Miles to go before we sleep, but one thing seems fairly certain right now...at least one bad team is going to make the playoffs this year. I guess you could argue that Houston and Memphis aren't very good either, but I'm going to count them as making the playoffs along with GS, SA, OkC, LAC and Dallas. After them are 7 teams that are all struggling, but the rules say one of them has to make the playoffs. Right now Utah holds the 8th spot, and there is only a 4-game gap in the following 6 teams...anyone can win this one.
So who do you think it's going to be, and why?
Who gets the 8th playoff spot?
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longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]
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AbeVigodaLive
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Re: Who gets the 8th playoff spot?
The Jazz is Gobert comes back healthy. They can overcome the loss of Burks (again). And Exum hasn't been a deal breaker.
But the loss of Gobert changes everything for that team. My second pick would be the Pelicans. They've been about .500 since that horrific start (1 - 11). They're even showing small glimpses of not absolutely atrocious defense in the past couple of weeks.
But the loss of Gobert changes everything for that team. My second pick would be the Pelicans. They've been about .500 since that horrific start (1 - 11). They're even showing small glimpses of not absolutely atrocious defense in the past couple of weeks.
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khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]
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Re: Who gets the 8th playoff spot?
I voted Pelicans. They've just been ravaged by injuries this year. Once healthy I think they make it. Statistically Utah and then Portland are most likely to make it based on their point differentials, but Utah's will continue to go down without Gobert and Burks. Then Phoenix and the T Wolves are next in line based on differentials.
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Q12543 [enjin:6621299]
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Re: Who gets the 8th playoff spot?
Excluding the T-Wolves and Kings, it's probably whoever stays the healthiest. I don't think the T-Wolves or Kings are good enough, even if in good health. Pelicans, Trail Blazers, and Nuggets have the best shot if they can get and stay healthy.
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Coolbreeze44
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Re: Who gets the 8th playoff spot?
Gotta be New Orleans if they can get close to whole.
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longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]
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Re: Who gets the 8th playoff spot?
My thoughts:
Utah and Phoenix: They are the Wolves of the past 5 years...reasonably talented, but totally snakebit by injuries
New Orleans: As pointed out above, they are playing like a .500 team since the start of the season, and if they continue they finish with about 35 wins. That might be enough to sneak into the playoffs in this off season for the West, but I don't think it will be.
Sacramento: On paper, I think they are the most ready to make it into the playoffs. But DMC reality is not the same as DMC on paper. He may be facing a suspension after last night's blowup.
Portland: 2 midget guards aren't enough to take them to the playoffs.
Denver: The Wolves found out the Nuggets are a pretty good team with Bad Pass Mudiay on the bench. But the bad news for the Nuggets' playoff chances is that the Kongo Kid and his 4 TOs per game and 6.8 PER is due to return next week, and I'm guessing Malone has been told he has to play him.
That leaves the Timberwolves, and they certainly have issues like the other 6 teams. But the return of Pek gives them a big body to bang with some of the other centers, and more than any other team, they should grow more in the second half of the season due to their youth. I think they go 25-26 the rest of the season and stagger into the playoffs with 36 wins. Then they get hot and beat the Sp...sorry, I think it's time for my medication.
Utah and Phoenix: They are the Wolves of the past 5 years...reasonably talented, but totally snakebit by injuries
New Orleans: As pointed out above, they are playing like a .500 team since the start of the season, and if they continue they finish with about 35 wins. That might be enough to sneak into the playoffs in this off season for the West, but I don't think it will be.
Sacramento: On paper, I think they are the most ready to make it into the playoffs. But DMC reality is not the same as DMC on paper. He may be facing a suspension after last night's blowup.
Portland: 2 midget guards aren't enough to take them to the playoffs.
Denver: The Wolves found out the Nuggets are a pretty good team with Bad Pass Mudiay on the bench. But the bad news for the Nuggets' playoff chances is that the Kongo Kid and his 4 TOs per game and 6.8 PER is due to return next week, and I'm guessing Malone has been told he has to play him.
That leaves the Timberwolves, and they certainly have issues like the other 6 teams. But the return of Pek gives them a big body to bang with some of the other centers, and more than any other team, they should grow more in the second half of the season due to their youth. I think they go 25-26 the rest of the season and stagger into the playoffs with 36 wins. Then they get hot and beat the Sp...sorry, I think it's time for my medication.
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bleedspeed
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Re: Who gets the 8th playoff spot?
This is where I am cautious about giving Kevin Martin away. Even if he is not playing much if we are in the hunt for the a playoff spot and we are rolling with the return of Pek in January. I wouldn't trade him just to get him off the roster. We could have an injury and need him.
Re: Who gets the 8th playoff spot?
longstrangetrip wrote:Then they get hot and beat the Sp...sorry, I think it's time for my medication.
What did I do now?
Re: Who gets the 8th playoff spot?
TheSP wrote:longstrangetrip wrote:Then they get hot and beat the Sp...sorry, I think it's time for my medication.
What did I do now?
That was my first thought as well!
BTW, Kings just lost to Philly at home. Is that team going to be blown up, or what?!?
Re: Who gets the 8th playoff spot?
I voted Wolves based on talent. I think we're more talented than the other primary contenders for that final spot - Jazz, Suns, Blazers, Pelicans, Kings. In my view, Towns, Wiggins, Ricky, LaVine, Dieng, Prince and KG trumps the top 7 of any of the other contenders. Towns will continue to get better as the season goes on. Then there is Pek's return. If not us it will be the Jazz.