Tracking the 2013 Draft Picks

[Just Checkin]

I was watching that Laker game and I was getting really worried. Thank goodness they pulled it out.

Too bad they play Miami next. Hopefully Chicago pulls this one out tonight.

 

[wuck]

Tonight's Lakers game was an absolute must-win, and they did everything they could to lose it. Despite it all, their play so far on the road trip has allowed them to stay in the hunt, even though they blew that first game vs. Phoenix. At minimum, they will go home with a 4-3 road swing. If they upset the Heat, then 5-2.

Blazers and Jazz also lost tonight - every little bit helps.

 

[The Process God]

Tonight's Lakers game was an absolute must-win, and they did everything they could to lose it. Despite it all, their play so far on the road trip has allowed them to stay in the hunt, even though they blew that first game vs. Phoenix. At minimum, they will go home with a 4-3 road swing. If they upset the Heat, then 5-2.

Blazers and Jazz also lost tonight - every little bit helps.

Wouldn't have Houston losing been more valuable?

 

[wuck]

Wouldn't have Houston losing been more valuable?

They're both ahead of the Lakers, and Houston was hosting the Blazers at home. Would have preferred Houston losing but sometimes you still get something positive.

 

[Douglar]

Wouldn't have Houston losing been more valuable?

Only if you think the Lakers have a chance at catching Houston. I don't think the Lakers have a chance there.

The Lakers have to pass Portland and Utah. The trade deadline is going to be key here. That could make it harder or easier for the Lakers.

 

[The Process God]

Only if you think the Lakers have a chance at catching Houston. I don't think the Lakers have a chance there.

The Lakers have to pass Portland and Utah. The trade deadline is going to be key here. That could make it harder or easier for the Lakers.

The Rockets are in the 8th seed right now, and the Trailblazers are in the 9th seed. Theoretically, it will be easier to pass the Trailblazers than it will be the Rockets, which is why I'd prefer for the Rockets to lose.

 

[wuck]

The Rockets are in the 8th seed right now, and the Trailblazers are in the 9th seed. Theoretically, it will be easier to pass the Trailblazers than it will be the Rockets, which is why I'd prefer for the Rockets to lose.

There are various NBA prediction models suggesting that the Jazz have a far higher chance to lose more games than the Rockets (due to strength of schedule, home games, etc.). These are just two:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/playoff_prob.cgi

http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/playoffodds

Yesterday's Rockets win over the Blazers was expected, along these lines. In the end, it doesn't matter if the Lakers pass the 9th seed team if they don't pass the 8th seed team. And the most likely team they will pass for the 8th seed as things stand now (and maybe more so if they make a trade) is the Jazz.

From that perspective, last night's Rockets win matters a little, but not as much as the results from a game like tonight's Jazz/Kings.

 

[Douglar]

last night's Rockets win matters a little, but not as much as the results from a game like tonight's Jazz/Kings.

Go Kings! Another big game is March 6th. Go Cavs!

If the Kings and the Cavs can win those games, the odds for LA to make the playoffs start to look much better.

 

[Just Checkin]

The Rockets are gonna separate themselves from the rest of the pack. They have good coaching and Harden has turned a corner.

Utah has some personnel issues and Corbin leaves a lot to be desired. That and the impending FA and the trade deadline may lead to more inconsistency - which can lead to more losses.

Although we'd like to see Houston lose because their record is worse, we should count on Utah to lose more. Houston did kinda spank the Jazz by 40 the other day.

 

[daytripper]

The Kings are leading the Jazz by 8 at halftime. Let's cross our fingers..go Kings!

 

[Just Checkin]

Kings win. Utah loses!

It's actually kinda fun watching the other teams play when you're emotionally invested in a team rather than just being a spectator.

I haven't felt this way since...I wanna say 05 when the Cavs just fell short of the playoffs to the Nets.

 

[The Process God]

We need to find whoever the hell made badass voodoo dolls for the Lakers' players and have them make ones for the Utah, Houston, and Portland players, particularly guys like Harden, Asik, Lin, all of Utah's big men, Lillard, Aldridge, Batum, etc., because those are some fucking nice voodoo dolls. It's like they work too well!

 

[ajz20]

have a feeling this is headed to the final 2-4 games o the year between the jazz and lakers. 15 or pick 28.. a lot on the line for us in terms of flexibility in JUNe!

 

[Birdy89]

LA is back to 4 out after today's loss.

4 games isn't the end of the world, but with each passing game the number of games left if diminishing and they aren't making up ground.

They are 7-3 in their last 10 and are still 4 out.

It is basically going to come down to whether Utah/Houston collapses or not.

I don't think LA is capable of playing sustained .650+ basketball the last 30 games of the season, and that is roughly what it would take to pass Utah/Houston were they to just play .500 the rest of the way.

Playing .500 basketball from here on out would put Utah/Houston at 43-39.

For LA to get to 43 wins they have to go 19-11 in the last 30, which is a .633 winning % just to tie.

Not insurmountable, but when you start to look at the math it isn't their friend at all. Not to mention that without Gasol for the next month games that should be gimmies suddenly become competitive, and with their lack of depth it makes it that much harder.

 

[Douglar]

Orlando is finally taking it's place in the NBA pecking order predicted at the beginning of the season. That moves the Cavs to #4 for the time being. The Cavs will probably pass the Kings before it's all over, but that's more about the Kings losing than the Cavs winning.

The Lakers have not moved from #13, but that's probably going to change. Their loss against the Heat sucked but it was was already baked into the predictions. They are closing the Cap with Portland and Utah, so I put the Lakers back to a solid line. They are 4 games behind right now.

Miami finally passed the slumping Clippers.