<table class="iptable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <th colspan="2" align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Western Conference</th><th>W</th><th>L</th><th>Pct.</th><th>GB</th></tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">1</td> <td class="row1"> LA LAKERS</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">47</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">21</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.691</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">-</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">2</td> <td class="row2"> NEW ORLEANS</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">46</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">21</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.687</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">3</td> <td class="row1"> HOUSTON</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">46</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">22</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.676</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">1</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">4</td> <td class="row2"> UTAH</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">45</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">25</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.643</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">3</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">5</td> <td class="row1"> PHOENIX</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">46</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">22</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.676</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">1</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">6</td> <td class="row2"> SAN ANTONIO</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">45</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">23</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.662</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">7</td> <td class="row1"> DALLAS</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">44</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">25</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.638</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">3 1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">8</td> <td class="row2"> GOLDEN STATE</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">42</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">25</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.627</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">4 1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"><th colspan="6" style="height: 4px;"> </th></tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">9</td> <td class="row1"> DENVER</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">40</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">28</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.588</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">7</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<u>Games today involving teams in the race</u> Nuggets (#9) @ Nets Kings @ Spurs (#6) Sonics @ Lakers (#1) Rockets (#3) @ Warriors (#8)
I've missed a few days because of the holiday weekend, so here are the current standings. Denver is within .5 games of Golden State and 1.5 of Dallas. <table class="iptable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <th colspan="2" align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Western Conference</th><th>W</th><th>L</th><th>Pct.</th><th>GB</th></tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">1</td> <td class="row1"> NEW ORLEANS</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">47</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">21</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.691</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">-</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">2</td> <td class="row2"> LA LAKERS</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">49</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">22</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.690</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">3</td> <td class="row1"> HOUSTON</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">48</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">23</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.676</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">4</td> <td class="row2"> UTAH</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">46</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">25</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.648</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">2 1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">5</td> <td class="row1"> SAN ANTONIO</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">47</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">23</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.671</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">1</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">6</td> <td class="row2"> PHOENIX</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">47</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">23</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.671</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">1</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">7</td> <td class="row1"> DALLAS</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">44</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">26</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.629</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">4</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">8</td> <td class="row2"> GOLDEN STATE</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">43</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">27</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.614</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">5</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"><th colspan="6" style="height: 4px;"> </th></tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">9</td> <td class="row1"> DENVER</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">43</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">28</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.606</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">5 1/2</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table class="iptable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <th colspan="2" align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Western Conference</th><th>W</th><th>L</th><th>Pct.</th><th>GB</th></tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">1</td> <td class="row1"> NEW ORLEANS</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">48</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">21</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.696</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">-</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">2</td> <td class="row2"> LA LAKERS</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">49</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">22</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.690</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">-</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">3</td> <td class="row1"> HOUSTON</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">48</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">23</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.676</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">1</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">4</td> <td class="row2"> UTAH</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">47</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">25</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.653</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">2 1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">5</td> <td class="row1"> SAN ANTONIO</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">48</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">23</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.676</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">1</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">6</td> <td class="row2"> PHOENIX</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">47</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">23</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.671</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">1 1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">7</td> <td class="row1"> DALLAS</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">45</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">26</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.634</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">4</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">8</td> <td class="row2"> GOLDEN STATE</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">43</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">27</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.614</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">5 1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"><th colspan="6" style="height: 4px;"> </th></tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">9</td> <td class="row1"> DENVER</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">43</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">28</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.606</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">6</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
I miss a few days and I didn't get to post the one, but hopefully not last, time the Nuggets held a playoff spot. Way to show up in the second half in Phoenix last night guys <u>Games tonight involving teams in the race</u> Hornets (#1) @ Magic Warriors (#8) @ Spurs (#2) Suns (#5) @ Nuggets (#9) Rockets (#6) @ Kings
<table class="iptable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <th colspan="2" align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Western Conference</th><th>W</th><th>L</th><th>Pct.</th><th>GB</th></tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">1</td> <td class="row1"> NEW ORLEANS</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">50</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">22</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.694</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">-</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">2</td> <td class="row2"> SAN ANTONIO</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">51</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">23</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.689</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">-</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">3</td> <td class="row1"> LA LAKERS</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">50</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">24</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.676</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">1</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">4</td> <td class="row2"> UTAH</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">49</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">26</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.653</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">2 1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">5</td> <td class="row1"> PHOENIX</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">50</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">24</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.676</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">1</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">6</td> <td class="row2"> HOUSTON</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">49</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">24</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.671</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">1 1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">7</td> <td class="row1"> DALLAS</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">46</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">28</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.622</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">5</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">8</td> <td class="row2"> GOLDEN STATE</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">45</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">28</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.616</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">5 1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"><th colspan="6" style="height: 4px;"> </th></tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">9</td> <td class="row1"> DENVER</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">45</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">29</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.608</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">6</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
Time to start looking at the tie breakers and the remaining schedules. Here are the ugly details of the tie breakers from nba.com <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Playoff Tie-Break Procedures Ties for playoff positions (including division winners) will be broken utilizing the criteria set forth in subparagraph a. below (in the case of ties involving two teams) and subparagraph b. below (in the case of ties involving more than two teams), and the guidelines set forth in subparagraph c. below. a. Two Teams (1) Better winning percentage in games against each other. (2) Better winning percentage against teams in own division (only if tied teams are in same division). (3) Better winning percentage against teams in own conference. (4) Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in own conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position). (5) Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in opposite conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position). (6) Better net result of total points scored less total points allowed against all opponents (“point differential”). b. More Than Two Teams Tied (1) Better winning percentage in all games among the tied teams. (2) Better winning percentage against teams in own division (only if all tied teams are in the same division). (3) Better winning percentage against teams in own conference. (4) Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in own conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position). (5) Better net result of total points scored less total points allowed against all opponents (“point differential”). c. Guidelines For Applying Tie-Break Criteria. The following guidelines shall be used when applying the above criteria to break ties for playoff positions: (1) (a) Since the three division winners receive the first three playoff positions, ties to determine the division winners must be broken before any other ties. (b ) When a tie must be broken to determine a division winner, the results of the tie-break shall be used to determine only the division winner and its playoff position, not any other playoff position(s). (2) If a tie involves more than two teams, the tie-break criteria in subparagraph b. shall be applied in the order set forth therein until the first to occur of the following: (a) Each of the tied teams has a different winning percentage or point differential under the applicable tiebreak criterion (a “complete” breaking of the tie). In this circumstance, the team with the best winning percentage or point differential under the criterion will be awarded the best playoff position, the team with the next-best winning percentage or point differential will be awarded the next-best playoff position, and so on, and no further application of the tie-break criteria will be required. (b ) One or more (but not all) of the tied teams has a different winning percentage or point differential under the applicable tie-break criterion (a “partial” breaking of the tie). In this circumstance: (x) any team(s) that performed better under the applicable criterion than any other team(s) will be awarded a higher playoff position than such other team(s); and (y) teams that had equivalent performance under the applicable criterion will remain tied, and such remaining tie(s) will be broken by applying, from the beginning, the criteria in subparagraph a.(1)-(6) above (for any remaining tie involving only two teams) or subparagraph b.(1)-(5) above (for any remaining tie involving more than two teams) and the guidelines set forth in this subparagraph c. (3) If application of the criteria in subparagraph a. or b. does not result in the breaking of a tie, the playoff positions of the tied teams will be determined by a random drawing.</div> So basically, the important criteria are Head to Head record, Division Record and Conference Record
Head to Head Tie Breakers <u>Hornets</u> Up: Lakers (2-1) w/1 remaining @LA, Suns (4-0), Mavs (2-1) w/1 remaining @D, Nuggets (2-1) Even: Spurs (2-2), Rockets (2-2), Warriors (1-1) w/1 remaining Down: Jazz (1-2) w/1 remaining <u>Spurs</u> Up: Lakers (2-1) w/1 remaining @LA, Mavs (3-1) Even: Hornets (2-2), Jazz (1-1) w/2 remaining home & away, Nuggets (2-2), Rockets (2-2) Down: Suns (1-2) w/1 remaining, Warriors (0-2) w/1 remaining <u>Lakers</u> Up: Jazz (3-1), Mavs (2-1) w/1 remaining, Suns (3-1), Nuggets (3-0) Even: Warriors (2-2) Down: Hornets (1-2) w/1 remaining, Spurs (1-2) w/1 remaining, Rockets (1-2) <u>Jazz</u> Up: Hornets (2-1) w/1 remaining @NO, Mavs (2-1) w/1 remaining @D, Nuggets (2-1) w/1 remaining, Warriors (3-0), Suns (2-1) Even: Spurs (1-1) w/2 remaining home & away, Rockets (1-1) w/1 remaining Down: Lakers (1-3) <u>Rockets</u> Up: Nuggets (2-1) w/1 remaining @D, Lakers (2-1) Even: Warriors (2-2), Jazz (1-1) w/1 remaining @U, Spurs (2-2), Hornets (2-2) Down: Suns (1-2) w/1 remaining, Mavs (1-3) <u>Suns</u> Up: Spurs (2-1) w/1 remaining @SA, Rockets (2-1) w/1 remaining @H, Nuggets (2-1) w/1 remaining @D Even: Mavs (1-1) w/1 remaining @D Down: Hornets (0-4), Lakers (1-3), Jazz (1-2), Warriors (1-2) w/1 remaining <u>Mavs</u> Up: Warriors (2-1) w/1 remaining, Rockets (3-1) Even: Suns (1-1) w/1 remaining Down: Nuggets (1-2), Hornets (1-2) w/1 remaining, Spurs (1-3), Lakers (1-2) w/1 remaining @LA, Jazz (1-2) w/1 remaining <u>Warriors</u> Up: Spurs (2-0) w/1 remaining @SA, Suns (2-1) w/1 remaining @P Even: Hornets (1-1) w/1 remaining @NO, Lakers (2-2), Rockets (2-2) Down: Nuggets (1-2) w/1 remaining, Jazz (0-3), Mavs (1-2) w/1 remaining @D <u>Nuggets</u> Up: Warriors (2-1) w/1 remaining @GS, Mavs (2-1) Even: Spurs (2-2) Down: Hornets (1-2), Lakers (0-3), Jazz (1-2) w/1 remaining @U, Suns (1-2) w/1 remaining, Rockets (1-2) w/1 remaining
<table class="iptable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <th colspan="2" align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Western Conference</th><th>W</th><th>L</th><th>Pct.</th><th>GB</th></tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">1</td> <td class="row1"> NEW ORLEANS</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">51</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">22</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.699</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">-</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">2</td> <td class="row2"> SAN ANTONIO</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">52</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">23</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.693</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">-</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">3</td> <td class="row1"> LA LAKERS</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">50</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">24</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.676</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">1 1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">4</td> <td class="row2"> UTAH</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">49</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">26</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.653</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">3</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">5</td> <td class="row1"> PHOENIX</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">50</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">25</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.667</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">6</td> <td class="row2"> HOUSTON</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">49</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">25</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.662</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">2 1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">7</td> <td class="row1"> DALLAS</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">46</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">28</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.622</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">5 1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">8</td> <td class="row2"> DENVER</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">46</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">29</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.613</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">6</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"><th colspan="6" style="height: 4px;"> </th></tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">9</td> <td class="row1"> GOLDEN STATE</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">45</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">29</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.608</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">6 1/2</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<u>Games tonight involving teams in the race</u> Hornets (#1) @ Heat Timberwolves @ Jazz (#4) Warriors (#9) @ Mavs (#7) Blazers @ Lakers (#3)
Updated Head to Head Tie Breakers <u>Hornets</u> Up: Lakers (2-1) w/1 remaining @LA, Suns (4-0), Mavs (2-1) w/1 remaining @D, Nuggets (2-1) Even: Spurs (2-2), Rockets (2-2), Warriors (1-1) w/1 remaining Down: Jazz (1-2) w/1 remaining <u>Spurs</u> Up: Lakers (2-1) w/1 remaining @LA, Mavs (3-1) Even: Hornets (2-2), Jazz (1-1) w/2 remaining home & away, Nuggets (2-2), Rockets (2-2) Down: Suns (1-2) w/1 remaining, Warriors (1-2) <u>Lakers</u> Up: Jazz (3-1), Mavs (2-1) w/1 remaining, Suns (3-1), Nuggets (3-0) Even: Warriors (2-2) Down: Hornets (1-2) w/1 remaining, Spurs (1-2) w/1 remaining, Rockets (1-2) <u>Jazz</u> Up: Hornets (2-1) w/1 remaining @NO, Mavs (2-1) w/1 remaining @D, Nuggets (2-1) w/1 remaining, Warriors (3-0), Suns (2-1) Even: Spurs (1-1) w/2 remaining home & away, Rockets (1-1) w/1 remaining Down: Lakers (1-3) <u>Rockets</u> Up: Nuggets (2-1) w/1 remaining @D, Lakers (2-1) Even: Warriors (2-2), Jazz (1-1) w/1 remaining @U, Spurs (2-2), Hornets (2-2) Down: Suns (1-2) w/1 remaining, Mavs (1-3) <u>Suns</u> Up: Spurs (2-1) w/1 remaining @SA, Rockets (2-1) w/1 remaining @H Even: Mavs (1-1) w/1 remaining @D, Nuggets (2-2) Down: Hornets (0-4), Lakers (1-3), Jazz (1-2), Warriors (1-2) w/1 remaining <u>Mavs</u> Up: Warriors (2-1) w/1 remaining, Rockets (3-1) Even: Suns (1-1) w/1 remaining Down: Nuggets (1-2), Hornets (1-2) w/1 remaining, Spurs (1-3), Lakers (1-2) w/1 remaining @LA, Jazz (1-2) w/1 remaining <u>Warriors</u> Up: Spurs (2-1), Suns (2-1) w/1 remaining @P Even: Hornets (1-1) w/1 remaining @NO, Lakers (2-2), Rockets (2-2) Down: Nuggets (1-2) w/1 remaining, Jazz (0-3), Mavs (1-2) w/1 remaining @D <u>Nuggets</u> Up: Warriors (2-1) w/1 remaining @GS, Mavs (2-1) Even: Spurs (2-2), Suns (2-2) Down: Hornets (1-2), Lakers (0-3), Jazz (1-2) w/1 remaining @U, Rockets (1-2) w/1 remaining
<table class="iptable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <th colspan="2" align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Western Conference</th><th>W</th><th>L</th><th>Pct.</th><th>GB</th></tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">1</td> <td class="row1"> NEW ORLEANS</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">52</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">22</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.703</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">-</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">2</td> <td class="row2"> SAN ANTONIO</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">52</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">23</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.693</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">3</td> <td class="row1"> LA LAKERS</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">51</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">24</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.680</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">1 1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">4</td> <td class="row2"> UTAH</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">50</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">26</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.658</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">3</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">5</td> <td class="row1"> PHOENIX</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">50</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">25</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.667</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">2 1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">6</td> <td class="row2"> HOUSTON</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">49</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">25</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.662</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">3</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">7</td> <td class="row1"> DALLAS</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">47</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">28</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.627</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">5 1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">8</td> <td class="row2"> DENVER</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">46</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">29</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.613</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">6 1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"><th colspan="6" style="height: 4px;"> </th></tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">9</td> <td class="row1"> GOLDEN STATE</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">45</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">30</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.600</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">7 1/2</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
Updated Head to Head Tie Breakers <u>Hornets</u> Up: Lakers (2-1) w/1 remaining @LA, Suns (4-0), Mavs (2-1) w/1 remaining @D, Nuggets (2-1) Even: Spurs (2-2), Rockets (2-2), Warriors (1-1) w/1 remaining Down: Jazz (1-2) w/1 remaining <u>Spurs</u> Up: Lakers (2-1) w/1 remaining @LA, Mavs (3-1) Even: Hornets (2-2), Jazz (1-1) w/2 remaining home & away, Nuggets (2-2), Rockets (2-2) Down: Suns (1-2) w/1 remaining, Warriors (1-2) <u>Lakers</u> Up: Jazz (3-1), Mavs (2-1) w/1 remaining, Suns (3-1), Nuggets (3-0) Even: Warriors (2-2) Down: Hornets (1-2) w/1 remaining, Spurs (1-2) w/1 remaining, Rockets (1-2) <u>Jazz</u> Up: Hornets (2-1) w/1 remaining @NO, Mavs (2-1) w/1 remaining @D, Nuggets (2-1) w/1 remaining, Warriors (3-0), Suns (2-1) Even: Spurs (1-1) w/2 remaining home & away, Rockets (1-1) w/1 remaining Down: Lakers (1-3) <u>Rockets</u> Up: Nuggets (2-1) w/1 remaining @D, Lakers (2-1) Even: Warriors (2-2), Jazz (1-1) w/1 remaining @U, Spurs (2-2), Hornets (2-2) Down: Suns (1-2) w/1 remaining, Mavs (1-3) <u>Suns</u> Up: Spurs (2-1) w/1 remaining @SA, Rockets (2-1) w/1 remaining @H Even: Mavs (1-1) w/1 remaining @D, Nuggets (2-2) Down: Hornets (0-4), Lakers (1-3), Jazz (1-2), Warriors (1-2) w/1 remaining <u>Mavs</u> Up: Warriors (3-1), Rockets (3-1) Even: Suns (1-1) w/1 remaining Down: Nuggets (1-2), Hornets (1-2) w/1 remaining, Spurs (1-3), Lakers (1-2) w/1 remaining @LA, Jazz (1-2) w/1 remaining <u>Warriors</u> Up: Spurs (2-1), Suns (2-1) w/1 remaining @P Even: Hornets (1-1) w/1 remaining @NO, Lakers (2-2), Rockets (2-2) Down: Nuggets (1-2) w/1 remaining, Jazz (0-3), Mavs (1-3) <u>Nuggets</u> Up: Warriors (2-1) w/1 remaining @GS, Mavs (2-1) Even: Spurs (2-2), Suns (2-2) Down: Hornets (1-2), Lakers (0-3), Jazz (1-2) w/1 remaining @U, Rockets (1-2) w/1 remaining In the battle for 7 & 8 it is worth noting that Dallas has the tie breaker on Golden State and Denver has the tie breaker on Dallas. Golden State still has the chance to pull even with Denver which would allow them to go to the next tie breaker of Conference record. For both Golden State and Denver, all of their remaining games are Conference games. Golden State: 25-20 w/ 7 remaining Denver: 27-18 w/ 7 remaining This means Golden State is not only 1 game down in the standings to Denver, but they are 2 games down in the Conference record tie breaker. Therefore, if Golden State and Denver end the season tied, Denver would have the tie breaker as they will have a better Conference record. <span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">Net result: Denver has a tie breaker advantage over both Dallas and Golden State and Golden State would lose a tie breaker to either Denver or Dallas. Golden State has to finish with a better record than at least one of Dallas and Denver or they will be out of the playoffs.</span>
I think Denver should get in now that they hold the tiebreakers over both GS and Dallas... as long as they win the games they are supposed to and maybe steal one or two games that they aren't supposed to win on the road. Even if they lose @GS, they should be in considering they have the easiest remaining schedule out of the three... but Denver has dropped off a couple of times this season when it looked like they were finally coming around and playing the way they should be. Hopefully that doesn't happen again...
Denver really screwed themselves by blowing a game to the Kings at home <table class="iptable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <th colspan="2" align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Western Conference</th><th>W</th><th>L</th><th>Pct.</th><th>GB</th></tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">1</td> <td class="row1"> X-NEW ORLEANS</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">53</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">22</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.707</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">-</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">2</td> <td class="row2"> SAN ANTONIO</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">52</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">24</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.684</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">1 1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">3</td> <td class="row1"> X-LA LAKERS</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">52</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">24</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.684</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">1 1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">4</td> <td class="row2"> UTAH</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">51</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">26</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.662</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">3</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">5</td> <td class="row1"> PHOENIX</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">51</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">25</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.671</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">2 1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">6</td> <td class="row2"> HOUSTON</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">51</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">25</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.671</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">2 1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">7</td> <td class="row1"> DALLAS</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">47</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">29</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.618</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">6 1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">8</td> <td class="row2"> DENVER</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">46</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">30</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.605</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">7 1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"><th colspan="6" style="height: 4px;"> </th></tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">9</td> <td class="row1"> GOLDEN STATE</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">46</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">30</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.605</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">7 1/2</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
Updated Head to Head Tie Breakers <u>Hornets</u> Up: Lakers (2-1) w/1 remaining @LA, Suns (4-0), Mavs (2-1) w/1 remaining @D, Nuggets (2-1) Even: Spurs (2-2), Rockets (2-2), Warriors (1-1) w/1 remaining Down: Jazz (1-2) w/1 remaining <u>Spurs</u> Up: Lakers (2-1) w/1 remaining @LA, Mavs (3-1) Even: Hornets (2-2), Nuggets (2-2), Rockets (2-2) Down: Suns (1-2) w/1 remaining, Warriors (1-2), Jazz (1-2) w/1 remaining <u>Lakers</u> Up: Jazz (3-1), Mavs (3-1), Suns (3-1), Nuggets (3-0) Even: Warriors (2-2) Down: Hornets (1-2) w/1 remaining, Spurs (1-2) w/1 remaining, Rockets (1-2) <u>Jazz</u> Up: Hornets (2-1) w/1 remaining @NO, Mavs (2-1) w/1 remaining @D, Nuggets (2-1) w/1 remaining, Warriors (3-0), Suns (2-1), Spurs (2-1) w/1 remaining @SA Even: Rockets (1-1) w/1 remaining Down: Lakers (1-3) <u>Rockets</u> Up: Nuggets (2-1) w/1 remaining @D, Lakers (2-1) Even: Warriors (2-2), Jazz (1-1) w/1 remaining @U, Spurs (2-2), Hornets (2-2) Down: Suns (1-2) w/1 remaining, Mavs (1-3) <u>Suns</u> Up: Spurs (2-1) w/1 remaining @SA, Rockets (2-1) w/1 remaining @H Even: Mavs (1-1) w/1 remaining @D, Nuggets (2-2) Down: Hornets (0-4), Lakers (1-3), Jazz (1-2), Warriors (1-2) w/1 remaining <u>Mavs</u> Up: Warriors (3-1), Rockets (3-1) Even: Suns (1-1) w/1 remaining Down: Nuggets (1-2), Hornets (1-2) w/1 remaining, Spurs (1-3), Lakers (1-3), Jazz (1-2) w/1 remaining <u>Warriors</u> Up: Spurs (2-1), Suns (2-1) w/1 remaining @P Even: Hornets (1-1) w/1 remaining @NO, Lakers (2-2), Rockets (2-2) Down: Nuggets (1-2) w/1 remaining, Jazz (0-3), Mavs (1-3) <u>Nuggets</u> Up: Warriors (2-1) w/1 remaining @GS, Mavs (2-1) Even: Spurs (2-2), Suns (2-2) Down: Hornets (1-2), Lakers (0-3), Jazz (1-2) w/1 remaining @U, Rockets (1-2) w/1 remaining In the battle for 7 & 8 it is worth noting that Dallas has the tie breaker on Golden State and Denver has the tie breaker on Dallas. Golden State still has the chance to pull even with Denver which would allow them to go to the next tie breaker of Conference record. For both Golden State and Denver, all of their remaining games are Conference games. Golden State: 25-20 w/ 7 remaining Denver: 27-18 w/ 7 remaining This means Golden State is not only 1 game down in the standings to Denver, but they are 2 games down in the Conference record tie breaker. Therefore, if Golden State and Denver end the season tied, Denver would have the tie breaker as they will have a better Conference record. <span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">Net result: Denver has a tie breaker advantage over both Dallas and Golden State and Golden State would lose a tie breaker to either Denver or Dallas. Golden State has to finish with a better record than at least one of Dallas and Denver or they will be out of the playoffs.</span>
Wow. As of now, there are 2 teams out of the playoffs in the West that would make the playoffs over the last 2 seeds in the East. Something needs to happen to create a balance between the 2 conferences.
<table class="iptable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <th colspan="2" align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Western Conference</th><th>W</th><th>L</th><th>Pct.</th><th>GB</th></tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">1</td> <td class="row1"> X-NEW ORLEANS</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">54</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">23</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.701</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">-</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">2</td> <td class="row2"> X-SAN ANTONIO</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">53</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">24</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.688</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">1</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">3</td> <td class="row1"> X-LA LAKERS</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">53</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">25</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.679</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">1 1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">4</td> <td class="row2"> X-UTAH</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">52</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">26</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.667</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">2 1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">5</td> <td class="row1"> X-HOUSTON</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">52</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">25</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.675</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">6</td> <td class="row2"> X-PHOENIX</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">52</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">26</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.667</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">2 1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">7</td> <td class="row1"> DALLAS</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">49</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">29</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.628</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">5 1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row2" align="right">8</td> <td class="row2"> DENVER</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">47</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">31</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">.603</td> <td class="row2" nowrap="nowrap">7 1/2</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"><th colspan="6" style="height: 4px;"> </th></tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="row1" align="right">9</td> <td class="row1"> GOLDEN STATE</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">47</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">31</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">.603</td> <td class="row1" nowrap="nowrap">7 1/2</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
