Playoff Positioning

[Benedict_Boozer]

I actually root for Indiana to win as much games as possible so that they become the 6th seed by the end of the reg. season.

It's highly likely. Glancing at MIL upcoming schedule, they got @Indy, @Mem, @NO, SA, CLE, MIA, IND, GS, @ATL in 9 of their next 11 games. That stretch could easily lock MIL in the 7 or 8 seed, all those teams are battling for playoff position.

As of right now they only have a 4 game lead...that could be gone by the end of the month.

 

[*L-Train*]

I actually root for Indiana to win as much games as possible so that they become the 6th seed by the end of the reg. season.

same here and it seems like that's the likely outcome. Indy is 9-1 over their last 10, Milwaukee 3-7. the Bucks have a 4 game lead with ~16 games to go so Indy should probably be able to catch them.

 

[Otsego Mar]

If the season ended now, it seems like each team would face another very close (geographically speaking) team in both the East & West - quirky.

 

[SteelSmack]

It's highly likely. Glancing at MIL upcoming schedule, they got @Indy, @Mem, @NO, SA, CLE, MIA, IND, GS, @ATL in 9 of their next 11 games. That stretch could easily lock MIL in the 7 or 8 seed, all those teams are battling for playoff position.

As of right now they only have a 4 game lead...that could be gone by the end of the month.

Add to it that Milwaukee is playing like crap since they traded away Brandon Knight. And the Pacers are playing really well. I think even if the Bucks' schedule was fairly even that the Pacers would catch them.

 

[brownsbuck6]

And I'm sure the Pacers are very motivated to catch them - I'm sure they don't want to face the Cavs if they can avoid it in round 1.

 

[All4One1ForAll]

The real question is who gets the 8th seed (not that it affects us). I honestly think Charlotte will get it over Miami, but I wouldn't even call it a race for the 8th seed because both those teams are utter garbage. I think of them as 2 blind one-legged turtles slowly making their way towards the finish line, which is that final playoff seed. That must've been how the rest of the league viewed us last year when we (and New York) were trying to catch Atlanta at the end of the season.

 

[Mdog1]

And I'm sure the Pacers are very motivated to catch them - I'm sure they don't want to face the Cavs if they can avoid it in round 1.

That and playing Toronto in round one (if they get 3rd) gives them an easy path for George to get back into game shape before the real teams.

 

[DawgOnKing]

ORL up on MIL at the half.

 

[NaySmith]

If they played the way they did against the Mavs I fear no team. They don't have to play that way every game, just 4 times out of 7.

 

[Marcus]

Post updated.

Tomorrow's playoff implication games include:

Cavs @ Spurs, 9:30 (TNT)
Memphis @ Washington, 7:00 (TNT)
Milwaukee @ Indiana, 7:00

 

[All4One1ForAll]

Yeah, Milwaukee plays Indiana 2x over this final stretch of the season, so Indiana has a legitimate chance of catching them.

By the way, I really like what Milwaukee has going on. Khris Middleton is a great player, and then they also have the Greek Freak, along with Jabari Parker and a mid-first round pick both coming next season. I'm not high on MCW, but he could become a decent player. And they're already a playoff team, so if their young guys improve, they could be really good.

 

[Helium filament]

Atlanta losing terribly to the nuggets right now.

 

[Walter White]

If we can beat the Spurs, that would be a great win. Then we have a stretch of relatively easy games after that which could help solidify us in the 2nd seed.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

God-damn the Bulls! They got lucky again! Two misses by the Sixers in the last 30 seconds of regulation!

 

[Benedict_Boozer]

God-damn the Bulls! They got lucky again! Two misses by the Sixers in the last 30 seconds of regulation!

The Bulls have horrible injury luck but in these tight games holy hell do they pull a bunch of lucky wins out of their ass.

I still can't get over that ORL game a few weeks back.