Since it is halfway point, how do you see the conferences finishing up? Right now in the WC, 4 games separates #3 and #9, so there is a lot of potential movement.

As it stands in the WC now (Hollinger odds for making the playoffs).

OKC 27-7
Spurs 24-10
Clips 20-11 (95.5%)
Mavs 21-13 (92.8%)
LAL 20-14 (83.6%)
Rockets 20-14 (82.3%)
Grizz 19-15 (71.6%)
Port 18-16 (76.7%)

Den 18-17 (40.8)
Min 17-17 (32.4)
Utah 15-17 (9.1)
GSW 13-17 (12.7)


In the EC, maybe the Knicks move up, or the Magic fall with the loss of Howard, but I'm not sure that much change will go on there over the next 30+ games.

The last 2-3 spots in the west are pretty much wide open. It's hard to say how that will shake out. I see the Nuggets maybe making it in at number 8 and the Grizzlies falling out, but that's really just a wild guess at this point.

Among the #2-#6 seeds, I don't see a whole lot of change happening there. Maybe a couple of teams will shift around, with the Clippers probably moving up to number 2, Mavs at 3, and Spurs at 4. Mavs defense is playing well, and that will probably translate to more wins in the long run. Depending on how long is takes for Manu to get back into game shape, I see them probably slowing down some in the win column.

As for the east, it'll be Heat vs. Bulls in the ECF, that's all there is to it.

Oh, and I'd love to see a Spurs vs. Rockets first round series. Spurs can finally get their revenge for that Hakeem-Robinson series.

[This message has been edited by sharkenleo (edited 2/25/2012 12:12p).]

1.Oklahoma City Thunder
2.San Antonio Spurs
3.Dallas Mavericks
4.Los Angeles Clippers
5.Los Angeles Lakers
6.Memphis Grizzlies
7.Houston Rockets
8.Portland Trailblazers

Given the history of the clippers, I expect an injury to either chris paul our another key clipper.

For the Grizzlies, they have to assimilate zach randolph back into their rotation.
I think that will be tough, but possibly quite impactful.

pretty easy to get your best player back in the lineup

The Mavs are a dog that are already 2 years behind the spurs in rebuilding

Man I really don't want to have face denver as an 8 seed, but I hope they make it because they are fun to watch. They will make it if they get fully healthy.

It'll be great to see the rockets hopefully make it back in the playoffs.

Denver and Memphis will start shooting up once they are healthy.

With the win last night (over Clippers), Minnesota only a half game out of 8th place and up to 52% on the Hollinger odds.

Big game tonight against the (possibly Kobe-less) Lakers.

It will be interesting to see what they do with Beasley this trading season.

[This message has been edited by Iowaggie (edited 2/29/2012 8:52a).]

A point of comparison. As of today, EC playoff teams #4-#8 (5 teams) have a combined 18-37 record vs. WC teams (all WC teams, not just WC playoff teams). Comparatively, only 3 teams in the whole WC have a losing record against EC teams.

Sounds about right. Outside of miami and chicago, the ec sucks. Wc has 12 solid teams.

As it stands in the WC now (Hollinger odds for making the playoffs).

OKC 29-8
Spurs 25-12
LAL 23-14 (95.2%)
Clips 22-13 (93.8%)
Grizz 22-15 (87.3%)
Mavs 22-16 (90.8%)
Den 21-17 (80.1)
Rockets 21-17 (48.9%)

Min 19-19 (45.7)
Port 18-19 (42.7)
Utah 17-19 (15.8)


Of these teams: Dallas (16), OKC (15), and Houston (14) have the most games against teams above .500. Spurs and Memphis have the fewest (12).

Besides Utah (17), Houston, Dallas, and Memphis have the greatest number of away games remaining (16)

Rockets have done their share to work themselves out of the playoffs. Again.
Portland also still sub .500.


OKC
Spurs
Grizz 23-15 (94.6%)
Clips 22-15 (88.4%)
LAL 23-16 (89.5%)
Mavs 23-17 (84.3%)
Den 22-18 (76)
Min 21-19 (60.8)

Rockets 21-19 (30.5%)

Utah 19-19 (26.7)
Port 19-20(40.5)

Hopefully they can claw their way back up to 7th place. I want a Spurs vs. Rockets first round series.

Also, Memphis starting to look pretty dangerous. Kinda hoping they stay in the 3 or 4 spot to the Spurs can hope someone else takes them out, or so we can avoid them as long as we can.

could you imagine memphis with zbo and arthur?

lionel hollins deserves some COY mention?

^ Agreed

Lionel Hollins should be in the discussion for COY. Chris Wallace has effectively managed the cap space that opened up because of the Pau Gasol trade.


If only they weren't horrible in their draft day dealings, especially in 2009.




Since 2009 draft:
2nd pick - Hasheem Thabeet (Hollins wanted Steph Curry). Traded to Houston for Battier rental after realizing he was Thabust that many thought he would be.

29th pick - DeMarre Carroll - now out of league (the worst part of this pick, isn't the other guys they could have had, but who they gave up to get this pick - Kyle Lowry).

36th pick - Sam Young - good pick for a 2nd round.

2010:
14th pick - Xavier Henry - now with NOH for little used Quincy Pondoxter.
25th pick - Dominique Jones - traded to Dallas for cash
29th pick - Grevais Vasquez - good pick for spot. Traded to NOH for Mo Speights.

(2008 was the Kevin Love and Donte Green draft that were traded for OJ Mayo from T'Wolves and Darrell Arthur from Rockets)

I think you have the trades backwards. Speights was acquired in a three team deal from Philly that sent Xavier to NOLA. Vasquez was traded for Pondexter.

You're right, and I hate that GV trade even more.

With Rubio out for the season, is it safe to cross off the Timberwolves?

Now Lowry out for a few weeks for the backsliding Rockets.
Portland might just be getting some luck to turn their way.

As it stands in the WC now (Hollinger odds for making the playoffs).

OKC 34-12
Spurs 29-14
LAL 28-18
Clips 26-19 (86%)
Mavs 27-20 (82%)
Grizz 25-19 (86%)
Den 25-21 (61%)
Rockets 25-22 (49%)

Utah 24-22 (58%)
Suns 23-23 (24%)
Min 23-24 (38%)

Portland Dumpster fire.

Of these teams: Dallas (14) and Suns (15) have the most games against teams above .500. Denver (9), Spurs (10), Clippers (10), and Utah (10) have the fewest.

Besides Denver (13), Suns and Memphis have the greatest number of away games remaining (12).

Over the remaining 15-18 games, a lot of WC playoff teams will be facing each other, so while the potential is there for movement among 4-9, I think everyone just beats each other up.

OKC 38-12
Spurs 35-14
LAL 31-19
Clips 29-21 (91%)
Mavs 29-22 (86%)
Grizz 27-21 (91%)
Utah 27-24 (73%)
Rockets 27-24 (49%)

Den 27-24 (54%)


Remaining schedules for teams 4-9:
Clips 14 of 16 games (7H/9A) remaining are against WC teams. 4 sets of B2B remain.

Mavs 11 of 15 games (6H/9A) remaining are against WC teams. 5 sets of B2B remain, including a 4G5D.

Grizzlies 13 of 18 games (9H/9A) remaining are against WC teams. 6 sets of B2B remain, including three 4G5D which includes one 8G11D.

Jazz 14 of 15 games (8H/7A) remaining are against WC teams. 3 sets of B2B remain.

Rockets 12 of 15 games (7H/8A) remaining are against WC teams. 5 sets of B2B remain, including a 6G8D.


Denver 12 of 15 games (6H/9A) remaining are against WC teams. 4 sets of B2B remain..

If the Lakers lose to OKC tonight, they are right there with the rest of the pack.

My guess as to how it ends after looking at schedules:

#1 OKC vs. #8 Denver
#2 SAS vs. #7 Memphis
#3 LAL vs. #6 Jazz
#4 Mavs vs. #5 Clippers

4/15 & 16 will be big for Denver/Houston

I agree with that, except I'd swap Memphis and Utah.

Thanks for the informative post. Looks like it's gonna be a rough end of schedule for the Rockets. I really hope they can make it up to #7 though, the Spurs match up well with them. Either them or the Jazz would be a good matchup.

if the spurs play the grizz, its over in the first round. zbo, speights and gasol will kill duncan/blair/splitter. if spurs luck out here and dont play them, they go to the finals.


mavs are one and done, unfortunately. however, their attitude towards this year is a lost year, so not sure the fire is there.

This isn't the same Spurs team that was knocked out of the first round last year.

I would too. But we are a better rebounding team this year and now have more front court depth and hopefully, a healthy Manu.

Yes, in the first round i would want Utah, Houston, Memphis in that order. Wish we could play Charlotte...

But goodness, in order to get to the Finals we'll have to go through LAL/Dallas then OKC. Yikes.

I think if the Grizzlies and Spurs play this year that it will go 7 games. I just hope that the refs will let them play, because it will be an extremely physical series. Right now I would have to give the edge to the Spurs, but if the Grizzlies get their act together we could have a repeat of last year.

this year memphis will have rudy gay back to counter manu. speights has def given them depth also.

mavs have a shot if lamar can get it going and delonte gets some rythm, but I dont see this team having the hunger.

i wonder who the spurs would rather play? Lakers or Grizzlies

according to the spurs fans on this board, the Spurs should hope for the Lakers, because they will apparently steamroll them.