Playoffs discussion

[rapsuperstar31]

Well we got two coaches fired in Phoenix last summer and Malone today. Let's see if we can get OKC's coach fired beating them in the playoffs.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

Seriously, I don't get why Memphis and Denver couldn't just wait until the offseason to fire their coaches. Unless there's a total locker-room revolt against the head coach, I can't see how this doesn't hurt them going into the playoffs. Go ahead and make a change in the offseason for the future, but why hurt your chances this year?

As for Booth, I guess that makes some sense because there's time before the draft to potentially adjust your approach to the offseason. Maybe they thought they couldn't hire a new GM now and also fire Malone later because it might cause a conflict with the new GM? The whole thing is kinda weird.

[FNG]

Seriously, I don't get why Memphis and Denver couldn't just wait until the offseason to fire their coaches. Unless there's a total locker-room revolt against the head coach, I can't see how this doesn't hurt them going into the playoffs. Go ahead and make a change in the offseason for the future, but why hurt your chances this year?

As for Booth, I guess that makes some sense because there's time before the draft to potentially adjust your approach to the offseason. Maybe they thought they couldn't hire a new GM now and also fire Malone later because it might cause a conflict with the new GM? The whole thing is kinda weird.

Yeah, very weird. I get the Booth deal...he's very unpopular with Nuggets fans that I know. But is it Malone's fault Murray has missed 4 consecutive losses with a bad hammy? Now they have the always charismatic David Adelman to lead them in the offseason. Unless Jokic (who has a reputation for being quiet about personnel matters) demanded this, it makes no sense to me.

But we have more important matters to take care of. There are 5 games tonight with playoff positioning ramifications...obviously we want the Wolves to win, and our 4 competitors to lose. Here are the games, and ESPN's forecast:

Wolves- 5 1/2 against the Bucks: 64.5% chance of an anti-klunker!
Griz-15 1/2 against the Hornets: only a 13% chance of a klunker
Lakers+13 against the Thunder: only a 12.6% chance of an anti-klunker
Warriors-9 1/2 against the Suns: only a 29.9% chance of a klunker
Clippers- 13 1/2 against the Spurs: only a 15% chance of a klunker

So although anything can happen in the NBA, most likely the Lakers will lose and our other 3 competitors will win. But if the Wolves can win in Milwaukee, we will move into a 4-way tie for 5th in my forecast with Denver, the Clippers, and the Grizzlies...and without going through the calculation, I think we win that tiebreaker. So 5th place is definitely within reach. The Grizzlies game Thursday is still a little larger than tonight's game, but this one is big too.

[thedoper]

It feels like Denver and Memphis are ok with throwing the towel in this season. Crazy how quickly things can turn in this league. I think the main point is to enjoy the good times while they last. Go Wolves!!

[Crazysauce]

I thought I read somewhere that Ja wasn't going to play for Jenkins anymore. This would likely explain what Memphis did. Ja has turned into a real headcase.

[Coolbreeze44]

Seriously, I don't get why Memphis and Denver couldn't just wait until the offseason to fire their coaches. Unless there's a total locker-room revolt against the head coach, I can't see how this doesn't hurt them going into the playoffs. Go ahead and make a change in the offseason for the future, but why hurt your chances this year?

As for Booth, I guess that makes some sense because there's time before the draft to potentially adjust your approach to the offseason. Maybe they thought they couldn't hire a new GM now and also fire Malone later because it might cause a conflict with the new GM? The whole thing is kinda weird.

Yeah, very weird. I get the Booth deal...he's very unpopular with Nuggets fans that I know. But is it Malone's fault Murray has missed 4 consecutive losses with a bad hammy? Now they have the always charismatic David Adelman to lead them in the offseason. Unless Jokic (who has a reputation for being quiet about personnel matters) demanded this, it makes no sense to me.

But we have more important matters to take care of. There are 5 games tonight with playoff positioning ramifications...obviously we want the Wolves to win, and our 4 competitors to lose. Here are the games, and ESPN's forecast:

Wolves- 5 1/2 against the Bucks: 64.5% chance of an anti-klunker!
Griz-15 1/2 against the Hornets: only a 13% chance of a klunker
Lakers+13 against the Thunder: only a 12.6% chance of an anti-klunker
Warriors-9 1/2 against the Suns: only a 29.9% chance of a klunker
Clippers- 13 1/2 against the Spurs: only a 15% chance of a klunker

So although anything can happen in the NBA, most likely the Lakers will lose and our other 3 competitors will win. But if the Wolves can win in Milwaukee, we will move into a 4-way tie for 5th in my forecast with Denver, the Clippers, and the Grizzlies...and without going through the calculation, I think we win that tiebreaker. So 5th place is definitely within reach. The Grizzlies game Thursday is still a little larger than tonight's game, but this one is big too.

Haha, David Adelman exudes charisma and style a la Pat Riley. No?

[FNG]

Last night couldn't have gone any worse for the Wolves...we blow a 24 point lead and all of our closest competitors win (except the Lakers, who we didn't expect to against OkC). But when the dust settled, nothing had changed...there were no klunkers or anti-klunkers last night, and the Wolves remain tied with Memphis for 7th in my forecast (leaving us 8th, since they have the tiebreaker). A win last night would have propelled us up in the standings, but it didn't happen. So the situation is exactly where it was this past weekend...it's all about the Memphis game. Win, and we join a logjam of 4 teams tied for 5th. Lose, and we need some help to avoid the play in. Crappy night last night for sure. How the Wolves respond to a tragic loss will determine the offseason.

[FNG]

It wasn't even close to the Wolves' epic collapse against the Bucks, but led by a bench that totally outplayed the Warriors' bench, the Spurs came back from a double digit 4th quarter deficit to hand Golden State a critical klunker. While it doesn't erase the sting of Tuesday night, this was huge for our squad. Our playoff chances have been all about the Memphis game for some time now, and tonight that game has arrived. The Wolves are somehow favored in this game...albeit only by 1 1/2 points. But since I have Memphis winning in my forecast, this would be an anti-klunker that would propel us into a 4-way tie for 4th with the Warriors, Clippers and Nuggets, one win ahead of the Griz. I'm not positive that this tiebreaker would be broken by best conference record, but if it is, we end up in 4th place! I don't think any of us thought home court advantage in the first round was in the cards, but it's a possibility. But first, we need to take care of business and beat the Grizzlies.

Who's confident enough to tee up the GDT?

[BloopOracle]

I'm never posting a GDT thread again after the Bucks game, it was my first one in months and that's what happens!?

[FNG]

I'm never posting a GDT thread again after the Bucks game, it was my first one in months and that's what happens!?

Ha, you've been fired, Bloop! It's probably about 11pm where Tim is...maybe he'll kick this one off.