Is it time to be looking at HCA? (Merged)

The Hornets are now 28-17.

Of their 37 remaining games, they have 18 home games and 19 road games. Of their 18 home games, they play Chicago, Minnesota (twice), Toronto, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, Memphis, and Golden State. That's 8 of the 18 home games that are locks in my opinion for them. The other 10 games are against Boston, Orlando, Detroit, Dallas (twice), Houston, Denver, San Antonio, Utah, and Phoenix. Now a lot depends on the health of Chris Paul, but assuming he's back for these games and 100%, I see the Hornets doing this:

I see losses against the Celtics, Suns (the Hornets will have just played in Miami the night before), and the Spurs. I see victories against the Magic (although the Hornets will have just played against OKC, the Magic will have played against the Bobcats), the Pistons (they'll have just played in Miami the night before), both games against Dallas (one of which Dallas will have just played San Antonio), the Rockets, the Nuggets, and the Jazz. It's realistic that they'll only lose three of those ten final home games against upper-tier teams.

Now, of the 19 road games they'll win in Memphis and Oklahoma City. They have a 3-game trip against the Lakers, Jazz, and Kings. They'll likely lose to the Lakers and the Jazz (these are back-to-backs) and go 1-2 on this trip. They have a two-game back-to-back against the Nets and Sixers. I see them winning the first game but not the next. They have a 4-game trip against the Hawks, Wizards, Bucks, and Bulls. They'll like lose to Atlanta and the Bulls (the Chicago game is a back-to-back) and go 2-2. They visit NYC on the road. They'll win. They have a 3-game trip to Sac, the Clipps, and Golden State. They should win all of those except the back-to-back against the Clipps - 2-1. They go to Miami and probably win. They go to Dallas and probably lose. The end the season with a two-game trip to Houston and San Antonio. Odds are they lose those - 0-2.

So their road record looks like it would be 10-9.

If this all happens they'll have a 53-29 record. It's amazing how tight these Playoff races could get.

That's still not enough for them to catch the Spurs IMO. They'll be fighting with Denver or us for the 4th spot. We have already split the season series against the Hornets, so it could come down to Conference Record, which we have one more loss then them.

I still see Portland winning the division and getting 3rd. If we don't though, we may not own the tie breaker. Either way though, we get the 3rd, 4th, or 5th seed. I just don't see us dropping to 6 or catching 2.

 

Unfortunately we don't get to play Orlando again. Denver and New Orleans do. Add a victory more than likely to their records and we probably fall to 5th. Oh well.

 

we should've swept orlando!!

btw i think it would be huge to get homecourt advantage. i think we would get out of the first if we did have homecourt advantage