Race to the NBA Playoffs- Match-ups Set! Lakers Make the Playoffs!!

First two posts updated.

Memphis moved back into the 4th seed, while LAC sledded down tot he five spot. Portland lost their season series with GSW, and all of the other teams int he hunt for 6-8 won their games, tough or easy.

Things got tighter in the middle of the East with Chicago and Brooklyn losing while Atlanta won, but no movement.

Tomorrow's games:

DET @ CHI
MIA @ SAS
BOS @ NYK*

*Only real game of interest tomorrow, as New York needs to keep their lead in the East.
 
First two posts updated for Sunday's games!

The Bulls did a good job to close out the Pistons late, and 4-6 remains tight in the East.

The Celtics on the other hand, well, they must really want to play the Heat in the first round.. :lol: The Knicks pounded them, and held their lead in the East for the #2 seed.

San Antonio lost and aren't invulnerable from losing the #1 seed, especially with them having a tough week this week.

Tomorrow's games.

CLE @ ATL
CHA @ MIL
SAS @ MEM*
ORL @ HOU
BOS @ MIN
POR @ UTAH**
IND @ LAC***

*Memphis wants to avoid getting into the fifth seed, and if they want to do that, they can't lose too many more games. Since LAC is a lock for a top-4 seed, they need to out-do Denver these last two and a half weeks.
**Portland's last real chance to make up some ground here... Five games behind with eight games remaining is too much for them, and tomorrow might be the straw that breaks the camels back. It will be an amazing story if they do make it though, their schedule is the toughest of anyone left in the NBA. Every team they're playing right now except the Lakers are a Playoff team, and all but two of those are top-5 seeds.
***Clippers can kind of coast from here on out because the Warriors won't catch them for that #4 seed, but they are still in the hunt for the #3 seed, so we'll see how seriously they take tomorrow's game. Personally, I think Indiana can run them out of the building.

Monday 4/1: ORL @ HOU. POR @ UTAH.*
Tuesday 4/2: DAL @ LAL.*
Wednesday 4/3: DEN @ UTAH. HOU @ SAC. MEM @ POR. NOH @ GSW.
Thursday 4/4: DAL @ DEN.
Friday 4/5: NOH @ UTAH. GSW @ PHO. DAL @ SAC. HOU @ POR.* MEM @ LAL.
Saturday 4/6: HOU @ DEN.
Sunday 4/7: LAL @ LAC. UTAH @ GSW.* DAL @ POR.*

Dallas has a tough two games, but then the other two aren't nearly as tough as the games they've had recently (LAC, Indiana, and Chicago).
Houston has one tough game, so they should be safe.
GSW has a light week, although they end the week in a tough Portland arena.
LAL got tough games all week, from Dallas to Memphis to LA Clippers.
Portland got it rough too. AT Utah, against a killer Memphis team, against a tough Houston team, and ending versus a hot Dallas.
Utah has a decent week, with the only tough game being a game against Denver, but they're at home.
 
First two posts updated for Sunday's games!

The Bulls did a good job to close out the Pistons late, and 4-6 remains tight in the East.

The Celtics on the other hand, well, they must really want to play the Heat in the first round.. :lol: The Knicks pounded them, and held their lead in the East for the #2 seed.

San Antonio lost and aren't invulnerable from losing the #1 seed, especially with them having a tough week this week.

Tomorrow's games.

CLE @ ATL
CHA @ MIL
SAS @ MEM*
ORL @ HOU
BOS @ MIN
POR @ UTAH**
IND @ LAC***

*Memphis wants to avoid getting into the fifth seed, and if they want to do that, they can't lose too many more games. Since LAC is a lock for a top-4 seed, they need to out-do Denver these last two and a half weeks.
**Portland's last real chance to make up some ground here... Five games behind with eight games remaining is too much for them, and tomorrow might be the straw that breaks the camels back. It will be an amazing story if they do make it though, their schedule is the toughest of anyone left in the NBA. Every team they're playing right now except the Lakers are a Playoff team, and all but two of those are top-5 seeds.
***Clippers can kind of coast from here on out because the Warriors won't catch them for that #4 seed, but they are still in the hunt for the #3 seed, so we'll see how seriously they take tomorrow's game. Personally, I think Indiana can run them out of the building.

Monday 4/1: ORL @ HOU. POR @ UTAH.*
Tuesday 4/2: DAL @ LAL.*
Wednesday 4/3: DEN @ UTAH. HOU @ SAC. MEM @ POR. NOH @ GSW.
Thursday 4/4: DAL @ DEN.
Friday 4/5: NOH @ UTAH. GSW @ PHO. DAL @ SAC. HOU @ POR.* MEM @ LAL.
Saturday 4/6: HOU @ DEN.
Sunday 4/7: LAL @ LAC. UTAH @ GSW.* DAL @ POR.*

Dallas has a tough two games, but then the other two aren't nearly as tough as the games they've had recently (LAC, Indiana, and Chicago).
Houston has one tough game, so they should be safe.
GSW has a light week, although they end the week in a tough Portland arena.
LAL got tough games all week, from Dallas to Memphis to LA Clippers.
Portland got it rough too. AT Utah, against a killer Memphis team, against a tough Houston team, and ending versus a hot Dallas.
Utah has a decent week, with the only tough game being a game against Denver, but they're at home.
 
JapanAir21 said:
Oh, hrm, I forgot that. I was just going off of record. Always thought that was a dumb rule, but duly noted, and changed.
Click to expand...

LAC is guaranteed a top 4 seed, but not home court advantage. If they have a lower winning % than the 5th seed, the 5th seed will get 4 home games.
 
goofy08 said:
LAC is guaranteed a top 4 seed, but not home court advantage. If they have a lower winning % than the 5th seed, the 5th seed will get 4 home games.
Click to expand...

That's so goddamn goofy.. :lol:

If that's the case, why even give the Clippers the 4 seed? :lol:
 
goofy08 said:
LAC is guaranteed a top 4 seed, but not home court advantage. If they have a lower winning % than the 5th seed, the 5th seed will get 4 home games.
Click to expand...

Yep. I came in here to post exactly that. So, the only thing Memphis needs to do is have a better record and they will have homecourt in the first round with the 5th seed :rofl:
 
Updated today's action.

Portland ended up losing their season series with the Jazz, while the Grizzlies tied their season series with the Spurs.

Things are really looking bleak in Portland. They now are five games behind Utah, with games against Memphis, Dallas, and the Lakers coming up to end the week. They have to win out, and have Utah, Dallas, and LA all fall off the face of the earth. I will keep them up until they are eliminated, but it's not looking good.

Speaking of Utah, they are stepping up HUGE right when they need to. Props to them. Tough games that they could've let slip, they are taking control of and not letting up. They have an interesting next four game stretch though, facing Denver, the Hornets, Golden State, and OKC. That could just be the opening that either Dallas or LA needs to break through in the West, but both teams won't have it easy, as they both have tough games remaining this week.

Spurs opened up the #1 seed to the Thunder if they want it, seeing as they have lost a few and now just lead the THunder while one game, while the race for 3-5 remains extremely tight in the West.

Nothing changed in the top half of the East, but in the bottom half the Bucks and Celtics are now just separated by one loss. That's not good for the Celtics. :x

Tomorrow's big games:

CHI @ WAS
NYK @ MIA
DAL @ LAL

Dallas wins, they remain tight in the race in the West and share a tiebreaker with the Lakers, but if they lose, it remains to be a damn tough schedule to overcome since they'd be two losses back and still have to face Denver twice, and Memphis once. Lakers lose, they have to scrap and fight for every remaining game, considering they play the Grizzlies, the Clippers, and end the season with a nasty triple header of Golden State, San Antonio, and Houston.

HUGE game tomorrow, regardless. :nerd:
 
bhzmafia14 said:
Yep. I came in here to post exactly that. So, the only thing Memphis needs to do is have a better record and they will have homecourt in the first round with the 5th seed :rofl:
Click to expand...

I forget, what backward *** circumstance made them change that rule? In case 4-5 get in a tie in the West? :lol:

Stupid, really. Top four teams should get home-court, regardless of division standings.
 
The ramifications of this Laker Mavericks game though... This should be good.gif
 
Antidope said:
The ramifications of this Laker Mavericks game though... This should be good.gif
Click to expand...

Seriously. If the refs mess with this game like they did with Portland, I'm calling it quits :smh: We're seeing some of the greatest NBA basketball this season regardless of how the Lakers are doing. Don't ruin this for the fans just to get the league pets in the playoffs
 
Tonight's game all done.

Chicago fell back and tied the Hawks in the loss column, and Atlanta now has a lead in the 5th seed against them. We'll see how they finish. The Knicks also stayed ahead of the Pacers, and won their season series against the Heat, not that it matters much, since the Heat have locked up the #1 seed.

The Lakers ended up muscling and outplaying the Mavs, and they now have a three game advantage on the Mavericks, as htey are two ahead in the loss column, and if they tie with them, the Lakers will go ahead and get in the Playoffs.

Looks bleak for anyone not named LA or Utah for that 8th spot. Props to them.

Tomorrow's games:

NYK @ ATL*
BKN @ CLE
DET @ BOS
MIN @ MIL
ORL @ SAS
DEN @ UTAH**
HOU @ SAC
MEM @ POR***
PHO @ LAC
NOH @ GSW

*Important game since the Knicks lead the season series against the Hawks, and maybe the Hawks can move up if they keep winning.They aren't far from home court advantage in the first round.
**Big game for the Jazz considering they lose and they're back in the 9th seed, while Denver need to keep their advantage on Memphis.
***With a loss tomorrow, the Blazers will be all but done.
 
With a loss by Utah tonight, the Lakers slipped back into the ninth spot without playing, and now lead both Dallas and Utah. Denver/Memphis/LAC all won tonight, so no movement there. Portland slipped and is all but eliminated from the Playoffs, and Houston/GSW both held tight in the 6-7 seed race. The Spurs also won, so they will be comfortable going into the game against the Spurs tomorrow.

ATL and Milwaukee both lost, but no one changed movement today in the East.

Denver ended up winning it's season series against the Jazz, New York won theirs with the Hawks, and the Grizzlies won their series with the Blazers.

Tomorrows games?

WOW.

CHI @ BKN
DAL @ DEN
SAS @ OKC.

Chicago wins and it's a huge boost to their chances of grabbing home court in the first round, since they would win the season series with the Nets and then only trail them by a single game in the loss column.

Dallas wants to stay alive, they really can't lose anymore games, because they've lost the season series with both the Lakers and Jazz, and now they have to fight and scrap just to stay alive. Denver loses, they slide from 3 to 5, so they want this game bad too. It's always damn-near impossible to win at Denver, so we'll see.

SAS and OKC could be tied after tomorrow in the loss column, and if the Thunder won they'd tie the season series, so it's a big game for both teams.

Huge impactful games tomorrow. All three. :x
 
The misleading Spurs who have been a great regular season team in recent years only to choke in the playoffs will lose to the Lakers in the first round.

The Thunder however will run the Lakers off the court in the second round. I said a second round exit for the Lakers the day they signed Dwight and I'm sticking by it.
 
Xtapolapacetl said:
The misleading Spurs who have been a great regular season team in recent years only to choke in the playoffs will lose to the Lakers in the first round.

The Thunder however will run the Lakers off the court in the second round. I said a second round exit for the Lakers the day they signed Dwight and I'm sticking by it.
Click to expand...

Well that'll be hard to do unless OKC drops to 4 or 5 since them and SAS/LAL will be on opposite sides of the bracket assuming SA finishes at 1 and OKC at 2. The Lakers wouldn't OKC until the conference finals.
 
In the biggest game of the night, OKC took control of the game and now are tied with the Spurs in the loss column, tied the season series, and just trail the Spurs by half-a-game. Crazy race down the stretch. The Thunder currently have a better conference record, so if they end up tying in the loss column, the #1 seed goes to the Thunder.

The Nets might've just lost home-court in the first round, since they just lost the season series with the Bulls who've been playing great recently. It's likely that the two teams meet in the first round anyways, so we'll see how things turn out.

Tonight was a lose-lose for both the Nuggets and the Mavs. The Nuggets won the game, but they just lost Danilo Gallinari for the year most likely, and the Mavs? They now trail the Lakers by three games in the loss column, but would need to have them lose four games, and the Mavs to win out, in order for them to stay in the Playoffs. Not looking good for Dallas or Denver.

Friday's games:

CLE @ BOS
MIL @ NYK*
PHI @ ATL
OKC @ IND**
ORL @ CHI
NOH @ UTAH
GSW @ PHO
DAL @ SAC
HOU @ POR***
MEM @ LAL****

*Could be a potential first round matchup if the Celtics slide to the 8th spot, and New York could just to a bigger lead against the Pacers with a win tomorrow.
**OKC plays to take control of the #1 seed in the West, while Indiana tries to keep up with the Knicks.
***Do-or-die time for the Trailblazers. They lose tomorrow, they should be officially out of the Playoffs.
****Memphis is now in prime condition to get home court advantage with Denver now lacking Danilo, while the Lakers still have to keep up pace with the Jazz and Mavericks to a lesser extent. Probably second biggest game of the night behind OKC @ IND.
 
Xtapolapacetl said:
The misleading Spurs who have been a great regular season team in recent years only to choke in the playoffs will lose to the Lakers in the first round.

The Thunder however will run the Lakers off the court in the second round.
Click to expand...


Same thing I said.

Ppl still think the spurs are about that playoff life

Good looking on the updates Japan
 
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:lol: I don't know why you guys think we can beat the Spurs in the first round. Pop would out coach and out think MDA like he did back when he was with the Suns.
 
In the race for the 8th seed, every team from 6-10 won, while Portland lost. They have now been formally eliminated from the Playoff hunt. They ended their season horrendously, losing seven in a row. As I mentioned, GS, Houston, LA, Utah, and Dallas all won tonight. That makes it must-win territory for the Mavs, as they need Lakers to lose four of their remaining six, and Utah three of their remaining six, and the Mavs to win out to bump both out. Dallas had their chance this week, and it looks like they blew it.

Memphis lost to the Lakers, and fell behind the Clippers and Nuggets, but all hope isn't lost, since Nuggets just lost Gallo, and the Clippers have their own turmoil right now.

OKC took control of the #1 seed in the West, but neither team has an easy path to the end of the season, so it may come down to the final day.

In the East, not too much happened. New York kept it's lead and added to it against Indiana, while Chicago has pulled away from the Hawks and Celtics, while pulling closer to the Nets. Celts and Bucks both continue to really want to play Miami with their poor play recently… :lol:

The games of Saturday, April 6th.

IND @ WAS
CHA @ BKN
TOR @ MIL
ATL @ SA*
HOU @ DEN**

*ATL may fall out of the sixth seed if they keep on losing, and San Antonio really wants to win tomorrow after losing the #1 seed they've had almost all year.
**No Gallo, no problem. This game shouldn't mean too much the long run, but Denver probably wants to keep home court, so we'll see how it goes.

Sorry it took so long to get this out, but everything is updated.
 
It's actually possible that the Pacers could lose the 3-seed to the Nets, the way they've been playing.
 
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