NBA Standings Watch

cheech13

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The difference is that the populace at large know that Hayward is a walking injury ward whereas when Houston shipped LeVert out half this board took up arms to defend the proposition that LeVert was a borderline all star that wasn’t an injury waiting to happen.
Stunning that posters here would prefer him to the always healthy and available borderline All Star Victor Oladipo.
 

nighthob

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The constantly injured Oladipo should have been a signal of how little LeVert was worth. Indiana in their turn got a pick in the pick in the 20s and a pick in the 30s in a terrible draft for their borderline all star.
 

chilidawg

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C's and Raptors win, Nets and Hawks lose. C's now a half game back of Cleveland, still only a game and a half ahead of Toronto though.

Hawks and Hornets only a game ahead of the Wiz somehow. I guess defense does matter.
 

mikeot

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Dec 22, 2006
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Looking more and more likely that they'll be a play in team, which is rough for anyone. 4.5 games out of 6th with 19 to go would be a tall order for them even if Simmons/Kyrie/Durant were to play the rest of the way.
Too soon to lap up on the schadenfruede?
 

Senator Donut

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I didn’t realize this with all the discussion about NYC’s mandate likely ending before the playoffs, but Brooklyn is now facing a trip to Toronto for the 7/8 “win and you’re in” play-in game. I don’t claim to be an expert on Canadian politics, but the vaccination requirement for cross-border games seems less likely to gone by then.
 

Burkharts Uppercut

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I didn’t realize this with all the discussion about NYC’s mandate likely ending before the playoffs, but Brooklyn is now facing a trip to Toronto for the 7/8 “win and you’re in” play-in game.
The 7 seed plays 10, 8 plays 9. Short of Toronto collapsing, the only likely way they play Toronto is if both Atlanta and Charlotte pass Brooklyn who are up 2 games on both.
 

nighthob

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The 7 seed plays 10, 8 plays 9. Short of Toronto collapsing, the only likely way they play Toronto is if both Atlanta and Charlotte pass Brooklyn who are up 2 games on both.
The seven and eight seeds play for the seventh seed. The loser still needs to win one more game to capture the eighth seed. It’s set up so that the teams in 9/10 still have a shot, but they need two wins to get in. While the teams in 7/8 just need one win in two tries to get in.
 

lexrageorge

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Canada is not dropping their vaccine mandate for international visitors anytime soon.
 

benhogan

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Don't look now but Cavs and 6'ers are LOSING
Bickerstaff got tossed, went nutz on the ref, Natalie Sago

IT4 getting minutes, can't help but pull for the little guy

feels like the Cavs' magic carpet ride is coming to an end

can't bear to watch the NYK blow a double-digit lead to the 76ers
 

In my lifetime

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As I look at the play-in tournament, it has got to be the most contrived setup of any playoff tournament in the history of US sports. Any time you need a flow chart to figure out who a team's opponent is, there is a problem.
 

Jimbodandy

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As I look at the play-in tournament, it has got to be the most contrived setup of any playoff tournament in the history of US sports. Any time you need a flow chart to figure out who a team's opponent is, there is a problem.
You mean like the NFL playoffs that reseed if 7 beats 2?

I think that it's perfect. #7 and 8 have to win one game and have two chances to do it. #9 and 10 have to win two games. So you get credit for finishing top 8, but you're not out of the money if you go 9/10.

If you've ever played in a double elimination tournament, it's way worse and still not impossible to track.
 

benhogan

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As I look at the play-in tournament, it has got to be the most contrived setup of any playoff tournament in the history of US sports. Any time you need a flow chart to figure out who a team's opponent is, there is a problem.
yea I thought it was a little gimmicky at first but it worked out really well last season
 

nighthob

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You mean like the NFL playoffs that reseed if 7 beats 2?

I think that it's perfect. #7 and 8 have to win one game and have two chances to do it. #9 and 10 have to win two games. So you get credit for finishing top 8, but you're not out of the money if you go 9/10.

If you've ever played in a double elimination tournament, it's way worse and still not impossible to track.
Yeah, I gotta say that I like the NBA play-in format.
 

Euclis20

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Yeah rough for Miami - up 14 halfway through the 4th quarter and up 4 when they had the ball and less than 20 seconds to go (hard to pull off). Probably not great for the Celtics, but still fun to watch.
 

BigSoxFan

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Yeah rough for Miami - up 14 halfway through the 4th quarter and up 4 when they had the ball and less than 20 seconds to go (hard to pull off). Probably not great for the Celtics, but still fun to watch.
Butler was pure trash tonight
 

nighthob

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I do as well. I find it keeps the last few weeks more engaging. An elimination game added to the front end of the playoffs just adds to the excitement.
About the only thing I don’t like is that the NBA doesn’t count the stats from the play-in games as either in season or post season stats. That there is some honky ass bullshit.
 

cardiacs

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About the only thing I don’t like is that the NBA doesn’t count the stats from the play-in games as either in season or post season stats. That there is some honky ass bullshit.
100% agree. They ought to be post-season stats. It's like not counting the stats of the wild card game in MLB. Otherwise, it's been a tremendous success.
 

chilidawg

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Philly/Cleveland and Milwaukee/Chicago means 2 of the top 6 will lose tonight. Orlando at Toronto and Atlanta at Washington are the other East games of note.

Cleveland puts up 43 on Philly in the first.
 

Auger34

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I could see Boston winning one or two playoff series. They do play defense.
All about who the draw they end up getting. I think it’s fair to say that the Sixers and Bucks are both better teams.
Personally, I don’t fear the Heat. They could absolutely beat Boston in a series but I’d take the Celtics.
The Nets are the ultimate wild card. No idea what they will look like by the playoffs or how to forecast them.
I am very confident the Celtics would beat either the Bulls or the Cavs.

I think the dream scenario would be the East top 5 looking like:
Heat
Sixers
Bucks
Celtics
Bulls
 

benhogan

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All about who the draw they end up getting. I think it’s fair to say that the Sixers and Bucks are both better teams.
Personally, I don’t fear the Heat. They could absolutely beat Boston in a series but I’d take the Celtics.
The Nets are the ultimate wild card. No idea what they will look like by the playoffs or how to forecast them.
I am very confident the Celtics would beat either the Bulls or the Cavs.

I think the dream scenario would be the East top 5 looking like:
Heat
Sixers
Bucks
Celtics
Bulls
yea that sounds about right

6. Cavs
7. Nets
8. Toronto

Just because I want to see 76ers v Nets and Raptors would beat the crap out of the Heat
 

chilidawg

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C's have had pretty good postseason success against both GA and Embiid, I like our chances against either again. Nets are the real wild card, they could flame out spectacularly or go on an epic run. Bulls will lose in the first round. Heat are tough but can be beaten. Get the best seed you can and take your chances.
 

k-factory

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76ers upcoming schedule is rough:
Chi, Bkn, @Orl, Den, @Cle, Dal, Tor, Mia, @LAL, @LAC, @Pho, Mil

other than Orlando and maybe the Lakers there are no cupcakes and C’s can make up some ground
 

lexrageorge

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A quick recap now that 2 weeks have elapsed since the All Star break, and teams have between 16 and 19 games remaining to solidify their playoff position. Numbers in parentheses are games behind conference leader in loss column, conference record, division record if in Atlantic Division, and Celtics head-to-head.

1. Miami (0, 28-13, 2-0 w/ 1 remaining): 12 of the Heat's 17 remaining games are at home, and Miami has the best home record in the conference. I'm calling the #1 seed safe for them. They may end up with a fully stocked Nets team in the first round or face a 2nd round matchup against Giannis or a Harden-retooled Sixers (less likely), but that's a battle for another day.

2. Philadelphia (2 gb, 23-15, 6-7, 2-2). They were #5 when I started this exercise. 3 games separate the Sixers and Celtics in the loss column, so while the division record tiebreaker favors Boston slightly, and Philly does have to play 3 more games than the Celtics do during these final weeks, it's a tall order for Boston to catch them.

3. Milwaukee (3 gb, 25-18, 2-1 w/ 1 remaining): In the Celtics favor, the Bucks have the 2nd most difficult schedule remaining in the Eastern Conference behind Chicago, with a difficult west coast trip and road games against Brooklyn and Philly making up 11 of their remaining 17 games. Celtics get another crack at them in Milwaukee, and have a 2 game edge in the conference record tiebreaker. In the Bucks favor, that matchup is the 2nd half of a B2B road game for Boston, with the Bulls the night before, and the Celtics have the 3rd toughest schedule remaining in the conference, and the Bucks are more likely to win their division than the Celtics.

4. Chicago (3 gb, 24-16, 1-1 w/ 1 remaining): Have fallen a couple of spots. They have the toughest schedule in the conference going forward, with 11 of 18 on the road, and their record against the good teams is poor. That April 6th game in Chicago looms large for Boston's chances.

5. Boston (5 gb, 28-16, 9-6): As noted, Boston has the 3rd most difficult schedule in the conference, with an important west coast trip and a 3 potentially huge road games to end the season in Chicago, Milwaukee and Memphis. I'm going to book them as a 4 seed for now, as I think the Bulls are vulnerable.

6. Cleveland (5 gb, 22-16, 2-1): How the mighty have fallen, as the predicted market correction seems to be underway. While Tankathon estimates their remaining schedule somewhat favorably as compared to the Bucks, Bulls, and Celtics, some of that is due to their games against the Pacers, Pistons, and Magic (twice). They also face the Sixers twice, as well as roadies against the Heat, Bulls, Nets, and Raptors.

7. Toronto (8 gb, 23-19, 7-5, 2-1 w/ 1 remaining): It's now at the point where the Raptors need teams above them to slip to avoid the play-in, especially after their loss to Cleveland. And they have a brutal stretch coming up with a 5 game road trip out west before coming home for a game against the Fakers before traveling to Philly and Chicago. Still, that 3/28 game in Toronto bears watching.

8. Charlotte (11 gb, 21-20, 1-1 w/ 1 remaining). Technically, they now hold the 8th seed due to the fact that they beat the Nets in their only matchup so far this season. The teams 2 have 2 matchups remaining, so the Hornets could have an outsized impact on the makeup of the play-in round. Worth nothing that Charlotte has a relatively easy stretch right now, aside of those Nets games. Best case for them would be grabbing the 7th seed.

9. Brooklyn (11 gb, 22-18, 7-6, 2-1): As I've said before, they are probably OK with finishing with the 7th or 8th seed as long as Durant, Kyrie, and Simmons are all healthy. Gets interesting if they have to travel to Toronto for the playin, because there is zero chance the Canadian government will relax their border restrictions on unvaccinated travelers.

10. Atlanta (10 gb, 20-20, 2-2): It's the Nets problem that the Hawks are not going quietly, and that Atlanta has the easiest remaining schedule in the conference. The 4/2 matchup in Atlanta could be significant, although Brooklyn does lead the season series 2-0.

11. Washington (12 gb, 22-21, 1-2 w/ 1 remaining): Another team that is hasn't gone away, although they are about to embark on a difficult west coast swing, and without Beal really don't have the roster to catch the current playin teams.

12. New York Knicks (16 gb, 14-25, 4-9, 2-2): That opening night double overtime victory against Boston seems so long ago. While not mathematically eliminated, their chances of reaching the playin are minuscule at this point.
 

Toe Nash

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76ers upcoming schedule is rough:
Chi, Bkn, @Orl, Den, @Cle, Dal, Tor, Mia, @LAL, @LAC, @Pho, Mil

other than Orlando and maybe the Lakers there are no cupcakes and C’s can make up some ground
Maybe this is obvious or I'm dead wrong. but I don't think they want to make up much ground. If you think Philly/Brooklyn are the two best teams in a playoff series, which I do because they have the best top-end talent, you want the 76ers in the 2 spot and Brooklyn in the 7, and Milwaukee-Boston probably 3-4. That way the 76ers and Brooklyn have a fight in the first round, one of them gets knocked out, and their reward for that is likely facing Milwaukee. Meanwhile the Celtics would see Chicago and Miami who are no slouches but I think a better matchup in a series. If the Cs climbed into 3rd they would likely have to face two of Philly / Brooklyn / Milwaukee to get to the NBA finals instead of just one, and if they climbed to 2 they might get a first round Brooklyn matchup.

This isn't to take anything away from Miami or the other teams in the East, they're good too, but I don't see a lot of reason to care about climbing the standings as long as they're well-clear of the play-in (Certainly possible Miami could fall too).
 

jmcc5400

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Maybe this is obvious or I'm dead wrong. but I don't think they want to make up much ground. If you think Philly/Brooklyn are the two best teams in a playoff series, which I do because they have the best top-end talent, you want the 76ers in the 2 spot and Brooklyn in the 7, and Milwaukee-Boston probably 3-4. That way the 76ers and Brooklyn have a fight in the first round, one of them gets knocked out, and their reward for that is likely facing Milwaukee. Meanwhile the Celtics would see Chicago and Miami who are no slouches but I think a better matchup in a series. If the Cs climbed into 3rd they would likely have to face two of Philly / Brooklyn / Milwaukee to get to the NBA finals instead of just one, and if they climbed to 2 they might get a first round Brooklyn matchup.

This isn't to take anything away from Miami or the other teams in the East, they're good too, but I don't see a lot of reason to care about climbing the standings as long as they're well-clear of the play-in (Certainly possible Miami could fall too).
I agree. Ideally you have Milwaukee, Philly and Brooklyn all in the same half of the bracket as 2, 3 and 7 seeds. Would love to see the Celtics as a 4 seed with home court against either Chicago or Cleveland and the opportunity to repay Miami for 2020. Miami's really good and there are no easy paths in the East, but this seems to be the best road for the Celts.
 

terrynever

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Maybe this is obvious or I'm dead wrong. but I don't think they want to make up much ground. If you think Philly/Brooklyn are the two best teams in a playoff series, which I do because they have the best top-end talent, you want the 76ers in the 2 spot and Brooklyn in the 7, and Milwaukee-Boston probably 3-4. That way the 76ers and Brooklyn have a fight in the first round, one of them gets knocked out, and their reward for that is likely facing Milwaukee. Meanwhile the Celtics would see Chicago and Miami who are no slouches but I think a better matchup in a series. If the Cs climbed into 3rd they would likely have to face two of Philly / Brooklyn / Milwaukee to get to the NBA finals instead of just one, and if they climbed to 2 they might get a first round Brooklyn matchup.

This isn't to take anything away from Miami or the other teams in the East, they're good too, but I don't see a lot of reason to care about climbing the standings as long as they're well-clear of the play-in (Certainly possible Miami could fall too).
I like your analysis. If Morey figured out what you did, he MIGHT mention it to Doc. It does play into obvious load management decisions. Nothing on the court. Just resting players … which all the contenders should do with key players, or with guys coming off hamstring strains.