Tank-O-Meter...2015 edition

[Coolbreeze44]

Why are you guys so worried about this? Has Cool not told you we are going to win the lottery? Enjoy the games and let them play out as they will. The ping pong balls are destined to fall our way this year. Our problem is going to be picking the right guy instead of hoping someone is there when we pick.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Why are you guys so worried about this? Has Cool not told you we are going to win the lottery? Enjoy the games and let them play out as they will. The ping pong balls are destined to fall our way this year. Our problem is going to be picking the right guy instead of hoping someone is there when we pick.

Yeah, you have told us that. But I'd feel a whole lot more confident if it was papalrep guaranteeing it. ;)

[Coolbreeze44]

Why are you guys so worried about this? Has Cool not told you we are going to win the lottery? Enjoy the games and let them play out as they will. The ping pong balls are destined to fall our way this year. Our problem is going to be picking the right guy instead of hoping someone is there when we pick.

Yeah, you have told us that. But I'd feel a whole lot more confident if it was papalrep guaranteeing it. ;)

Yes but LST, you don't know who my source is!!

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

The Lakers held on to beat Detroit last night, and should beat the Knicks in their next game. They are playing much better as of late, and as a result, I am making a change to the TOM and giving them a win over our Wolves in their game at Staples later this season. This TOM change is vitally significant, because it changes each of their projected win totals to 21 in the battle for the 3rd seed. Here are the latest TOM win projections and lottery seeding:

Knicks
Sixers 19
Wolves 21
Lakers 21
Orlando 24

538.com provides an even more optimistic view for the Wolves' 3-seed chances, as they have the Wolves at 22 wins, but the Lakers at 23

https://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/nba-power-ratings-and-playoff-odds-hornets-rising-heat-falling/

I have the utmost respect for Nate Silver and his forecasting models. both in elections and in sports, but I can't see 6 more wins the rest of the season for LA. Let's hope he's correct, because the 3rd seed would be much better for the Wolves than the 4th.

Things could change tonight when the Wolves play in Phoenix. The Suns are favored by 4 and the TOM forecasts a Wolves' loss, but we play much better with KG and the Suns just aren't very good since losing Dragic. I'll be cheering for a Wolves win, but frankly not be very disappointed if the Suns prevail.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

The Knicks anti-tanker in LA last night had a ripple effect through the TOM beyond dropping the Lakers projected win total to 20. I still think the Knicks are going to finish last, but with a bunch of young, hungry guys now playing for them, I don't think they are capable of tanking...so I need to keep track of their projected wins. Shved was even close to a triple double last night!

I'm dropping Denver off of the schedule, because they have no chance of moving into the top 4 now that they are playing to win again.

I have revised the Wolves' win total down one by giving them a loss in NY next week...a combo of the Knicks playing hard and the likelihood of KG sitting on the second day of a BTB. So despite the Lakers tanker last night, they are still tied with the Wolves for the 3rd seed. Here are the updated totals:

Knicks: 17
Sixers: 19
Wolves 20
Lakers 20
Magic 24

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Sixers beat Sac-town while the Wolves go down in OkC as expected. The TOM had Philly losing tonight, so their anti-tanker adds another win to their projected total, and puts them in a tie with the Lakers and Wolves. Come on second pick!

Knicks 17
Wolves 20
Sixers 20
Lakers 20
Magic 24
Nuggets 27

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Only one change since the last update, but it was a big one. The TOM has not been recalibrated since Flip went "full tank", so the Nets game was forecasted to be a win. The loss moves the Wolves into sole possession of second place, and closer to the coveted first seed. Ten days ago we were concerned about Denver and Orlando, and not even thinking about catching the Knicks...man, how things have changed! Here are the latest projections, with the Magic and the Nuggets now so far ahead that they have dropped off the schedule.

Knicks 17
Wolves 19
Sixers 20
Lakers 20

[Volans19]

LST - KNICKS BEAT SPURS IN OT! What does the meter say now wise sage?

[zigzag22 [enjin:6591633]]

The Knicks just beat the Spurs at home.....maybe the biggest moment of March for our delightful Minnesota Timberwolves!

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Yep, big anti-tanker for the Knicks tonight...moves the Wolves to just one game out of the top seed!

Jackson said they were going to rebuild through free agency rather than the draft, and apparently the ream got the word...because they are playing hard. And they're doing it with Wolves castoffs. Shved was brilliant tonight and is averaging 18-6-6 his last five games, with only 2 turnovers per game. And even Sweet Lou Amundson had a double double tonight! And it's not like Pop laid down tonight...he played everyone but Ginobli.

There is nothing more dangerous than a team with nothing to lose, and the Knicks, Lakers and Sixers are all dangerous now...even when they lose they are keeping the games close. The Wolves on the other hand are a disgrace right now. I don't for a minute believe KG has a knee issue...he bumped it in the Portland game, and still looked great in the 4th quarter. So, he's going for a second opinion? I didn't even hear about a first opinion. My opinion is this...Flip wants Towns badly and is doing everything he can to improve his chances,

TOM says the Knicks still get the first seed, but I think only one team is tanking...the Wolves...and I think we are going to tank just enough to get it.