on the remaining strength of schedule, net rating:

ChatGPT (100 runs)
2- Houston
3- GSW
4- LAL
5- Denver
6- Minn
7- LAC
8- Memphis

ChatGPT (10k runs)
2- Houston
3- LAL
4- Denver
5- GSW
6- Minn
7- LAC
8- Memphis

ChatGPT (100k runs)
2- Houston
3- LAL
4- Denver
5- GSW
6- Minn
7- LAC
8- Memphis

Claude (10k runs)
2- Houston
3- Denver
4- LAL
5- GSW
6- Minn
7- LAC
8- Memphis

Claude (100k runs)
2- Houston
3- Denver
4- LAL
5- GSW
6- Minn
7- LAC
8- Memphis

 

If we win one more, we're guaranteed a top 3 seed, right? And the magic number is 2 between our wins and Lakers' losses for the 2 seed?