Magic Numbers against the Western Conference

Not true. You use the multiple team tie break to resolve all 3 teams. Rockets and Blazers tie, so it goes to conference record. Rockets win, Portland's next, and the Spurs are third place. You don't use 2 team tie break rules at all.

However, the Southwest division title would be between us and the Spurs only, and they win the tie break right now. According to the "division leader" rule, they go to the front of the line and certainly get a top 4 seed.

 

<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;&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;W/L&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;L10&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;H2H&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;62-16&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8-2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;0-4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;None&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;L&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;41-7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;L&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;No*<B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;17</B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;2&nbsp;Nuggets&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;53-26&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9-1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3-1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;None&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;34-15&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;L&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yes*<B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6</B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;3&nbsp;Spurs&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;50-28&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5-5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2-2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;None&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;T&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9-6&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;L&nbsp;&nbsp;32-16&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;T&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;No<B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5</B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(-1)
&nbsp;4&nbsp;Rockets&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;50-28&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7-3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8-6&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;32-16
&nbsp;5&nbsp;Blazers&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;50-28&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7-3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2-1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;None&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;28-20&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;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;6&nbsp;Hornets&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;48-30&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5-5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2-1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1H&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8-4&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;L&nbsp;&nbsp;29-19&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yes<B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3</B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(-1)
&nbsp;7&nbsp;Jazz&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;47-31&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5-5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2-2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;None&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;T&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;32-16&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;T&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;No<B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2</B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(-1)
&nbsp;8&nbsp;Mavericks&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;47-31&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6-4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2-1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1A&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5-8&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;26-22&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;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

* Indicates the Tie Break is final

<B>Clinched the #8 seed</B>

Here is the latest batch of Magic Numbers after all games were played on <B>April 8</B>.

The Rockets were off, but Magic Numbers were falling left and right. We wound up in a very intriguing 3 way tie.

Race for the Southwest Update
The Spurs-Blazers game posed a lot of questions. How would the Spurs fare against a quality opponent without Ginobili? Would Popovich rest Duncan on the second night of a back-to-back? Could the Blazers beat a Playoff bound team on the road? The Spurs played Duncan and initially didn’t look like they missed Ginobili as they raced out to a 20 point lead, but the Blazers hung in there. From the midpoint of the second quarter the Blazers steadily took control of the game and picked up a decisive win with some extremely impressive athletic play. The Blazers win the season series 3-1 over the Spurs and have to feel pretty good about themselves. The Spurs, however, look like they have serious problems as they lose for the 4th time in 6 games. Their bench is pretty thin, and Duncan’s knee is clearly bothering him. San Antonio is going to have a tough time holding on to home court, let alone the division. Brandon Roy scored 26, LaMarcus Aldridge added 20, and Joe Przybilla collected 17 rebounds for the Blazers. Tony Paker was average with 17 points and 7 assists, but Tim Duncan was wretched with just 4 points and 5 rebounds in 24 minutes of play.

The Spur loss drops them into a tie with the Rockets at 50-28, and they lose a Magic Number. As of tonight, the Spurs still own the tie break due to a better divisional record, but the Rockets once again control their own destiny to win the division. 4 more wins for Houston, and they are the Southwest champs and at least the #3 seed, regardless of what anyone else does.

With the Spur loss tonight, the Rockets have clinched a better winning percentage against Western Conference Playoff Teams. The Spurs currently sit at 43.5%, but can finish no higher than 48.00%. The Rockets are currently at 52%, but can finish no worse than 48.15%.

Criterion 4: Better Winning Percentage against Playoff Teams
Rockets Record: 13-12
Rockets Winning Pct: .520
Rockets Magic Number to Win: Clinched
Spurs Record: 10-13
Spurs Winning Pct: .435
Spurs Magic Number to Win: Not Happening

Rockets Remaining Games: Hornets, @Mavs
Spurs Remaining Games: Jazz, Hornets

For more information about the race for the Southwest Division crown, please read Post 772.

The Rockets-Spurs-Blazers Tie
I’m at a bit of a loss how this tie break works. The cumulative record against one another is:
Rockets: 4-3
Blazers: 4-3
Spurs: 3-5

The Rockets have a better conference record so they should win this tie break with the Blazers second and the Spurs last. The Spurs as a division leader (at least as of now) should get a top 4 seed thus getting bumped up to #4, so the final seeding would be Rockets, Spurs, Blazers. That of course sets up the very weird scenario of the Rockets having a higher seed than the Spurs even though the Spurs lead the division over the Rockets.

The question is that damn “division leader” line in the NBA tie break rules. I don’t think that applies to Playoff seeding, but they’re clearly applying it to the current standings. The Spurs as the division leader get bumped to the top of this 3 team tie, and the Rockets win the tie break over the Blazers (in both the 2 and 3 team tie breaks).

I really have no idea if the “division leader” rule will be applied for seeding purposes when the regular season ends. I suspect not, but we haven’t had any other official word on the matter other than a comment from Feigen. If someone wants to call a Houston sports radio show and ask this question, I would love word from an official NBA source on the matter.

The Rest of Wednesday’s Games
The Jazz finally snapped their 15 game losing streak to winning teams on the road, but could they win 2 in a row? The Dallas Mavericks made that a resounding NO with a thorough butt kicking. The win moves the Mavs into a tie with the Jazz for the #7 seed, although Utah owns the tie break. The Mavs are also only 1 game behind the Hornets with their next two games a home and home with New Orleans. The Mav victory also clinches a Playoff spot for Dallas and eliminates the Suns from the Playoffs so we’re down to the final board of 8. Dirk had 31 points and 7 boards, and Jason Terry scored 21 points off the bench. Deron Williams had 18 points and 12 assists for the Jazz, who lose a Magic Number.

The Hornets are the most chaotic team in the Western Conference Playoff field. Since their huge victory over the Spurs, they’ve looked mediocre with subpar performances against scrub teams and an awful road team in the Jazz. They did manage a nice win in Miami to start their 7 Games of Peril at 1-1. They hosted a Suns team all but eliminated from the Playoffs and playing for nothing but pride. Which Hornets team would show up? Apparently the bad one. They allowed the Suns to run wild in the second half and win on their home court. The loss all but eliminates the Hornets from home court in the first round and keeps them just a game up on Utah for the #6 seed. Steven Nash had 24 points and 13 assists, and Shaq added 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Suns, who finished their 9 Games of All Doom at 5-4. Chris Paul put up a stellar 29 points and 16 assists, and David West chipped in with 28 points and 12 boards for the Hornets, who lose a Magic Number. The Hornets close with 4 games against Texas teams.

The Nuggets might have overlooked the Thieves as they focused on tomorrow’s showdown with the Lakers. It nearly caught up with them as the Thieves played them tight and had a lead late in the third quarter. Enver, however, continued their impressive play and picked up their 8th straight win. That game tomorrow night should be interesting as two pretty hot teams collide. I have a feeling the Lakers are going to want a little payback for that shellacking they took in dEnver a few weeks ago, and I’m sure Phil will have them psyched for a showdown with the #2 in a possible WCF preview. Nene had 23 points and 10 rebounds, Chauncey Billups added 18 points and 9 assists, and Carmelo scored 31 for the Nuggets. Kevin Durant had 31 points and 7 rebounds, and Russell Westbrook put up 14 points and 11 assists for the Thieves.

Going to Cowbell City
The Rockets return to action for the first game of a back-to-back as they travel to Suckramento. There is no excuse to lose this game. We now control our own destiny to win the division and can move a ½ game up on the Spurs and Blazers to take sole possessions of the #3 seed with a win. The Kings have the worst record in the league, and as long as we play with intensity and modicum of intelligence, we should win this game handily.

Also on tap for Thursday: Nuggets at Lakers