NBA Standings Watch
- Thread starter lexrageorge
- Start date
Right now...
Miami --
Philly -3
Mil -3.5
Chi -4.5
Bos -5
Would we rather have the Celtics be the #4 seed over the #3 seed? Do we think it's preferable to play Miami instead of Philly in the second round?
Miami --
Philly -3
Mil -3.5
Chi -4.5
Bos -5
Would we rather have the Celtics be the #4 seed over the #3 seed? Do we think it's preferable to play Miami instead of Philly in the second round?
I think a lot of people are underestimating both Durant’s impact and the Cavs ongoing injury debacle. I’d have to think that Brooklyn catches them from here…..at the very least make it come down to the final couple games.
Barring Brooklyn getting hot and catching Cleveland, I think the 4 seed would be ideal. Home court advantage vs. Chicago, obviously, but assuming Brooklyn wins the play-in and is the 7 seed, the Celts would avoid 2 of Philadelphia, Milwaukee, and Brooklyn, which would be the 3 matchups I would least like to see.
making up a 6 game deficit in 17 games is really tough. They'd need to go something like 12-5 and have CLE go 6-10... possible but pretty unlikely. That would not only need CLE to really fall apart, but for BKN to play siginifcantly above the rate they've played with Durant this year.
I think it may be 5 games after tonight. I also feel the Nets with Durant are primed to go on a run especially with the schedule ahead of them. The Cavs are one Garlsnd injury from falling apart…..they are really banged up right now.
Or, as things stand, the road game against the Knicks. Unless something changes, Kyrie is out 11 of the 17 games remaining on the schedule. And, they have to find a way to integrate Simmons during that time. And, KD is coming off an injury. I doubt that they will jeopardize KD's health to go pedal to the medal in order to catch both Cleveland and Toronto and eke into the 6 spot.
The matchups are a whack-a-mole game. The East is so balanced at the top that it's going to be fight no matter how things line up. Seeding probably won't be decided till the last few games anyway, so you wouldn't know where the teams you're trying to avoid are going to be.
Just go into the playoffs playing as well as possible, and as healthy as possible.
Just go into the playoffs playing as well as possible, and as healthy as possible.
sure, but if Garland stays healthy and Durant pulls a hammy we'll be talking about whether they can hold off the Wiz for the 10.
Here is BRK next 10 games
@CHA, @PHI, NYK, @ORL, DAL, POR, UTA, @MEM, @MIA, CHA
Here is CLE next 10
@IND, @MIA, @CHI, LAC, PHI, DEN, DET, LAL, @TOR, CHI
BRK schedule isn't easy, but CLE has a tough stretch ahead of them. They could go 2-8 no problem
I think it is an open question as to how much Brooklyn prioritizes getting the 6th seed versus getting Simmons integrated into the rotation and keeping KD fresh; there are 3 back-to-back sets remaining. One is Orlando/Dallas (definite maintenance day in there somewhere), and the Houston/Knicks one will be similarly easy, although no Kyrie for either one. And one is @MIA and home against the pesky Hornets.
There is that 4/8 game against the Cavs that could loom large.
There is that 4/8 game against the Cavs that could loom large.
Both Cleveland and Charlotte are favored tonight, odds are better they're back 7 than 5. But you're better at predicting this stuff than me.
I think nobody will try to hit a particular seed, everything is a mess and so tight you might not get it, plus with upset potential all ovr the place higher seed means more likely homecourt.
Agree. Teams in the top half of the league are generally trying to win regardless of where they are seeded although questionable load management decisions may come up. But that doesn’t make for much fun with message boarding.
Cleveland is a small favorite but I like the Pacers to win. It’s tied at the half. Nets are up 30+ right now.
The Nets schedule isn’t really that difficult for them as the only game they will be an underdog in is @philly and this is a very winnable game for them. Home vs Dallas on the back end of a B2B will be their toughest game imo.
1/2 right, Cleveland comes back to win it. Nets impressive at Charlotte. At some point they have to play some defense, don't they?
Philly has already indicated it’s not going to try for the one seed by resting against the Miami Heat. They’re percentage points ahead of Milwaukee, so I can definitely foresee some tanking from either PHL/MKE to get the favorable 3/6 matchup (likely Cleveland who has a 3.5-game lead on Toronto in 7th) instead of a potential 2/7 Brooklyn opening round series. (Right now, this would involve the Nets winning a road game play-in without Irving in Toronto.)
The Celtics didn't play, but it was a good night. 4/5 of the other teams in the top 6 played, and 3 of them (Miami, Milwaukee, Cleveland) lost.
Chicago beat Cleveland, so the C's drop back to 5th, but Milwaukee and Miami lose so things tighten up overall. 3.5 out of first, only 1 out of 2nd.
2 games later it is now making up a 4 game deficit in 15 games with the Nets getting the Knicks and Magic in their next two as the Cavs have the Clippers and Sixers.
the Allen injury is crippling for the poor Cavs (along with Rubio/Sexton). Everything is falling on Garland/Mobley.
Toronto has been playing well lately though (road wins against Phoenix and Denver!). If Brooklyn were to get a 6 seed they would need to leapfrog both Cleveland and Toronto. Will be a good test of their mettle if they can do it but Kyrie is still going to be sitting home games and I imagine KD will get a couple of rest games.
Injuries not withstanding I don’t think Ime is going to intentionally jockey too much on seeding but rather just keep improving the good habits and exorcise bad ones and win every game. Let the chips fall where they may on seeding.
Injuries not withstanding I don’t think Ime is going to intentionally jockey too much on seeding but rather just keep improving the good habits and exorcise bad ones and win every game. Let the chips fall where they may on seeding.
Just looking it,TOR has tough schedule. 11 games against teams that right now would continue playing after season is done.
@LAL
@LAC
v. LAL
@ PHI
@ CHI (B2B)
v. CLE
v. IND
v. BOS
v. MIN
@ ORL
v. MIA
v. PHI
v. ATL
v. HOU (B2B)
@ NYK
Is there an update on the vax mandate in NYC? I know there was some discussion of changing it, but never heard any actual date discussed.
Would live to have Toronto knock out Brooklyn on so many levels.
Would live to have Toronto knock out Brooklyn on so many levels.
Yes for sure. This was a large part of my reasoning that they will be passed by the Nets (and maybe the Raptors as well). Losing Rubio was enormous for them but as you say losing Allen on top of this makes it crippling.
i wouldn’t expect Durant to miss any games except maybe the final one, if the 6 is locked up,which many stars sit anyway. He’s already missed 27 this year and played just 75 games since the spring of 2019…….he isn’t worn down by any means. The Nets have only 3 B2B’s the rest of the way. The first is this week, @Orlando and Dallas, the latter is an ESPN game so maybe he could sit in Orlando (but again it’s following an off day and avoiding the play-in would presumably be important to Brooklyn so I wouldn’t expect it). The other B2B are both coming off two days off.
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The private sector mandate remains in place despite the Mayor specifically saying he would like to see Kyrie on the court. But he won’t make an exception. If the COVID rates drop they will probably revisit but time is short and I doubt this happens before the playoffs anyway.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/02/27/nyc-vaccine-mandate-kyrie-irving/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/02/27/nyc-vaccine-mandate-kyrie-irving/
so here’s the Nets remaining slate of 15 games:
NYK
@Orl
Dal
Por
Utah
@Mem
@Mia
Cha
Det
Mil
@Atl
Hou
@NYK (in NYC tho)
Cle
Ind
11 in NYC, 4 away. And so ironically the home games will be tougher because of no Kyrie so it’s no cakewalk to the 6 seed.
NYK
@Orl
Dal
Por
Utah
@Mem
@Mia
Cha
Det
Mil
@Atl
Hou
@NYK (in NYC tho)
Cle
Ind
11 in NYC, 4 away. And so ironically the home games will be tougher because of no Kyrie so it’s no cakewalk to the 6 seed.
yeah you’re right - they probably can’t afford it especially with Kyrie sitting the majority of the remaining schedule. The x-factor here really is Ben Simmons and integrating him into the rotation - with him sitting all year we really have no idea how effectively he will gel. This will come down to the wire.
Covid rates have dropped to low levels in Kings County, less than Boston (Suffolk).
It's probably more of a side-effect of the wheels of government moving slowly than "we need to keep the mandate because rates". NYC has been more conservative in a lot of ways, but the ICU occupancy in Kings is rolling at 17 people with 4 deaths.
With lasts night's Celtics win and Bulls loss, the Celtics are now in sole possession of the four seed.
And the thought is we wish to be no higher, do I have that right?
If so, can someone riff through the main reasons we want to be at 4 vs 2 or 3?
If so, can someone riff through the main reasons we want to be at 4 vs 2 or 3?
Yeah, the 1, 4, 5, and 8 pool looks very likely to avoid playing any of Philly, Milwaukee, or Brooklyn until the ECF.
Toronto is beginning to look like an absolute pain in the ass to play. They'll beat the Lakers Friday night to go 40-30 and then @ 76ers, @ Bulls, home v. Cavs, three games that will go a long way toward determining how this all settles. Looks to me like they have a pretty good shot at the 5 seed, 4 seed if the Celtics aren't careful.
I think you go for the 2 if you can get it. Far from a guarantee BKN ends up 7 instead of 8, and homecourt is homecourt.
Yeah. Even if Brooklyn ends up at 7 or 8, they could lose both play in games anyway. Play for seed, not opponent. I'm not sure there is an easy out in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
With the way this team plays I think you just try to get there playing your best ball. They are legitimately a championship contender right now with the defense and you don’t want to let bad habits creep in trying to game the seeding. I do hope for the easier draw so maybe I’ll just root for all of the top 4 to keep winning.
Would you rest Tatum and Brown and Horford alternately down the stretch? 76ers definitely going to rest Embiid twice in final week. Seedings don’t matter to good teams.
Yeah I think that is reasonable, and they’ve given Al the odd day off here and there anyways plus days off for minor injuries to Brown/Smart/Williams. They have a b2b tomorrow/Monday and again in the final week so I would guess some selective resting might happen then.
Bucks without Giannis are getting blown out in Minny, C’s about to be a game back of both 2nd/3rd.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but the 2nd seed is the worst case scenario for the Cs, correct?
Attachments
Not really.
People think the two is bad on the basis of assuming BRK is the 7, but that's not actually THAT likely.
we have no real idea who is finishing where in the 2-7 regualr season race, nor the 8-10 race.
2 seed could mean BKN then PHI or MIL
on the other hand it could mean one of CLE/CHI/ATL/CHA in the 1st.
The 4/5 probably locks in TOR/CHI/CLE as your 1st opponent, but then round 2 could be MIA or the Nets.
#2 guarantees you are at home for at least 2 series
If the goal is to avoid Brooklyn, then yeah. The 1 or 2 seed is bad. At the 3 or 4 seed, the C's will be matched up with Chicago, Cleveland or Toronto. Outside chance of it being Philly but not very likely. Brooklyn at 7 or 8 could knock out the 1 or 2 seed.
Round 2, I'm not sure it's going to matter. Most likely the C's are either going to be playing Milwaukee, Philly, Miami or Brooklyn. If they make it round 3, they are most likely going to be playing Milwaukee, Philly, Miami or Brooklyn. With Brooklyn in round 2, the C's would at least have home court.
The play in games are going to matter a bit this year. No offense to Charlotte and Atlanta, but they aren't Brooklyn and Toronto. It's possible Brooklyn falls to the 9 or 10th seed and loses their first game, while Toronto loses twice. That will change the 1st round dramatically if it happens.
edit: Or what Cellar Door said. We just don't know, We won't really know until the play in games are played. If Toronto and Brooklyn do make it, there aren't any easy outs in the EC. The playoffs should be great this year. West isn't so bad, either.
This.
Also, it feels like Boston is the team nobody wants to play right now.
Who wants to deal with a big, physical defensive juggernaut with enough top end talent to win any contest?