Looks like Denver's "9 game winning streak" wasn't meant to be. They lost in Dallas. Horrible on the road they are.
Utah can make a move in standings if they win and Denver loses to Cleveland. Edit: They don't have tie breaker against Denver though.
Pelicans gonna be favored to win each of their next 4, and only a 2.5-point dog in San Antonio 3/15. The way Anthony Davis has been playing, I wouldn't be surprised if they're carrying a 14-game winning streak into their St. Patty's Day home game with Houston.
Their schedule is much easier. Portland has the 3rd most difficult schedule in the league for the rest of the season. Those early season losses to scrub teams and that 6-game home losing streak could very well come back to haunt them. If Portland finishes the season as the #3 seed, they will have definitely earned it because it is going to be tough. Blazers: 39-26, next 6 - vs Warriors, vs Heat, vs Cavs, vs Pistons, vs Clippers, @ Rockets. Getting tougher...projected 4-2 Pelicans: 37-26, next 6 - @ Kings, vs Wizards, vs Jazz, vs Hornets, @ Spurs, vs Rockets. Easy stretch...projected 5-1 Spurs: 37-27, next 6 - @ Warriors, @ Thunder, @ Rockets, vs Magic, vs Pels, vs Wolves. Brutal stretch....projected 2-4 Wolves: 38-28, next 6 - vs Celtics, vs Warriors, @ Wizards, @ Spurs, vs Rockets, vs Clippers. Tough stretch...projected 3-3 Thunder: 37-29, next 6 - vs Suns, vs Spurs, vs Kings, @ Hawks, vs Clippers, @ Raptors. Pretty easy...projected 5-1 Nuggets: 35-29, next 6 - vs Cavs, vs Lakers, vs Kings, @ Lakers, vs Pistons, @ Grizzlies. Pretty easy....projected 4-2 Clippers: 34-29, next 6 - vs Cavs, vs Magic, @ Bulls, @ Rockets, @ Thunder, vs Blazers. Tough stretch...projected 2-4 Jazz::::: 34-30, @ Grizzlies, @ Pacers, @ Pelicans, vs Pistons, vs Suns, vs Kings. Not too bad....projected 4-2 Pelicans 42-27 Blazers 43-28 Thunder 42-30 Wolves 41-31 Spurs 39-31 Nuggets 39-31 Jazz 38-32 Clippers 36-33 IF it were to play out like that, after the Rockets game, the standings could look something like the above but with the Blazers next 3 games against the Celtics, @Thunder and @Pelicans. IF the Blazers are still #4 (or #3) by then AND they can beat the Celtics and split the two road games, I think they will finish with HCA.
If the Spurs are w/o Leonard, Aldridge and Pau, (LA and Pau played Monday but they have been banged up) they should win that. I have them losing to the Raptors and they getting the Clippers on the 2nd of a back-to-back. They should win that as well. I agree that the Thunder will likely mess something else up in that stretch and more likely be 4-2 but they should be favored in 5 of those games.
Davis scored 41 last game. NOP is riding a 9 game win streak. 1 game behind the Blazers, 2 in the win column.
They are not that good overall. Fun to watch and have huge potential for the future but their record is largely exaggerated by the huge advantage they have at home (the only arena located so high above the sea level). I have them as one of the most promising teams in the league but not quite there yet.
Long winning streaks are always doubtful. But which of their next 4 games do you see them losing? The 3/15 game in SA will be by far the hardest of their next 5.
Well, they're playing, so yes that's a distinct possibility. However, I would not consider it a likely outcome.
I like the drama, but there's no way we lose five in a row. I think we can flip 3/25, 3/27, and 4/9 to wins.
I've actually adjusted the Boston game to a win in my current projection. But I think 5 straight losses there is definitely a very real possibility.
