The race for last

wilked

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 17, 2005
4,043
5 games to go or so...

The Suns have made a remarkable push here at the end and have the inside lane. Barring an anti-collapse they should have it

Suns 20-59 (Pelicans, Warriors, @Mavs)
Grizzlies 21-56 (@Pelicans, Kings, Pistons, @Timberwolves, @thunder)
Hawks 22-56 (Heat, @Wizards, @Celtics, 76ers)
Magic 23-54 (Mavs, Hornets, @Raptors, @Bucks, Wizards)
Mavs 24-54 (@Magic, @Pistons, @76ers, Suns)

That Magic / Mavericks game tonight is going to be a fun one. Also the final game between Suns / Mavs, as each is jockeying for position
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 26, 2005
30,482
PHO had a stunning loss, errr, win last night against SAC, which I'm sure CLE wasn't very happy about as SAC was dropped 1/2 game ahead of BRK. Still, PHOhas a margin of error and that I suspect that PHO will be sitting everyone but the team manager for that final game.

It's kind of amazing that PHO has only won 20 games with the:
  • 4th pick in the 2017 draft;
  • the 4th and 8th picks of the 2016 draft;
  • the 13th pick in the 2015 draft;
  • the 10th and 14th picks of the 2014 draft;
  • the 5th pick of the 2013 draft; and
  • the 2nd pick of the 2001 draft.
BRK, who plays @MIL, @CHI, CHI, and BOS, are two games behind NYK and CHI. The two BRK-CHI H2H games will be interesting.

CLE has an interesting decision since their last two games are @NYK and NYK.
 

InstaFace

The Ultimate One
SoSH Member
Sep 27, 2016
21,753
Pittsburgh, PA
CLE has an interesting decision since their last two games are @NYK and NYK.
It's going to be a traveshamockery, tomorrow night and wednesday. Brooklyn has two very winnable games left, vs CHI and @BOS, and vegas currently has them -7.5 for the former, and we can presume the latter will be near-farcical from the Celtics' side. So for the Knicks to stay behind Brooklyn in the pre-lottery draft order, Cleveland pretty much has to lose. And since the Cavs are 2 games up on Indiana with only dim hopes of retaking the #3 seed, they don't have much primary reason to win, either. Not surprisingly, CLE@NYK is one of the few games tomorrow for which vegas odds aren't yet posted.
 

kazuneko

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 10, 2006
2,816
Honolulu HI
It's going to be a traveshamockery, tomorrow night and wednesday. Brooklyn has two very winnable games left, vs CHI and @BOS, and vegas currently has them -7.5 for the former, and we can presume the latter will be near-farcical from the Celtics' side. So for the Knicks to stay behind Brooklyn in the pre-lottery draft order, Cleveland pretty much has to lose. And since the Cavs are 2 games up on Indiana with only dim hopes of retaking the #3 seed, they don't have much primary reason to win, either. Not surprisingly, CLE@NYK is one of the few games tomorrow for which vegas odds aren't yet posted.
If the 76ers lose to the Bucks in the final game of the season, the Cavs would get the 3 seed as long as they win both of their remaining games. It's not likely, but the Bucks aren't a horrible team so it's definitely possible. And this would make a huge difference for the Cavs as taking the 3 seed gives the Cavs a chance of competing against the winner of the Celtics-Bucks series in the 2nd round. Otherwise they will face the Raptors. So yeah, I think Cleveland will definitely be trying to win those last two games..
 

InstaFace

The Ultimate One
SoSH Member
Sep 27, 2016
21,753
Pittsburgh, PA
If the 76ers lose to the Bucks in the final game of the season, the Cavs would get the 3 seed as long as they win both of their remaining games. It's not likely, but the Bucks aren't a horrible team so it's definitely possible. And this would make a huge difference for the Cavs as taking the 3 seed gives the Cavs a chance of competing against the winner of the Celtics-Bucks series in the 2nd round. Otherwise they will face the Raptors. So yeah, I think Cleveland will definitely be trying to win those last two games..
Just checking in, but the Sixers currently lead 37-10 :)

(and the Cavs were tied last I checked, with the Celtics leading too. Nothing makes sense!)