Playoffs predictor

[60WinTim]

I was hoping the Mavs might give the Thunder a klunker tonight, but Luka is out. Of course, there is a reason they still play the games!

[FNG]

I finally faced reality, and re-analyzed my forecast in light of the KAT absence. I've been surmising that, even though I see little chance of the Wolves dropping out the top 4, I saw them destined to drop to 4th...with a tough first round series against the Pels. The good news is that even after changing 3 forecasted home wins to losses (Denver, Cleveland, and Phoenix) I still have the Wolves tied with the Clips at 54 wins (congrats to projected 2023-4 wins prediction champ Carlos Danger!)...and we have the tiebreaker. I note that Cool also has us at 54 wins, so perhaps he already wasn't as optimistic about some of the home games against contenders as I was. I'm not saying a first round matchup is going to be a cakewalk...the West is just so balanced. But I think our opponent will be slightly easier to beat than the Pelicans. And even better...we could have a better 2nd round matchup against the Thunder instead of the Nuggets. Miles to go before we sleep, but i see us weathering the KAT injury better than I would have thought 2 weeks ago.

My updated forecast, now with some separation at the top:

Denver: 58
OkC 56
Wolves 54
Clips 54

[Coolbreeze44]

Yes, I still have us at 54 and am expecting a sweep in Utah

[60WinTim]

Something that has been quietly brewing is the play of the Rockets. They are not far off making the play-in. The loser of the Warriors/Lakers game tonight might find themselves in an unexpected battle!

[Q-is-here]

Something that has been quietly brewing is the play of the Rockets. They are not far off making the play-in. The loser of the Warriors/Lakers game tonight might find themselves in an unexpected battle!

....and I have been quietly rooting for them. It would be nice to see either the Lakers or Golden State knocked out of the play-in entirely, but there isn't much time left.

[Q-is-here]

Crazy ending to the Dallas-Denver game. Dallas had a commanding lead in the 4th that Denver methodically chipped away at and eventually took the lead. Doncic ties it up with a long 3-pointer, then Murray misses a mid-range jumper on the other end, and with 3 seconds left Irving hits a crazy left-handed runner from 18 feet out. Mavs win.

I'm assuming this wasn't a klunker for the Nuggets in the models some of you are keeping?

[60WinTim]

Yeah, entertaining end of the game!

I was worried the Nuggets would win and get an anti-klunker. So, you’re right, no change in the forecast. Same will be true on Tuesday when the Wolves host the Nuggets.

[Coolbreeze44]

I've got us at 55 wins now, and another win Monday would increase that to 56.

[FNG]

I've got us at 55 wins now, and another win Monday would increase that to 56.

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I'm trying to figure out your model, Cool...did you have us losing both games in Utah, so winning both would get us from 54 to 56? I hope your 56 happens, because that might be good enough for a second place tie with OkC.

[BloopOracle]

Hopefully I don't jinx it but Atlanta is currently destroying the clippers at the end of the third quarter