Not really. Since all teams are beating up on each other, when one wins another must lose. That is, when two teams below us play, one cannot gain ground on HOU. It will be nearly impossible for 4 teams to overtake HOU (not to mention POR staying ahead as well). I think what you meant was any team could pass the Rockets, but that is not the same as ALL teams can pass the rockets. [EDIT] And as YOLO says, it will take a Harden injury for the Rox to fail to win 50 games. We have 41 already. I'm pretty sure that no 8th seed has ever won 50 games.
OKC 2010 http://espn.go.com/nba/standings/_/year/2010 Denver 2008 http://espn.go.com/nba/standings/_/year/2008
cool, thx. OKC has to go 16-4 to do that. and Rox have to go 8-13. Plus, every other teams has to win 50 as well, while they must also lose to OKC, for OKC to get to 50.
Yep, I don't think Houston can drop to 8th now. Never know with injuries of course, but 7 is probably the floor.
OKC is going to make it to the playoffs, easily. They have the talent and the names. I'm sure the NBA would want Westbrook and Durant in the playoffs and add the drama of an 8th seed OKC team against the Warriors. There are big money story lines to be made if OKC got in and as an 8th seed. "Can the 8th seed Thunder beat all odds and win a championship?", "Will this playoffs decide Durant's future with OKC?", "Is this Durant's or Westbrook's team?", and so on a so forth. We all know there are going to be media members who will adopt the Thunder as the favorites, even as an 8th seed. While Davis a big name, he doesn't beat the talent of Westbrook and Durant combined, yet. And the Pelicans aren't better than the Thunder.
OKC will make the playoffs. Overall Thunder are just a much more talented team than the Pelicans and Suns.
You guys are really underestimating the Pelicans, they're starting to gel as a team. Eric Gordon, Ajinca, Babbitt, and Cole have all played well the last several weeks. You can start to see they're coming together. Both teams though have a brutal schedule remaining.
Not to mention we hold their draft picks. Pretty much the only time I root for the mavs is when they are playing the pelicans this season. my two hated teams are the mavs and Lakers and with Lakers tanking for picks I've bee. Rooting for them to win unless against the rockets.
Dallas has a brutal run in: vs Cleveland vs LAC vs OKC vs Orlando vs Memphis @ Phoenix vs San Antonio @ San Antonio @ Pacers @ OKC vs Houston vs Golden State vs Phoenix vs Denver @ Lakers @Utah vs Portland 17 games left and only 6 where you would say as of today they are clearly favored... but they have been playing very poorly lately, are banged up and acquiring Rondo/wrecking the bench has really made them suffer... They probably win a couple of the ones I haven't bolded but then again, they have potential to lose some of the bolded one (@ Utah is always tricky etc..) 6-11 isn't even unlikely I would say based on their current form and the schedule remaining.
That being said, I wouldn't be shocked to see SAS move up to 6th... Dallas move down to 8th and OKC move into 7th
How I'm seeing it at the moment. If it wasn't for Ellis heroics in the end of the 3rd. Dallas could of lost to the Lakers. 6. Spurs 7. Dallas 8. OKC
Based on form and current standings I'm predicting, 1. GSW (+6,+8 in loss column, locked in at #1) 2. HOU (Schedule is not bad, and D12 coming back) 3. MEM (D too good, should stay steady) 4. POR (Matthews factor) 5. SAS (Heating up lately) 6. LAC (Injuries and weak bench) 7. DAL (Brutal Schedule) 8. OKC (Will hold off NOP and PHX) I think OKC is just way to far back in the loss column to get out of 8th. I mean they are closer to 10th than 7th and I don't see that changing. We would get DAL and then MEM, not bad considering the brutal west.
Okies remaining schedule is: vs. LAC vs. Minn vs. Chi @ Dal vs. Bos vs. Atlanta vs. Miami vs. LAL @ SAS @ Utah @ Phoenix vs. Dal @ Mem vs. Hou vs. SAS vs. Sac @ Ind vs. Portland @ Minn Not exactly a cakewalk either.
