While I'm a fan of the competition that the Play-in tournament adds to that last week of the regular season, I think that with how the situation is currently playing out in the West, a case could be made against it.
Seeds 3-8 are all with two games of each other
Seeds 9 (Kings) & 10 (Mavs) are each at least six games behind the current 8 seed (Wolves)
There should be some sort of cut-off where if you're at least 5 games back in that situation you should just lose your shot in the Play-In, IMO. The Wolves are currently 13 games over .500 while the next team in the standings is a game under .500. With just three games left on the schedule, the standings aren't likely to change much.
GS won big again last night. Not that they would need it because they've been playing lights out for the past month plus but with the coaching situations in Memphis & Denver being pretty iffy heading into the playoffs, that's likely going to work in some other West team's favor in R1. You'd still need to beat that team though, obviously.
That was the deep deep bench game that I thought we'd get last night. This was their final road game where they had the chance to tie the record for most road wins but Mazzulla sat his top 6 players and chose rest instead which is definitely cool.
Ugly game though.
Wow, Warriors ran out of gas in the 4th and lost again to the Spurs. And Denver won.
Clippers move into 5th seed and now GS is in a playoff game with Minnesota.
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
@erikthredd said:
That was the deep deep bench game that I thought we'd get last night. This was their final road game where they had the chance to tie the record for most road wins but Mazzulla sat his top 6 players and chose rest instead which is definitely cool.
Ugly game though.
Smart move with the rest call. Thinking of the bigger picture.
Successful transactions:Tookybandit. "Everyone is equal, some are more equal than others".
Looking at the playoffs - Cleveland can wind up playing the 7th seed and Boston can end up playing the 8th seed. Either team can theoretically end up playing the Hawks in the first round - and Cavs lost twice to the Hawks - one at home. Don't know about Boston and the Hawks during this year.
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
I also noticed that Detroit is going to finish the season as the 6th seed. They're currently 44-37 with one game to go but they're going to finish out their season as one of the greatest single-season win improvements in NBA history
Here are the most wins by a team from one season to the next, not including a strike-shortened season:
1. 2007-08 Boston Celtics: 42-win increase (24 to 66) - (KG/Pierce/Allen 1st season)
2. 1997-98 San Antonio Spurs: 36 (20 to 56) - (Tim Duncan rookie year)
3. 1989-90 San Antonio Spurs: 35 (21 to 56) - (David Robinson rookie year)
4. 2004-05 Phoenix Suns: 33 (29 to 62) - (Steve Nash MVP year)
5. 1979-80 Boston Celtics: 32 (29 to 61) (Larry Bird rookie year) 6. 2024-25 Detroit Pistons: 30 (14 to 44)...
Final games tomorrow will decide some playoff spots in the West:
Clinching scenarios for April 13:
Nuggets clinch a playoff spot with a win OR a loss by either Warriors or Timberwolves
Clippers clinch a playoff spot with a win OR a loss by either Nuggets or Timberwolves
Warriors clinch a playoff spot with a win OR a Timberwolves loss
Timberwolves clinch a playoff spot with a win
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Heah to head, Detroit went 3-1 vs NY and won each of their last three meetings. I could see that one going the full 7 games which should have both arenas rocking in every game.
Comments
While I'm a fan of the competition that the Play-in tournament adds to that last week of the regular season, I think that with how the situation is currently playing out in the West, a case could be made against it.
Seeds 3-8 are all with two games of each other
Seeds 9 (Kings) & 10 (Mavs) are each at least six games behind the current 8 seed (Wolves)
There should be some sort of cut-off where if you're at least 5 games back in that situation you should just lose your shot in the Play-In, IMO. The Wolves are currently 13 games over .500 while the next team in the standings is a game under .500. With just three games left on the schedule, the standings aren't likely to change much.
GS won big again last night. Not that they would need it because they've been playing lights out for the past month plus but with the coaching situations in Memphis & Denver being pretty iffy heading into the playoffs, that's likely going to work in some other West team's favor in R1. You'd still need to beat that team though, obviously.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
Who were those guys in the Celtics uniforms tonight???
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
That was the deep deep bench game that I thought we'd get last night. This was their final road game where they had the chance to tie the record for most road wins but Mazzulla sat his top 6 players and chose rest instead which is definitely cool.
Ugly game though.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
Lakers win again behind Luka's 45. Nuggets and Warriors play later tonight.
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Wow, Warriors ran out of gas in the 4th and lost again to the Spurs. And Denver won.
Clippers move into 5th seed and now GS is in a playoff game with Minnesota.
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Cavs - Pacers tonight. Wonder who will be sitting out for the Cavs. We know Allen will be playing at least a quarter or 2.
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Looks like Strus, Garland, Mitchell & Mobley are all out.
https://www.espn.com/nba/team/injuries/_/name/cle/cleveland-cavaliers
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
Allen played 1st half but Cavs ended up losing by 2 points. Not bad - gave the bench a lot of playing time.
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Pistons beat the Bulls. Should be a good series when they meet in the playoffs.
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Smart move with the rest call. Thinking of the bigger picture.
absolutely insane stat i ran across yesterday and just one of many reasons why i'd never put LeBron ahead of MJ
you'll never be able to outrun a bad diet
This idiot and his antics just got a really good head coach fired.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/44625683/grizzlies-morant-doing-grenade-celebration-problem
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
Morant has always been a "show-off". His 3 point shot sucks and he can't play defense!
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
All the NBA teams plat tonight - should clear up the playoff picture in the West.
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Not that it matters but Cavs came back to beat NY and Boston outscored Charlotte 71-36 in the 2nd half to win.
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Looking at the playoffs - Cleveland can wind up playing the 7th seed and Boston can end up playing the 8th seed. Either team can theoretically end up playing the Hawks in the first round - and Cavs lost twice to the Hawks - one at home. Don't know about Boston and the Hawks during this year.
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Here's how we each fared against each of the Play-in teams...
Cleveland
2-1 vs Magic
1-3 vs Hawks
4-0 vs Bulls
2-1 vs Heat
Boston
1-2 vs Magic
1-2 vs Hawks
3-1 vs Bulls
3-1 vs Heat
I wouldn't be surprised at all if Miami sneaks in there past one of the other three.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
I also noticed that Detroit is going to finish the season as the 6th seed. They're currently 44-37 with one game to go but they're going to finish out their season as one of the greatest single-season win improvements in NBA history
Here are the most wins by a team from one season to the next, not including a strike-shortened season:
1. 2007-08 Boston Celtics: 42-win increase (24 to 66) - (KG/Pierce/Allen 1st season)
2. 1997-98 San Antonio Spurs: 36 (20 to 56) - (Tim Duncan rookie year)
3. 1989-90 San Antonio Spurs: 35 (21 to 56) - (David Robinson rookie year)
4. 2004-05 Phoenix Suns: 33 (29 to 62) - (Steve Nash MVP year)
5. 1979-80 Boston Celtics: 32 (29 to 61) (Larry Bird rookie year)
6. 2024-25 Detroit Pistons: 30 (14 to 44)...
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
Final games tomorrow will decide some playoff spots in the West:
Clinching scenarios for April 13:
Nuggets clinch a playoff spot with a win OR a loss by either Warriors or Timberwolves
Clippers clinch a playoff spot with a win OR a loss by either Nuggets or Timberwolves
Warriors clinch a playoff spot with a win OR a Timberwolves loss
Timberwolves clinch a playoff spot with a win
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
This should be a fun series to watch. (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons = LOCKED
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Heah to head, Detroit went 3-1 vs NY and won each of their last three meetings. I could see that one going the full 7 games which should have both arenas rocking in every game.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486