Magic Numbers against the Western Conference

<B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Games&nbsp;&nbsp;H2H&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Div&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Con&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Overall&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Magic&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</B>
<B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Team&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W/L&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;H2H&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Left&nbsp;&nbsp; TB&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Div&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;TB&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Conf&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;TB&nbsp;&nbsp;TieBreak&nbsp;&nbsp;Number &nbsp;Diff</B>
&nbsp;1&nbsp;Lakers&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;49-12&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;0-2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1H,1A&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;L&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;N/A&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;X&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;32-6&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;L&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;No<B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;32</B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(-1)
&nbsp;2&nbsp;Spurs&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;40-19&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1-1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1H,1A&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;T&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8-3&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;L&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;26-9&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;L&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;No<B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;25</B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(-1)
&nbsp;3&nbsp;Rockets&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;39-22&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5-5&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;24-10
&nbsp;4&nbsp;Nuggets&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;39-22&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2-1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1A&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;N/A&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;X&nbsp;&nbsp;23-11&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yes<B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;22</B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(-2)
&nbsp;5&nbsp;Hornets&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;37-22&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1-1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1H,1A&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;T&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5-3&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;L&nbsp;&nbsp;21-14&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;No<B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;22</B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(-1)
&nbsp;6&nbsp;Blazers&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;37-22&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1-1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1H&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;T&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;N/A&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;X&nbsp;&nbsp;19-17&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yes<B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;22</B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(-1)
&nbsp;7&nbsp;Jazz&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;37-23&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2-0&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2A&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;N/A&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;X&nbsp;&nbsp;26-11&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yes<B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;21</B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(-1)
&nbsp;8&nbsp;Mavericks&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;36-24&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2-1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1A&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4-6&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;19-17&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yes<B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;20</B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(-1)
&nbsp;9&nbsp;Suns&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;34-26&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1-0&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1H,1A&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;N/A&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;X&nbsp;&nbsp;20-14&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yes<B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;18</B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(-2)
10&nbsp;Warriors&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;21-39&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3-0&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1A&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;N/A&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;X&nbsp;&nbsp;12-23&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yes*<B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4</B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(-1)
11&nbsp;Wolves&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;18-42&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3-0&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1H&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;N/A&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;X&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9-28&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yes*<B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1</B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(-2)
12&nbsp;Grizzlies&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;15-44&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1-2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1H&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;L&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4-9&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9-29&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;No<B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hibernated</B>
13&nbsp;OKC&nbsp;Thieves&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;15-45&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3-0&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;None&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;N/A&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;X&nbsp;&nbsp;10-28&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yes*<B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dislocated</B>
14&nbsp;Clippers&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;15-46&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2-1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1H&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;N/A&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;X&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9-30&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yes*<B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Clipped</B>

* Indicates the Tie Break is final

<B>Clinched the #11 seed</B>

It’s the first official stickied Magic Number post! We’ve gone primetime, and it was the right night for it to happen as the Rockets had a stellar night with their Magic Numbers.

The Rockets got off to a slow start, but eventually started hitting their shots and cruised to a victory over the visiting Raptors. That’s 8 wins in their last 9 games. A number of Rockets stepped up with huge performances tonight. Yao had 20 and 11, Scola had another clutch night and another double-double with 20 and 16, and Carl Freaking Landry erupted for 22 points with a number of slick moves to the basket. All Magic Numbers drop 1, and we moved up to the #3 seed in the standings.

The Grizz had lost 7 in a row and weren't going to beat LA, but they had the added misfortune of drawing a Lakers team on a 2 game losing streak. Predictably the Lakers handled the JV team from Memphis. Kobe had 31 for the Lakers. The Grizz lose an extra Magic Number. With this loss, the Rockets have officially closed Memphis out and clinched the #11 seed. Up next: the Wolves and the #10 seed.

Shaq always talks smack, but he’s been getting a bit more attention from the media after he erupted for 45 and 33 points in his last 2 games. The latest subject of his scorn is Orlando’s Dwight Howard. Despite Steve Nash’s return, Dwight Howard battled Shaq to a standstill and the Magic tripped up the Suns with a dominant 4th quarter. Shaq was reduced to flopping and complaining that he was too old to compete with 18 year olds. Pathetic. Steve Nash had 20 points and 8 assists in his first game back from a sprained ankle. Phoenix is 1-1 on their Seven Games of Doom stretch and drops an additional Number with the loss. They’re now 2 full games behind Dallas for the last playoff spot.

Chauncey Billups and the Enver Nuggets traveled to Detroit to face the Pistons. Both teams had the advantage of not suiting up AI, and Enver was additionally short-handed after suspending Carmelo for refusing to come out of the Pacer game. Billups had 34 for the Nuggets, who played it close, but ultimately Enver continued its implosion with a loss to the Pistons, who had all 5 starters with at least 16 points. Enver loses an additional Magic Number.

In tonight’s Battle of Cellar Dwellers, the Warriors squared off against the Wolves in a fairly equal matchup. The Wolves are playing terribly without Al Jefferson, and Nellie has given up on the season by giving his young guns plenty of playing time along with his long-standing directive not to play defense. Luckily for these teams (or unluckily for fans rooting for the #1 pick), somebody has to win. Tonight it was Captain Jack and the Warriors who got the best of the Wolves. Stephen Jackson had 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists for the Warriors, while Kevin Love had 18 points and 14 rebounds in a losing effort for Minnesota. The Wolves lose an extra Magic Number.

The Rockets are about to get tested with a challenging 5 game stretch. Naturally it begins in Utah. The Jazz are rolling right now with 8 straight wins, which includes victories over the Lakers, Celtics, and Hornets. They’re also only 2 games behind Enver for the Northwest division lead and host the Nuggets on Friday. I would absolutely love to be the team to snap that streak. Like our games against the Blazers and Cavs, this is an opportunity to test our players against the best and hone our game before the Playoffs. We’re going to need to bring our A game on defense since the Jazz have been putting up points at an alarming clip. We’re 2-0 against the Jazz this year, and this is the first of two cracks we get in Utah to take the tie break. A victory on Wednesday would give us the season series and drop the Jazz 3 points.

Also on tap for Wednesday: Suns at Heat, Wizards at Thieves, Warriors at Bulls, Spurs at Mavs, Pacers at Blazers, Grizzlies at Clippers