Playoff race

[FNG]

We're over halfway done with the season and still sitting near the top of the West, so it's time to start thinking about playoff positioning. There seems to be some separation in the conference, with OkC, Denver, the Clippers and our Wolves occupying the top 4 spots. I don't expect much to change with those four teams challenging for the top, but the Suns are still lurking only 6 games out.

OkC currently sits on top a half game ahead us us, with a big game coming up Monday night. Tomorrow night's game will tell us a lot about the two teams, but I like our chances if Bite Bite is healthy. We also have the easiest schedule the rest of the season (4 more home games than away, and many sub .500 teams), and we have shown that we don't lose games we are supposed to win when Conley plays. His health is going to be the key.

But the Clippers are the team I fear most. They are just a game behind us, and have been playing quite well in January. And no other team has four future Hall of Famers in their rotation. They are the one team that I think is better than us if healthy, and I see us pretty much even with the other 2 contenders (plus Phoenix). Finchie is going to have to balance keeping his starters healthy while also doing everything he can to give us the best chance to secure home court advantage. With four teams so bunched together, I'm already engaging in scoreboard watching. It's going to be an exciting second half of the season.

[Lipoli390]

We're over halfway done with the season and still sitting near the top of the West, so it's time to start thinking about playoff positioning. There seems to be some separation in the conference, with OkC, Denver, the Clippers and our Wolves occupying the top 4 spots. I don't expect much to change with those four teams challenging for the top, but the Suns are still lurking only 6 games out.

OkC currently sits on top a half game ahead us us, with a big game coming up Monday night. Tomorrow night's game will tell us a lot about the two teams, but I like our chances if Bite Bite is healthy. We also have the easiest schedule the rest of the season (4 more home games than away, and many sub .500 teams), and we have shown that we don't lose games we are supposed to win when Conley plays. His health is going to be the key.

But the Clippers are the team I fear most. They are just a game behind us, and have been playing quite well in January. And no other team has four future Hall of Famers in their rotation. They are the one team that I think is better than us if healthy, and I see us pretty much even with the other 2 contenders (plus Phoenix). Finchie is going to have to balance keeping his starters healthy while also doing everything he can to give us the best chance to secure home court advantage. With four teams so bunched together, I'm already engaging in scoreboard watching. It's going to be an exciting second half of the season.

FNG - I too fear the Clippers more than any of the other contenders. But I have to fear the Nuggets almost as much since they’re the defending champs. I’ve been waiting for OKC’s youth to catch up with them, but they continue to play stellar basketball. Right now, I’d say the Clippers and OKC are playing better than any other team in the League except maybe the Celtics. It also looks like the Suns are putting it all together, which makes them a very dangerous team if healthy. That’s why I can easily seem the Wolves slipping to 5th. And if the Wolves keep playing the way they’ve been for the past month, then that’s exactly what they’ll do.

[kekgeek]

I think the Thunder should trade everyone. They just got blown out by the 5 win pistons teams. If they can’t be competitive against a 5 win team in January how are they going to compete for a championship. Hopefully they can hold on and make the play in because they are regressing.

[FNG]

I think the Thunder should trade everyone. They just got blown out by the 5 win pistons teams. If they can’t be competitive against a 5 win team in January how are they going to compete for a championship. Hopefully they can hold on and make the play in because they are regressing.

I see what you did there, Kek!

I was actually about to respond to Lip that we were all feeling a little down after the loss to the Spurs. But every team in the league can point to a game or two where the fans lost faith in them being true contenders. And then the Thunder came through and demonstrated what I was thinking! The difference is the Thunder lost with their starting five healthy, while the Wolves lost with Conley missing...and we clearly don't play well when he's out. I'm feeling a lot better after that Thunder loss.

[Q-is-here]

I think at this point the goal is to just end up in the Top 4 and get home court advantage.

[thedoper]

I think at this point the goal is to just end up in the Top 4 and get home court advantage.

It would be a pretty hard fall in the 2nd half of the season if we couldnt get a top 4 seed. Ultimately I think we are the 4th or 5th best team in the West but the league wasnt ready for us coming out as the front runner. I think we will get some freebies as teams start giving up on the season, but the All star break couldnt come sooner.

[Q-is-here]

I think at this point the goal is to just end up in the Top 4 and get home court advantage.

It would be a pretty hard fall in the 2nd half of the season if we couldnt get a top 4 seed. Ultimately I think we are the 4th or 5th best team in the West but the league wasnt ready for us coming out as the front runner. I think we will get some freebies as teams start giving up on the season, but the All star break couldnt come sooner.

Yeah, while we're really bunched up with the Clippers, Nuggets, and Thunder, we are 5 games ahead of the Kings, so that definitely is a pretty decent buffer.

[FNG]

I think at this point the goal is to just end up in the Top 4 and get home court advantage.

It would be a pretty hard fall in the 2nd half of the season if we couldnt get a top 4 seed. Ultimately I think we are the 4th or 5th best team in the West but the league wasnt ready for us coming out as the front runner. I think we will get some freebies as teams start giving up on the season, but the All star break couldnt come sooner.

Yeah, while we're really bunched up with the Clippers, Nuggets, and Thunder, we are 5 games ahead of the Kings, so that definitely is a pretty decent buffer.

Yeah. i feel pretty comfortable with a top 4 finish, although I think the Suns (6 games back) are a bigger threat than the Kings to break into the top 4.

At the start of the season, I would have been thrilled with a top 4 finish. But after a half season of stifling defense and top 5 shooting during which we have been in first place most of the time, and given the relative softness of our remaining schedule, I'm going to be a little disappointed with anything other than a #1 seed (with the usual disclaimer "given decent health"). The turnover and immaturity problems are still an issue that need to be solved, but I still maintain that defense is the most repeatable aspect of a team...and we clearly have the most dominant defense in the Association.

[60WinTim]

After playing four straight games against doormats, we are back to middle of the pack as far as strength of schedule goes. It would be just fine if we beat all those doormats, but going 2-2 was not helpful...

[FNG]

After playing four straight games against doormats, we are back to middle of the pack as far as strength of schedule goes. It would be just fine if we beat all those doormats, but going 2-2 was not helpful...

Yeah, I kinda figured that, Tim. But I'm still encouraged by the fact that we will have 5 more home games than away remaining after tonight's game, and we're 17-4 at home.