SPURS magic # for #1 seed

[George Gervin's Afro]

Since we have 26 games left and have a 5 game lead on the nearest challenger is our magic number a combination of 21 games? I ran out of fingers and toes so I need some clarification..:toast

[MaNuMaNiAc]

wouldn't that depend on how many of their remaining games the #2 seed wins?

[Mel_13]

Magic number for number one seed overall: 23 (Boston can win out for 68 wins, 69-46=23)

Magic number for number one seed in the West: 21 (Dallas can win out for 66 wins, 67-46=21)

[Shifty]

wouldn't that depend on how many of their remaining games the #2 seed wins?

Kind of, but with each passing game, the number of chances for them to catch the Spurs lowers. If the Spurs AND the closest team both win or if they both lose, the number goes down 1, if the Spurs win and the closest team loses the Spurs number goes down 2. If the closest team wins and the Spurs lose is the only way the number stays the same.

It never goes up!:downspin:

[Old School 44]

Also, remaining head-to-head matchups with the Mavs and Lakers matter if we end up in a tie.

[Spurs and Mavs fan]

Here's some scenarios for perspective: (Edit: This does not take head-to-head tiebreakers into account; I did not dig those up. This analysis is by pure win-loss record comparison only.)



If the Spurs go 23-3 over the remaining schedule, they win the 1# seed, period.


If the Spurs go 18-8 over the remaining schedule, they will win the 1# seed unless the Celtics go 23-4 or Heat go 22-3 from here on out.


If the Spurs go 17-9 over the remaining schedule, they will win the 1# seed unless the Celtics go 22-5 or Heat go 21-4 from here on out.


If the Spurs go 16-10 over the remaining schedule, they will win the 1# seed unless the Celtics go 21-6 or Heat go 20-5 from here on out.



Basically, a Spurs 1# seed is all but guaranteed by this point.

[JR3]

Here's some scenarios for perspective:



If the Spurs go 18-8 over the remaining schedule, they will win the 1# seed unless the Celtics go 23-4 or Heat go 22-3 from here on out.


If the Spurs go 17-9 over the remaining schedule, they will win the 1# seed unless the Celtics go 22-5 or Heat go 21-4 from here on out.


If the Spurs go 16-10 over the remaining schedule, they will win the 1# seed unless the Celtics go 21-6 or Heat go 20-5 from here on out.



Basically, a Spurs 1# seed is all but guaranteed by this point.

Nice!:lobt2:

[coyotes_geek]

Also, remaining head-to-head matchups with the Mavs and Lakers matter if we end up in a tie.

The Spurs have already beaten both teams twice, so they can't loose a head to head tiebreaker with either team.

Next tiebreaker with the mavs is division record and the Spurs have a magic number of 5 (Spurs division wins + mavs division losses) to clinch that tiebreaker.

Next tiebreaker with the lakers is conference record. Spurs magic # is 13 to get that one.

[z0sa]

Here's some scenarios for perspective:



If the Spurs go 18-8 over the remaining schedule, they will win the 1# seed unless the Celtics go 23-4 or Heat go 22-3 from here on out.


If the Spurs go 17-9 over the remaining schedule, they will win the 1# seed unless the Celtics go 22-5 or Heat go 21-4 from here on out.


If the Spurs go 16-10 over the remaining schedule, they will win the 1# seed unless the Celtics go 21-6 or Heat go 20-5 from here on out.



Basically, a Spurs 1# seed is all but guaranteed by this point.


The Spurs have already beaten both teams twice, so they can't loose a head to head tiebreaker with either team.

Next tiebreaker with the mavs is division record and the Spurs have a magic number of 5 (Spurs division wins + mavs division losses) to clinch that tiebreaker.

Next tiebreaker with the lakers is conference record. Spurs magic # is 13 to get that one.

Goods, brought. :tu

[boutons_deux]

...

[Spurs and Mavs fan]

Spurs RB 11 -21 ouch

Huh?

[George Gervin's Afro]

22 games

[Mel_13]

Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/395/290/TiagoSplitter_display_image.jpg?1284510102




Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://www.gspn.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Manu-Ginobili.jpg

[# 1 Troll]

Nice!:lobt2:

who's that ugly sack in your avatar?

[Seventyniner]

Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/395/290/TiagoSplitter_display_image.jpg?1284510102




Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://www.gspn.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Manu-Ginobili.jpg

Nice. Can't wait for the George Hill, Jaren Jackson, and Derek Anderson (and maybe Johnny Moore) pics.

I can't think of a #18 or #19 for the Spurs off the top of my head.

[GSH]

The Spurs have the toughest remaining schedule of any team in the league. They have 16 games left against .500+ teams, and 9 of those are road games. The Mavs, by comparison, only have 13 games against .500+ teams, and only 6 of those are on the road.

The big game is March 18 against the Mavs. If the Spurs win that one, it would be the equivalent of a two-game swing in the standings, because it would guarantee the Spurs the tie-breaker. So the Mavs would have to win 1 more game to finish with the #1 seed in the West.

If you assume the Spurs victory against Dallas, it is the equivalent of having an 8 game lead with 24 to play. (7 actual games, plus the tiebreaker.) That's pretty damned close to insurmountable.

BUT... if you assume that the Spurs lose that one, it would give us a 5 game lead with 24 to play. PLUS it would give the Mavs the possibility of winning a tiebreaker - so it could be the equivalent of just a 4 game lead with 24 to play.

The Spurs can make it all moot by taking care of business. But if they stumble just a little, that game in Dallas has definite potential to be THE key game of the season.

[Mel_13]

Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:

http://www.realclearsports.com/blognetwork/rcs_sidelines/Dominique%20Wilkins%20on%20Spurs.jpg




Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://www.gspn.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Manu-Ginobili.jpg

[mikepatton]

Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:

http://www.realclearsports.com/blognetwork/rcs_sidelines/Dominique%20Wilkins%20on%20Spurs.jpg




Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://www.gspn.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Manu-Ginobili.jpg

You went with Wilkins instead of Duncan? Really?

[Shifty]

Nice. Can't wait for the George Hill, Jaren Jackson, and Derek Anderson (and maybe Johnny Moore) pics.

I can't think of a #18 or #19 for the Spurs off the top of my head.
Good question, I can't remember any right now but Elson was 16 and Barry 17. Bonner 15, Neal 14, can't remember a 13 but I know we have had one, Bowen 12, Vaughn 11, Rodman 10, Tony, Steve Smith 8, Carl Herrera 7, AJ 6, Horry, 5, Kerr 4, Hill 3, Jared Jackson 2 and Hairston/Anderson 1.

[Mel_13]

You went with Wilkins instead of Duncan? Really?

:downspin:

[Mel_13]

Nice. Can't wait for the George Hill, Jaren Jackson, and Derek Anderson (and maybe Johnny Moore) pics.

I can't think of a #18 or #19 for the Spurs off the top of my head.


Good question, I can't remember any right now but Elson was 16 and Barry 17. Bonner 15, Neal 14, can't remember a 13 but I know we have had one, Bowen 12, Vaughn 11, Rodman 10, Tony, Steve Smith 8, Carl Herrera 7, AJ 6, Horry, 5, Kerr 4, Hill 3, Jared Jackson 2 and Hairston/Anderson 1.


I checked all the way back to franchise's origins in Dallas. As far as I can tell, no player in franchise history has ever worn #19. I do have a plan for that number.

Oh, look up in the rafters for #13.

[Shifty]

I checked all the way back to franchise's origins in Dallas. As far as I can tell, no player in franchise history has ever worn #19. I do have a plan for that number.

Oh, look up in the rafters for #13.
Duh! I kept looking for a recent player.

[spursbird]

Mavs' schedule is really easy. Don't be too early to celebrate. We'd face the CHeat two times.

[Sean Cagney]

Mavs' schedule is really easy. Don't be too early to celebrate. We'd face the CHeat two times.

Yep, we face them twice, Celts one and LA two more times? Portland as well who gives us hell? Mavs who ARE VERY GOOD right now as well, this will not be easy period.

[MB20]

Good question, I can't remember any right now but Elson was 16 and Barry 17. Bonner 15, Neal 14, can't remember a 13 but I know we have had one, Bowen 12, Vaughn 11, Rodman 10, Tony, Steve Smith 8, Carl Herrera 7, AJ 6, Horry, 5, Kerr 4, Hill 3, Jared Jackson 2 and Hairston/Anderson 1.

18. Cherokee Parks / Blake Ahearn (per basketballreference.com)
19. No player wore No. 19

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SAS/numbers.html

[Mel_13]

Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:

http://www.gspn.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Manu-Ginobili.jpg




Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://lp.imageg.net/prod?set=key[name],value[SPU0055RSTALK]&set=key[number],value[19]&set=key[displaysize],value[220]&load=url[http://chains.imageg.net/graphics/dynamic/chains/p7420650_customback.chain]

[Kool Bob Love]

Spurstalk #19. Sweet.

[George Gervin's Afro]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/RO_Roadsign_19.svg/600px-RO_Roadsign_19.svg.png

[Mel_13]

Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:


http://lp.imageg.net/prod?set=key[name],value[SPU0055RSTALK]&set=key[number],value[19]&set=key[displaysize],value[220]&load=url[http://chains.imageg.net/graphics/dynamic/chains/p7420650_customback.chain]



Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://www.basketusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/cherokee-parks-spurs-498x305.jpg

[Mel_13]

Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:


http://www.basketusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/cherokee-parks-spurs-498x305.jpg




Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/images/photos/000/970/526/brent-barry-spurs_crop_340x234.jpg?1276299832

[EricB]

I miss Brent Barry.


Can't believe I typed that...

[spurs_2108]

Who was # 18? Can't remember.

[Mel_13]

Who was # 18? Can't remember.

Cherokee Parks

[Obstructed_View]

I miss Erin Barry.

[spurs_2108]

Cherokee Parks

There you go. Nice.

[Mel_13]

Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:


http://www.sportsmemorabilia.com/image_php_297821.jpg




Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://www.product-reviews.net/wp-content/userimages/2007/08/act_francisco_elson.jpg

[gospursgojas]

i HEART this thread....memories.

[Mel_13]

Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:


http://www.sportsmemorabilia.com/image_php_297821.jpg




Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://www.interbasket.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/matt-bonner-jumpshot.jpg

[tp2021]

Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://cache1.asset-cache.net/xc/86145307.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=77BFBA49EF8789215ABF3343C02EA5480A502F90A2AF6059 9D2D7594EAAB35540C47DF68B4752734E30A760B0D811297

:lol Love the choice of pic. Nice to have the magic number drop even after a bad loss.

[Mel_13]

Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:


http://www.newhampshire.com/doclib/celebrity/bonner.jpg




Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://www.remembertheaba.com/TeamMaterial/SanAntonioMaterial/SilasHandsRaised.JPG

[Thompson]

I'm also keeping an eye on the #8 seed. There are a lot of games left, but right now it's NO @ 7, Memphis @8, and Phoenix just outside the playoffs. I'd rather face NO or the Suns in the first round.

[scottspurs]

Vinny Del Negro

[Thompson]

I'd rather not see NO or Memphis. They both play us really well.

That's true, but I think Memphis would be a significantly larger problem on the scale.

(More difficult) Memphis........................................... .N.O..........Phoenix (Less difficult)

Something like that.

[Cry Havoc]

If the Spurs go 10-8 the rest of the way, it means the Dallas Mavericks have to go 16-2 to tie or 17-1 to overtake us (record-wise) for the #1 seed.

It's a lock at this point. In fact, with Boston's loss, I'd say we are a lock for the #1 overall seed in the playoffs now.

[Mal]

It is pretty tough schedule left, 2x@Rox @Dal, @PTB @Mia @Mem @ATL @LAL @Den. Wow. In that case every home game must be W.

[Sean Cagney]

^^^^^^ YOUR RIGHT, that is a horrible schedule there. We could lose quite a few of those there, hope not but we could.

[John Basedow]

The Spurs are a lock for HCA throughout the playoffs.

Their only serious interest/hope left is that Dallas beats out LAL for the 2nd spot

[rascal]

The Spurs are a lock for HCA throughout the playoffs.

Their only serious interest/hope left is that Dallas beats out LAL for the 2nd spot

Everyone is hanging on to every game for the spurs to get the number 1 seed like that is some ticket to the finals and it won't even matter in the end. Its all a waste of time to hang onto to every game like it will matter. But let the fools follow. When everything is all said and done the only thing that accomplishes is it makes the Spurs draft last.

The Spurs will not get far enough to get a game 7 in the western conference finals.

The roster is not built to endure a tough team with size in a 7 game series.

[Jdspur20]

The Spurs are a lock for HCA throughout the playoffs.

Their only serious interest/hope left is that Dallas beats out LAL for the 2nd spot

Correct me if i'm wrong, but even if Dallas finishes #2 and LA #3, doesnt LA get HCA over the mavs if they were to meet in the 2nd round since they won their division???

[Seventyniner]

Correct me if i'm wrong, but even if Dallas finishes #2 and LA #3, doesnt LA get HCA over the mavs if they were to meet in the 2nd round since they won their division???

Nope. The three division winners are guaranteed top 4 seeds, but homecourt is always determined by record. If New Orleans somehow gets a better record than OKC, the Hornets would still be the #5 seed, but would have HCA in their matchup with OKC in the first round.

If the playoffs started today, and both the Mavs and Lakers advanced to the second round, they would play each other and the Mavs would have HCA.

This was implemented due to 2006, when the Spurs and Mavs met in the 2nd round, despite having the two best records in the conference. Back then, the division winners were guaranteed the top 3 seeds, relegating the Mavs to #4.

[ducks]

Everyone is hanging on to every game for the spurs to get the number 1 seed like that is some ticket to the finals and it won't even matter in the end. Its all a waste of time to hang onto to every game like it will matter. But let the fools follow. When everything is all said and done the only thing that accomplishes is it makes the Spurs draft last.

The Spurs will not get far enough to get a game 7 in the western conference finals.

The roster is not built to endure a tough team with size in a 7 game series.

portland length could bother la

spurs are 2-1 against lakers
everyone is saying now after last meeting spurs first lost to lakers this year lakers length bothers them


we shall see


I would not be shocked if lakers lose to portland though in the playoffs though
portland matches up with them well

[Dex]

So what's it now? 10 for the Lakers, 12 for Dallas, 13 for Boston?

A hidden bonus is that the Mavericks and Lakers still play each other twice, so there is two Ls to distribute between them however they choose.

[Mel_13]

Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:


http://www.remembertheaba.com/TeamMaterial/SanAntonioMaterial/SilasHandsRaised.JPG




Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://www.thenolookpass.com/Pix/bruce001.jpg

[Mel_13]

Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:


http://www.thenolookpass.com/Pix/bruce001.jpg




Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://celticshub.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/dennis-rodman-tattoos-26.jpg

[Dex]

It's the fiiiinaaal couuntdoooowwwn....

Boo do doo doooo....ba da do do dooo.....

[TampaDude]

It's the fiiiinaaal couuntdoooowwwn....

Boo do doo doooo....ba da do do dooo.....

:lol

[Cry Havoc]

It's a lock, folks. We're gonna do this. :danceclub

Win 5 or 6 of the next 8 games and coast the rest of the way.

[MannyIsGod]

It's the fiiiinaaal couuntdoooowwwn....

Boo do doo doooo....ba da do do dooo.....

:lmao

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

If Dallas and LA win out their remaining schedules they'll finish with 63 and 62 wins. Spurs are sitting at 54 wins currently with 16 games to play. .500 ball the rest of the way (or even 7-9) should clinch the West. Of course, I'd rather see them go on a win streak, win their next 8 or 9, clinch the conference, and take the last seven or eight games of the season off to heal.

[FlAVaK]

It's the fiiiinaaal couuntdoooowwwn....

Boo do doo doooo....ba da do do dooo.....

tohB_QbD-fI

[Bartleby]

FjeMDvCdrtc

[Splits]

I hate to put such high expectations on this team, but anything short of a championship is fail. TBH, the only team I fear is Chicago.

[howbouthemspurs]

sounds really stupid to me

[TampaDude]

I hate to put such high expectations on this team, but anything short of a championship is fail.

+1

It's :lobt2: or bust.

[jay_shs]

http://www.nba.com/media/warriors/claxton_point_release.jpg

On a side note, I still sort of miss that little fella. Better point guard than George Hill.

[Mel_13]

Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:


http://www.alamozone.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/jacque_vaughn.jpg




Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://www.nba.com/media/warriors/claxton_point_release.jpg

[Mel_13]

Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:


http://www.alamozone.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/jacque_vaughn.jpg




Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://www.inflexwetrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/p1_tony_parker_si.jpg

[Sean Cagney]

Hopefully after Friday we see that Steve Smith #8 or so there. Rodman 10 and Steve Smith 8 coming up I hope.

[tp2021]

Single digits!

[Dex]

Hopefully after Friday we see that Steve Smith #8 or so there. Rodman 10 and Steve Smith 8 coming up I hope.

If the Spurs win Friday, they win the season series from the Mavs, taking the tiebreaker and essentially good for two magic numbers.

Nothin' against ol' Stevie.

[Sean Cagney]

If the Spurs win Friday, they win the season series from the Mavs, taking the tiebreaker and essentially good for two magic numbers.

Nothin' against ol' Stevie.

Okay throw the 7 up then! GO SPURS GO! I am outta my funk from last night finally and read again! GO SPURS GO!

[Kool Bob Love]

+1

It's :lobt2: or bust.


Yuuup. Im enjoying the ride tho.:toast

[Mel_13]

Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:


http://www.inflexwetrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/p1_tony_parker_si.jpg




Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://a.espncdn.com/media/gallery/2003/1019/photo/gallery06.jpg

[Dex]

Good night for Spurs. Spurs W, Mavs L, Celtics L.

Now if the freakin' Lakers could lay an egg for once, it would be perfect.

[Rummpd]

Too good to be true so far MN 31
LAL 30

W Johnson MN 14 pts
K Bryant LAL 0 ????

LAL should definetely pull it out but one can only hope!

[ChuckD]

Too good to be true so far MN 31
LAL 30

W Johnson MN 14 pts
K Bryant LAL 0 ????

LAL should definetely pull it out but one can only hope!

I think Kobe's ankle is a LOT more fucked up than they are letting on.

[SpursFanInAustin]

Rasho? I was hoping for Steve Smith or shoot, even Paul Pressey over Rasho :ihit

[Spursfan092120]

Too good to be true so far MN 31
LAL 30

W Johnson MN 14 pts
K Bryant LAL 0 ????

LAL should definetely pull it out but one can only hope!
Minnesota 51 LA 49 at the half.

[Mel_13]

Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:


http://www.sportsmemorabilia.com/files/cache/02e/paul-pressey-autographed-basketball-card-san-antonio-spurs2_02e5e22f59b306c58ee7c35c262b105e.jpg




Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://www.mkrob.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/fabricio_oberto.jpg

[CubanMustGo]

frakkin Celts tried to give it away tonight, damned shame they pulled it out

[duncan228]

http://celticshub.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/dennis-rodman-tattoos-26.jpg

Milestone note: Duncan is four rebounds away from passing Dennis Rodman for 21st place on the NBA Career Leaders list. Duncan has 11951, Rodman 11954.

[Mel_13]

Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:


http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/files/2010/11/Fabricio-306x502.jpg




Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://www.hollywoodcollectibles.com/catalog/images/avery-johnson-spurs-8x10-123.jpg

[spurfan 21]

i think if we go 5 and 7.. or 6 and 6 out of the remaining 12 games we get the #1 seed i think??

[Mel_13]

Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:


http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2009/1208/pg2_2005horry_576.jpg




Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://www.sportsmemorabilia.com/image_php_297754.jpg

[Mel_13]

Magic numbers to eliminate the remaining teams:

Chicago: 5

Lakers: 4

Celtics: 2

Heat: 2

Mavs: 1

FYI: Horry and Kerr both wore #25 for the Spurs in addition the numbers pictured above.

[ajballer4]

Its been awhile, but still feels good to know we are that much closer

[DeadlyDynasty]

It's been awhile since I've seen this thread...

[timtonymanu]

That damn number was stuck on 6 too long.

Pleased to see that the number dropped by 2.

[Strategic]

That damn number was stuck on 6 too long.

Pleased to see that the number dropped by 2.


The Good Guys made it hard on themselves for sure.


:fishing

[Sean Cagney]

It's been awhile since I've seen this thread...

It has been TOO LONG, I forgot it for a week or so :(

[Sean Cagney]

Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:


http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2009/1208/pg2_2005horry_576.jpg




Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://www.sportsmemorabilia.com/image_php_297754.jpg

I hope this was made before LA and Spurs games today! They lost and we win and 4? We have 5 left and are 2 1/2 up bro! I would say that would mean about 3 games now we win assuming LA wins out! We can lose two more games, hope not but still possible and HC still would be the Spurs.

[Solid D]

Dallas is getting taken to the woodshed in Portland. If that continues...the magic # over the Mavs may be down to 0.

[ajballer4]

General question to everyone: Would y'all rather want Portland to play Dallas or LA first round?

[Sean Cagney]

General question to everyone: Would y'all rather want Portland to play Dallas or LA first round?

Oh yeah no doubt! No doubt at all! Could be a one and done for those boys again.

[Beaverfuzz]

General question to everyone: Would y'all rather want Portland to play Dallas or LA first round?

I don't care who Portland plays in the first round, but it looks like they won't be dropping to #7 so it would most likely be Dallas. :flag:

[Mel_13]

It's been awhile since I've seen this thread...

Six game losing streak has it effects...


I hope this was made before LA and Spurs games today! They lost and we win and 4? We have 5 left and are 2 1/2 up bro! I would say that would mean about 3 games now we win assuming LA wins out! We can lose two more games, hope not but still possible and HC still would be the Spurs.

The magic number for the Spurs to eliminate the Lakers is 4.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_number_%28sports%29


Dallas is getting taken to the woodshed in Portland. If that continues...the magic # over the Mavs may be down to 0.

Zero

[cheguevara]

3 wins and #1 is 95% guaranteed

2 wins and it comes down to LA vs. Spurs game

[Mel_13]

Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:


http://www.sportsmemorabilia.com/image_php_297754.jpg




Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://www.nba.com/media/finals2003/jackson_celebrate_030615.jpg

[GSH]

Their magic number to clinch the West is either 3 or 1.

If they beat the Lakers, they will clinch the West because they will also have the tiebreaker.

If they lose to the Lakers, they have to win all 3 of their other games, because the Lakers will have the tiebreaker.

[Mel_13]

The magic number to clinch the West is 3.

[GSH]

If the Laker game was tomorrow, and the Spurs won, they would be 3 games up in the loss column, with 3 games left to play. So the worst they could do is tie. And beating the Lakers one more time would give the Spurs a 3-1 record head-to-head with the Lakers, which is the first tiebreaker.

So if the Spurs win the Laker game, they clinch the West no matter what else happens.

If they lose to the Lakers, they have to win all 3 of their other games to clinch. They could still win the West without winning all 3 of the other games, but the only way to be sure would be to win out.

[Mel_13]

If the Laker game was tomorrow

The Laker game is April 12th.

Right now the magic number to clinch the Western Conference is 3.

[Knoxxx]

I think we are poised to hand the Lakers their @$$ at home.

Too bad Pop seems to be floundering on the lineup, but perhaps he is CIA Pop, we'll know if Splitter comes out and clubs Gasol again. Splitter sits against the Lakers and I will become very worried.

[GSH]

The Laker game is April 12th.

Right now the magic number to clinch the Western Conference is 3.


Dude. I'm not letting anyone pick a fight with me tonight. Just stop a minute and think about what I am saying. It doesn't matter if we play the Lakers on the 12th, or tomorrow. The records are the records. If we beat the Lakers, we clinch the best record in the West. Period.

That's it. That's all I said. There are only a few games left, the records are very close, and there is a tiebreaker at stake. That one game is a lot more significant than the other three. If we win that one, nothing else matters in the West. I would call that a pretty magic number, wouldn't you?

[Mel_13]

That's all I said.

No, it's not.

You said:


Their magic number to clinch the West is either 3 or 1.

There are various scenarios to clinch the West, but there is only one magic number at any given point in time.

Right now, the magic number to clinch the West is 3.

[Mel_13]

All right, Dexter. Have it your way.
http://images2.memegenerator.net/ImageMacro/6967909/Im-just-saying-the-actual-magic-number-is-3-Gosh.jpg?imageSize=Medium&generatorName=uglynerdboy

:lol

GSH, with his go to move, the personal attack.

[Mel_13]

Heh... if the shoe fits, Dexter, I'm gonna put it on you.

Try not being a supercilious prick, and I won't call you a supercilious prick.

:lol

Bravo.

Showing your true colors. Unable to accept being wrong on a simple matter of fact, you resort to ad hominem attacks. It's your go to move and entirely predictable.

What next, internet tough guy?

[wontstartdumbthreads]

Holy shit. When did your mom cut her hair?


.
http://images2.memegenerator.net/ImageMacro/6967909/Im-just-saying-the-actual-magic-number-is-3-Gosh.jpg?imageSize=Medium&generatorName=uglynerdboy

[GSH]

:lol

Bravo.

Showing your true colors. Unable to accept being wrong on a simple matter of fact, you resort to ad hominem attacks. It's your go to move and entirely predictable.

What next, internet tough guy?

Why fuck up a perfectly good thread with all the geek stuff? I told you what the point was. If you just want to argue, I'm not playing. You win. I lose. You're smart, I'm stupid. Whatever it takes to get you to shut up.

I'm sure there are a few people who took note of the fact that beating the Lakers is enough to clinch. That's enough.

[Mel_13]

Why fuck up a perfectly good thread with all the geek stuff? I told you what the point was. If you just want to argue, I'm not playing. You win. I lose. You're smart, I'm stupid. Whatever it takes to get you to shut up.

I'm sure there are a few people who took note of the fact that beating the Lakers is enough to clinch. That's enough.

Yeah, I was the one escalating things. :rolleyes

[Sean Cagney]

3 wins and #1 is 95% guaranteed

2 wins and it comes down to LA vs. Spurs game

LOL NO, 3 wins is 100% guaranteed! Not 95% with two games up on LA! They can lose that LA game, hope they don't but they can and still win it without dropping the other games! Thats is assuming LA does win out?

[Sense]

LOL NO, 3 wins is 100% guaranteed! Not 95% with two games up on LA! They can lose that LA game, hope they don't but they can and still win it without dropping the other games! Thats is assuming LA does win out?

You do realize he posted that yesterday... before today's win?

[DesignatedT]

You do realize he posted that yesterday... before today's win?

:rollin

[GSH]

Yeah, I was the one escalating things. :rolleyes

I'm going to pretend like you can have a discussion without sniping. Even if you can't - maybe someone else will be interested. It's kind of a strange situation we have left.

Usually, when they talk about a "magic number", it refers to a combination of wins by one team, and losses by another. With the standings we have right now, it's not that simple.

1. Technically, our "magic number" right now really is 3. And if the Lakers win tonight it stays at 3 - right? But... if LA loses tonight, it would drop to 1. Yep.... the "magic number" would drop by two, with no difference in our record, and a single loss from LA. Normally, "magic numbers" don't work that way.

2. If (this is pretend like)... IF our game against LA was tomorrow, what would our "magic number" be? Well, technically it would still be 3, because 3 wins would guarantee HCA in the West. But if we won the game against LA, we would clinch the West. That would be 1 win for us, and 1 loss for LA, but our "magic number" would drop from 3 to 0. Normally, "magic numbers" don't work that way.

3. Magic numbers are a combination of wins by your team, and losses by their nearest opponent. So if we lose to Sacramento (and LA doesn't lose) our magic number would still be 3. So if we beat Utah, it would go down to 2... right? Nope. The next game would still be the Lakers, which means the magic number would be 1. But that's not the weird part. If we lost to LA, we would no longer have a magic number, because LA would own the tiebreaker, and would control their own destiny. So we would have a "magic number" of 1 before the game... but we could win our last game and still not clinch? Normally, magic numbers don't work that way.

If you hadn't been so quick to jump on me, you might have noticed that there was a point to what I was saying. Yes, we can clinch with 3 more wins. But it's not the usual situation of a combination of X wins for us, or losses for LA. It's a strange situation. Maybe it's a little fun to think about. Or maybe it just irritates you, because THE magic number is 3, dammit. Whatever.

[Mugen]

crofl @ the Lakers losing to Utah

[timtonymanu]

2 wins!

[Dex]

Argue all you want...

magic number to beat the Lakers is now 2. :downspin:

[honestfool84]

crofl @ the Lakers losing to Utah

crofl @ the Spurs losing 6 games in a row.

:rolleyes

[tuncaboylu]

Lakers lost and now we only need to win following 2 games.

[mando6599]

Lakers lose again, thanks Utes!

[duncan228]

Kobe turnover, Lakers lose. Spurs' magic number down to 2. Meaning they can clinch No. 1 seed on homestand that begins Wed vs. SAC.

[Mel_13]

Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:


http://www.sportsmemorabilia.com/image_php_297754.jpg






Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://www.basketballwallpapers.tk/images/wallpapers/Nazr%2BMohammed.jpg

[Budkin]

Never expected the Lakers to lose that game... wow.

[crc21209]

:lol At the "switch" being flipped for L.A....

[ChuckD]

The Laker game is April 12th.

Right now the magic number to clinch the Western Conference is 3.

Thanks to LA, it's now 2. Win the next two, see what Chicago does with their tough games coming up, and shut it down.

[DesignatedT]

Lakers clearly fools gold losing to the jazz.

[Mel_13]

And if the Lakers win tonight it stays at 3 - right? But... if LA loses tonight, it would drop to 1. Yep.... the "magic number" would drop by two, with no difference in our record, and a single loss from LA. Normally, "magic numbers" don't work that way.

Actually, it dropped to 2.

[ducks]

lakers lose 2 in a row
on to denver and one to jazz

[Dex]

Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:


http://www.sportsmemorabilia.com/image_php_297754.jpg






Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://www.basketballwallpapers.tk/images/wallpapers/Nazr%2BMohammed.jpg

:lol at that Nazr pic. He had that face about 75% of the time on the court.

[ChuckD]

The funniest thing about the commentators was their Phil quote when he said he wasn't going to rest anyone. Yeah, Phil, you have no bench to turn to.

[Mugen]

crofl @ the Spurs losing 6 games in a row.

:rolleyes

Very True.

But a loss to Utah at home = 4 games, tbh.

[Mel_13]

:lol at that Nazr pic. He had that face about 75% of the time on the court.

Ahh, the memories of the "Hands of Stone" and that 3 pt shot against Sacto in the 2006 playoffs. :lol

[spursfaninla]

If the Laker game was tomorrow, and the Spurs won, they would be 3 games up in the loss column, with 3 games left to play. So the worst they could do is tie. And beating the Lakers one more time would give the Spurs a 3-1 record head-to-head with the Lakers, which is the first tiebreaker.

So if the Spurs win the Laker game, they clinch the West no matter what else happens.

If they lose to the Lakers, they have to win all 3 of their other games to clinch. They could still win the West without winning all 3 of the other games, but the only way to be sure would be to win out.

Spurs current record is 59-19 with 4 games left, and Lakers are 55-22 with 5 games left. Assuming the Lakers have the tie breaker if there is a tie with a Lakers win, we must win one more game than they are able to win to clinch.

Lakers can win only 60 games, since they have 55 wins and 5 games left.

Therefore, once we win 61, we should clinch. At 59, we need to win any combination of 2 of our 4 games.

[ChuckD]

:lol At the "switch" being flipped for L.A....

I thought we picked a shitty time to slump. :lol LA literally cannot rebound without Bynum on the floor and he can only play like 28 minutes.

[tdunk21]

http://twitter.com/#!/jmcdonald_saen


Kobe turnover, Lakers lose. Spurs' magic number down to 2. Meaning they can clinch No. 1 seed on homestand that begins Wed vs. SAC.

[D-rob fan]

Spurs current record is 59-19 with 4 games left, and Lakers are 55-22 with 5 games left. Assuming the Lakers have the tie breaker if there is a tie with a Lakers win, we must win one more game than they are able to win to clinch.

Lakers can win only 60 games, since they have 55 wins and 5 games left.

Therefore, once we win 61, we should clinch. At 59, we need to win any combination of 2 of our 4 games.

Or just win the lakers game and we automatically clinch the west.

[Mel_13]

I thought we picked a shitty time to slump. :lol LA literally cannot rebound without Bynum on the floor and he can only play like 28 minutes.

Strange thing is, he played 39 minutes and had 23 rebounds, but PJ benched him for the last 3 minutes and replaced him with Odom.

[Splits]

I thought we picked a shitty time to slump. :lol LA literally cannot rebound without Bynum on the floor and he can only play like 28 minutes.

Bynum played 38:40 tonight and had 23 rebounds, yet LA still got outrebounded by 3. Earl freaking Watson had 8 boards, as many as any other Laker not named Bynum.

[bluebellmaniac]

The magic number is 1 if that "1" win is against LA (which really counts as 2). Otherwise it is 2... I'd rather have it sewn up before the LA game and then rest our old men...

What a great finish to the season! Getting pretty exciting :-).

[duncan228]

Thanks to Jazz, Spurs can clinch No. 1 seed on upcoming homestand. Blog update here: http://bit.ly/eB7fMN


Thanks to Utah, Spurs’ magic number down 2 (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/05/thanks-to-utah-spurs-magic-number-down-2/)
Jeff McDonald

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/05/thanks-to-utah-spurs-magic-number-down-2/

[GSH]

Actually, it dropped to 2.

I don't think so. If we lose in LA, the head-to-head is tied at 2-2, so it goes to lower tiebreakers. And I think that the conference loss tonight just screwed LA on the next tiebreaker. I'll double check, but I think LA screwed the pooch tonight.

[Mel_13]

I don't think so. If we lose in LA, the head-to-head is tied at 2-2, so it goes to lower tiebreakers. And I think that the conference loss tonight just screwed LA on the next tiebreaker. I'll double check, but I think LA screwed the pooch tonight.

It's 2.

The Spurs have 12 conference losses and the Lakers have 13. The tiebreaker has yet to be determined.

[Mugen]

Spurs goal should be simple now: Win the next 2 then shut it down for a week.

Rest is absolutely critical to this team.

I'd send the Silver Stars to play for them in LA & PHX if they win the next two, tbh.

[Sean Cagney]

Spurs goal should be simple now: Win the next 2 then shut it down for a week.

Rest is absolutely critical to this team.

I'd send the Silver Stars to play for them in LA & PHX if they win the next two, tbh.

...................

[Dex]

I don't think so. If we lose in LA, the head-to-head is tied at 2-2, so it goes to lower tiebreakers. And I think that the conference loss tonight just screwed LA on the next tiebreaker. I'll double check, but I think LA screwed the pooch tonight.

Negative.

If we managed to end tied with L.A. (meaning we lost in L.A., plus two other games, and the Lakers win out), it would end both teams at 60-22.

First tie-breaker would be head-to-head, which would be 2-2. Second tie-breaker would be Conf. Record.

Spurs Conference record would end at 37-15.

Lakers Conference record would be 39-13.

If the Lakers win enough to get into a tie with the Spurs, they will win the tiebreaker, so Spurs don't want to get into that.

[Mel_13]

If the Lakers win enough to get into a tie with the Spurs, they will win the tiebreaker, so Spurs don't want to get into that.

This is correct. The Lakers win the tiebreaker if the two teams finish with identical records.

[GSH]

It's 2.

The Spurs have 12 conference losses and the Lakers have 13. The tiebreaker has yet to be determined.

Unfortunately, I think you're right and I'm wrong. I had a spreadsheet for the lower tiebreaker, but Utah falling out of the playoffs hosed the numbers. I don't think there is any way for us to lose to LA and still win the tiebreaker anymore.


Negative.

If we managed to end tied with L.A. (meaning we lost in L.A., plus two other games, and the Lakers win out), it would end both teams at 60-22.

First tie-breaker would be head-to-head, which would be 2-2. Second tie-breaker would be Conf. Record.

Spurs Conference record would end at 37-15.

Lakers Conference record would be 39-13.

If the Lakers win enough to get into a tie with the Spurs, they will win the tiebreaker, so Spurs don't want to get into that.


Echhh... that's right. It wouldn't even go to the playoff contenders in the conference. Sucks to be me right now.

[Mel_13]

Unfortunately, I think you're right and I'm wrong. I had a spreadsheet for the lower tiebreaker, but Utah falling out of the playoffs hosed the numbers. I don't think there is any way for us to lose to LA and still win the tiebreaker anymore.

Why is it unfortunate?

[ajballer4]

Spurs goal should be simple now: Win the next 2 then shut it down for a week.

Rest is absolutely critical to this team.

I'd send the Silver Stars to play for them in LA & PHX if they win the next two, tbh.

I'd still love to lock up HCA in the Finals over Chicago

[GSH]

Why is it unfortunate?

Like I said in the edit. Because it sucks to be me right now.


I got caught up in all of your "magic number" crap. The only point I was making was that all games aren't created equally right now, and we could have closed the thing out with one win in LA, even though we had a "magic number" of 3.

BTW - you still can't deny that we had a magic number of 3, but could have locked it up with a single win. One win for us, one loss for LA. That's 2, not 3. And if you have a magic number of 3, shouldn't it take 3 win/loss combinations to clinch? The game in LA would have counted for 3 because of the tiebreaker.

[Splits]

Thank you Gordon Bieber.

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz212/akelch/hayward-bieber.jpg

[Mel_13]

Like I said in the edit. Because it sucks to be me right now.


I got caught up in all of your "magic number" crap. The only point I was making was that all games aren't created equally right now, and we could have closed the thing out with one win in LA, even though we had a "magic number" of 3.

And now that you've calmed down a bit, go back and read the posts in order. You'll see that I never disputed anything you said with regard to the scenarios you posted. I simply stated that there was only one magic number. Somehow, you took that for sniping, but it was simply a statement of fact.

[Mel_13]

BTW - you still can't deny that we had a magic number of 3, but could have locked it up with a single win. One win for us, one loss for LA. That's 2, not 3. And if you have a magic number of 3, shouldn't it take 3 win/loss combinations to clinch? The game in LA would have counted for 3 because of the tiebreaker.

You added this bit after I posted.

As I said, I never disputed your scenario. I was perfectly aware of that scenario and was discussing it with friends before the game today. Talking about how a win in Atlanta would mean that a Spurs win in LA would clinch HCA in the West regardless of what the teams did in all their other games.

All I said was that there is only magic number at any given point in time. Which is true.

[GSH]

Talking about how a win in Atlanta would mean that a Spurs win in LA would clinch HCA in the West regardless of what the teams did in all their other games.
All I said was that there is only magic number at any given point in time. Which is true.


I see the problem, Mel. I don't know how to say this, except that what I said before was right. We were 59-19 after the win. The Lakers were 55-21 before the loss. If we beat LA, and lost the other 3, we would be 60-22. If LA lost to us, but won the rest of their games, they would have been 60-22. But - we would have owned the head-to-head 3 games to 1.

Which means that even though the magic number was 3, we could still have locked up the West with a single game. That's a combination of 2... not 3 wins/losses. Right, or wrong?

I should have said the magic number was either 3 or 2. I said 1, because it was 1 game, and I just didn't count on anyone being snipy about it.

If those calculations are wrong, tell me why and I'll learn from you. If not... ?

[Mel_13]

I see the problem, Mel. I don't know how to say this, except that what I said before was right. We were 59-19 after the win. The Lakers were 55-21 before the loss. If we beat LA, and lost the other 3, we would be 60-22. If LA lost to us, but won the rest of their games, they would have been 60-22. But - we would have owned the head-to-head 3 games to 1.

Which means that even though the magic number was 3, we could still have locked up the West with a single game. That's a combination of 2... not 3 wins/losses. Right, or wrong?

I should have said the magic number was either 3 or 2. I said 1, because it was 1 game, and I just didn't count on anyone being snipy about it.

If those calculations are wrong, tell me why and I'll learn from you. If not... ?

You do realize that the post you quoted was me saying that I understood your scenario and never disputed it at any point in this thread?

Discussing scenarios for reducing the magic number is interesting and entirely appropriate for this thread.

The simple fact remains that there is one, and only one, magic number at any given point in time. The portion bolded above is simply incorrect. When the discussion began earlier this evening, the magic was 3. That's it. Different ways existed to reduce that number from 3 to zero, but the magic was 3. Plain and simple.

[GSH]

That's it. Different ways existed to reduce that number from 3 to zero, but the magic was 3. Plain and simple.


You're being evasive, Mel. I'm pretty sure that 3 means 3. If the "magic number" was 3, then how could we have clinched the West with a single game, which is only a total of 2? Don't change the subject, or bullshit, just answer the question. How?

I'll give you a hint: The magic number was 3... except that a win in LA would have also won a tiebreaker, which made it worth more than a win against the other teams. Oops. And the only plain and simple "fact" was that there were two different fucking "magic numbers" at one point in time, because the game against LA was a special case. One win for us, one loss for LA, that adds up to 2. And we still clinch.

[Mel_13]

You're being evasive, Mel. I'm pretty sure that 3 means 3. If the "magic number" was 3, then how could we have clinched the West with a single game, which is only a total of 2? Don't change the subject, or bullshit, just answer the question. How?

I'm not being evasive at all. How the magic number is reduced is irrelevant to what the magic number is at any given point in time.


I'll give you a hint: The magic number was 3

That's correct



... except that a win in LA would have also won a tiebreaker, which made it worth more than a win against the other teams. Oops.

Wins against the team directly behind you in this standings always count for at least 2 in reducing the magic number. One win for the first place team and one loss for the second place. That's stating the obvious. The fact that some head-to-head game exists in the future does nothing to change the magic number in the present. Think about it. Have you ever seen or read a sports report that says "Team A's magic number over Team B is both 8 and 6, depending on the outcome of their one remaining head to head contest".


And the only plain and simple "fact" was that there were two different fucking "magic numbers" at one point in time, because the game against LA was a special case. One win for us, one loss for LA, that adds up to 2. And we still clinch.

No, there weren't. There was, and is, only one magic number. There were, and are, multiple ways to reduce that number to zero.

The plain and simple fact remains, well, the plain and simple fact. There is only one magic number at any given point in time.

[Spurs rock]

Forget the Lakers, who gets the tie-breaker if the Spurs and Bulls finish tied????

[bluebellmaniac]

Here is how the LA game could count as 3 as far as the magic number goes:
1: We win
1: LA loss
1: We win the tiebreaker if we end up with the same record. Thus effectively upping the effect of this 1 game to being worth 3 in magic number terms.

[jiggy_55]

Forget the Lakers, who gets the tie-breaker if the Spurs and Bulls finish tied????

I would believe it's the Spurs as of now.. 1-1 head to head record, but the Spurs have a better Conference record but only by a slim margin. Bulls: 34-13 and Spurs 36-12

[GSH]

No, there weren't. There was, and is, only one magic number. There were, and are, multiple ways to reduce that number to zero.



Nope. One of the ways to reduce that number to zero only required one win for us plus one loss to LA. And even you can't be stupid enough not to see that 1+1=2. And you've just shown all the nice people on ST that you don't have enough sack to admit when you're wrong.

BTW - there is an accepted mathematical formula for calculating "magic number". But, there is an exception to the formula that is used if the front-running team has clinched the tiebreaker. (And I'd make a bet you didn't know that.) And there can very explicitly be two different magic numbers at one time, because a remaining head-to-head that also clinches a tiebreaker has to be considered. You can look it up. (Don't bother arguing that the tiebreaker hasn't been clinched yet, because if the Spurs beat LA, it would be clinched.)

You tried to skate by hanging on the semantics of "magic number". But it really does have a specific meaning and formula. And you're still wrong.

[Splits]

Forget the Lakers, who gets the tie-breaker if the Spurs and Bulls finish tied????

Two-Team Tiebreaker:


Division winner (this criterion is applied regardless of whether the tied teams are in the same division)
Better record in head-to-head games
Higher winning percentage within division (if teams are in the same division)
Higher winning percentage in conference games
Higher winning percentage against playoff teams in own conference
Higher winning percentage against playoff teams in opposite conference
Higher point differential between points scored and points allowed


It is all very confusing with teams from opposing conferences. It would be great if someone could spell it out for sure.

1/2/3 are all meaningless. Does 4 mean opposing conference record if the teams are in opposite confs? If so, both have 23/7 records, which would drop us to criterion #5/6, and the same question persists with teams in opposing confs. If it comes down to point differential (#7), then CHI most likely takes it.

[Mel_13]

Nope. One of the ways to reduce that number to zero only required one win for us plus one loss to LA. And even you can't be stupid enough not to see that 1+1=2. And you've just shown all the nice people on ST that you don't have enough sack to admit when you're wrong.

1. Once more, the ways that exist to reduce that number have nothing to do with what that number at any given point in time.

2. You're apparently still incapable of engaging in a discussion without resort to personal attacks. So sad for you.

3. I would gladly admit it if I was wrong. In the current discussion I happen to be right




BTW - there is an accepted mathematical formula for calculating "magic number". But, there is an exception to the formula that is used if the front-running team has clinched the tiebreaker. (And I'd make a bet you didn't know that.) And there can very explicitly be two different magic numbers at one time, because a remaining head-to-head that also clinches a tiebreaker has to be considered. You can look it up. (Don't bother arguing that the tiebreaker hasn't been clinched yet, because if the Spurs beat LA, it would be clinched.)

You would lose that bet. Read back through this thread. Proof exists that I understand that exception perfectly. I look forward to you "sacking up" and admitting you were wrong about that.


You tried to skate by hanging on the semantics of "magic number". But it really does have a specific meaning and formula. And you're still wrong.

It does indeed have a specific meaning. And I'm right.

[GSH]

I would believe it's the Spurs as of now.. 1-1 head to head record, but the Spurs have a better Conference record but only by a slim margin. Bulls: 34-13 and Spurs 36-12

I'm pretty sure that in the Finals it's different, because the two teams are not in the same conference. I believe that it is based on the teams' records against their opposing conferences. And, at present, I think we are tied in the loss column. To be honest, I don't know what the hell they do after that.

[Mel_13]

I would believe it's the Spurs as of now.. 1-1 head to head record, but the Spurs have a better Conference record but only by a slim margin. Bulls: 34-13 and Spurs 36-12


Two-Team Tiebreaker:


Division winner (this criterion is applied regardless of whether the tied teams are in the same division)
Better record in head-to-head games
Higher winning percentage within division (if teams are in the same division)
Higher winning percentage in conference games
Higher winning percentage against playoff teams in own conference
Higher winning percentage against playoff teams in opposite conference
Higher point differential between points scored and points allowed


It is all very confusing with teams from opposing conferences. It would be great if someone could spell it out for sure.

1/2/3 are all meaningless. Does 4 mean opposing conference record if the teams are in opposite confs? If so, both have 23/7 records, which would drop us to criterion #5/6, and the same question persists with teams in opposing confs. If it comes down to point differential (#7), then CHI most likely takes it.

This was all discussed in another thread yesterday. As it turns out, those rules are mostly ignored when breaking a tie to determine HCA in the NBA Finals.

The only factors considered are:

1) Head-to-head (Chicago and Spurs are tied)

2) Record against opposing conference (Both teams played their final games against the opposite conference last night. Both teams finished with identical records.)

3) Coin flip.

Yes, if the Spurs and Bulls finish the regular with same record and both advance to the NBA Finals, HCA will be determined by a coin flip.

[024]

don't matter. if the spurs make it to the finals, they will be good enough to stomp the bulls even without HCA.

[Mel_13]

Here is how the LA game could count as 3 as far as the magic number goes:
1: We win
1: LA loss
1: We win the tiebreaker if we end up with the same record. Thus effectively upping the effect of this 1 game to being worth 3 in magic number terms.

Excellent summary of how the magic number would be reduced in that scenario.

[GSH]

It does indeed have a specific meaning. And I'm right.



LMAO. I bet your ex-wife has a lot of fond memories.

If you're not divorced, then your future ex-wife.

[Splits]

This was all discussed in another thread yesterday. As it turns out, those rules are mostly ignored when breaking a tie to determine HCA in the NBA Finals.

The only factors considered are:

1) Head-to-head (Chicago and Spurs are tied)

2) Record against opposing conference (Both teams played their final games against the opposite conference last night. Both teams finished with identical records.)

3) Coin flip.

Yes, if the Spurs and Bulls finish the regular with same record and both advance to the NBA Finals, HCA will be determined by a coin flip.

So who gets to call heads or tails? j/k

At least it isn't like MLB where the fuggin All-Star game winner determines where the games are played.

[Mel_13]

LMAO. I bet your ex-wife has a lot of fond memories.

If you're not divorced, then your future ex-wife.

I'm a widower, if you must know. My wife was right most of the time and I told her so. Anything else?

[GSH]

I'm a widower, if you must know. My wife was right most of the time and I told her so. Anything else?


You've spent the evening arguing that 3-2=0, and insisting you're right.:sleep

And when you snapped back at Bluebellmaniac, you pretty much forfeited the sympathy vote. But you have my sincere condolences for your loss.

[Mel_13]

You've spent the evening arguing that 3-2=0, and insisting you're right.:sleep

No, I've insisted that there is a specific definition of magic number. Something you actually referenced in a previous post of yours. Somehow, despite acknowledging that a specific formula exists to calculate that specific number, you continue to insist that it can be two different things at the same time.:sleep



And when you snapped back at Bluebellmaniac, you pretty much forfeited the sympathy vote.

:lol

Now we get some insight. You believed a simple statement was sniping (and somehow justification for vulgar personal attacks) and you see my compliment of Bluebellmaniac's succinct, accurate post as "snapping back". I found her post to be completely supportive of the distinction I've been try to get across to you in this thread. And I assure you, the only person trying to garner votes is that guy you see in the mirror.



But you have my sincere condolences for your loss.

Thank you.

[DrSteffo]

Mel_13 has been correct all along and also been very polite. There is only one theoretical "magic number" which is calculated by a formula. Of course there can be several different "hypothetical number of wins needed, depending on what happens in other games", but all those are not "magic numbers".

[pocjetty]

I'm a widower, if you must know. My wife was right most of the time and I told her so. Anything else?


Ive been watching this thing go on for too long. Youre full of crap Mel. Someone like you never admitted he was wrong in your life. Youre one of those miserable fucks that argue all the time because its the only kind of human contact you can get. Your wife didnt die she escaped.

I went and lookd the magic number thing up. GSH is right you change the formula because of tiebreakers. And one of the math eggheads even said that there can be two different magic numbers when a head2head is left and a tiebreaker is involved. You could have looked it up but you didnt want to because you already knew you were being a horses ass. I guess arguing a lost cause is better than having no one to tlak to at all.

For the rest of the people who are wondering. If the OneAndOnly magic number was 3 it would be impossible to close out with a single win. You dont have to be a rocket scientist to see that.

I never post but you carry stupid to a whole new level. Dont bother arguing back. I wont give you the pleasure. You can just enjoy playing with yourself.

[DrSteffo]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_number_(sports)


"The magic number is calculated as G + 1 − WA − LB, where

G is the total number of games in the season (http://www.spurstalk.com/wiki/Season_(sport))
WA is the number of wins that Team A has in the season
LB is the number of losses that Team B has in the season
For example, in Major League Baseball (http://www.spurstalk.com/wiki/Major_League_Baseball) there are 162 games in a season. Suppose the top of the division (http://www.spurstalk.com/wiki/Division_(sport)) standings late in the season are as follows:
TeamWinsLossesA9658B9362
Then the magic number for Team A to win the division is 162 + 1 − 96 − 62 = 5.
Any combination of wins by Team A and losses by Team B totaling to 5 makes it impossible for Team B to win the division title.
The "+1" in the formula serves the purpose of eliminating ties; without it, if the magic number were to decrease to zero and stay there, the two teams in question would wind up with identical records. If circumstances dictate that the front-running team would win the tiebreaker regardless of any future results, then the additional constant 1 can be eliminated. For example, the NBA (http://www.spurstalk.com/wiki/National_Basketball_Association) uses complicated formulae for breaking ties, using several other statistics of merit besides overall win/loss record; however the first tiebreaker between two teams is their head-to-head record; if the frontrunning team has already clinched the better head-to-head record, then the +1 is unnecessary."

The logical removal of the +1 in the formula makes it possible for the "magic number" to drop by 3 with a single win, instead of the normal 1 or 2. bluebellmaniac explained this already but it seems some people did't get it. So Mel was right and that new (?) hateful poster failed miserably.

[DrSteffo]

Ive been watching this thing go on for too long. Youre full of crap Mel. Someone like you never admitted he was wrong in your life. Youre one of those miserable fucks that argue all the time because its the only kind of human contact you can get. Your wife didnt die she escaped.

I went and lookd the magic number thing up. GSH is right you change the formula because of tiebreakers. And one of the math eggheads even said that there can be two different magic numbers when a head2head is left and a tiebreaker is involved. You could have looked it up but you didnt want to because you already knew you were being a horses ass. I guess arguing a lost cause is better than having no one to tlak to at all.

For the rest of the people who are wondering. If the OneAndOnly magic number was 3 it would be impossible to close out with a single win. You dont have to be a rocket scientist to see that.

I never post but you carry stupid to a whole new level. Dont bother arguing back. I wont give you the pleasure. You can just enjoy playing with yourself.

I just wanted to quote this before he edits it.

[pocjetty]

Oh Widipedia. The one and onely reliable source for everything. If youre 12 years old. I took the time to read before I made a comment. You took 10 seconds to cut and paste from Wiki. Impressive.

Your friend(?) also posted that the Griz tanked their game to stay in 8th place and leave the door open to getting knocked out of the playoffs entirely. Even though it looked like the Lakers were going to beat Utah and have a good chance of taking over the no.1 spot. I bet he was probably right about that too. Why dont you look that up on fucking Wikipedia?

You can take your new(?) and shove it up your ass. I had an account for a long time but never post because of people like you. Im on location with an internet connection that fades in and out. Youre welcome to check out my IP any time. I bet you wont make the same offer. Nothing more pathetic than a guy licking his own taint. Why dont you quote that too.

[pocjetty]

Dup post. Sorry.

[CubanMustGo]

After reading through the last couple of pages of this ...

http://www.stuffyouwillhate.com/wp-content/uploads/butthurt.png

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Oh Widipedia. The one and onely reliable source for everything. If youre 12 years old. I took the time to read before I made a comment. You took 10 seconds to cut and paste from Wiki. Impressive.

Your friend(?) also posted that the Griz tanked their game to stay in 8th place and leave the door open to getting knocked out of the playoffs entirely. Even though it looked like the Lakers were going to beat Utah and have a good chance of taking over the no.1 spot. I bet he was probably right about that too. Why dont you look that up on fucking Wikipedia?

You can take your new(?) and shove it up your ass. I had an account for a long time but never post because of people like you. Im on location with an internet connection that fades in and out. Youre welcome to check out my IP any time. I bet you wont make the same offer. Nothing more pathetic than a guy licking his own taint. Why dont you quote that too.

So, basically you got owned by DrSteffo and Mel_13 and because your ass now hurts you're claiming the wikipedia article is incorrect. Impressive.

Im sure you'll find many sources for the magic number and how it is calculated and see that the wikipedia article has actually been correct, just as Mel_13 has been throughout the discussion.

[ChuckD]

Mel_13 has been correct all along and also been very polite. There is only one theoretical "magic number" which is calculated by a formula. Of course there can be several different "hypothetical number of wins needed, depending on what happens in other games", but all those are not "magic numbers".

[Silverheart80]

Spurs win the West if they beat Sacramento and Utah. If that happens, I'm betting Pop shuts it down for the LA and PHX games, and we take losses in those two games. Tim, Tony, Manu and Dice see very limited minutes in LA and little to no minutes in PHX.

And yeah, the magic number to get the overall NBA homecourt over Chicago is 4, and Bulls could conceivably get that if they win their last 5 and we tank LA & PHX (or Bulls win 4 out of their last 5 and win a coinflip for homecourt in David Stern's office).

Guessing Pop chooses team health over NBA overall homecourt adv., especially considering 1st round of the playoffs starts TWO DAYS after the PHX game. Also the NBA Finals are 2-3-2 format, so it puts pressure on Chicago (if they have the overall homecourt advantage) to win both at home if they get that far. I bet Pop doesn't mind the chances of stealing one and then coming home to 3 straight games, should Spurs make it that far too.

That said, rooting for Celtics over Bulls Thursday night, and very curious to see if Memphis keeps tanking games so they can play us. Would obviously prefer New Orleans as a better matchup for Spurs in 1st round.

[tdunk21]

Spurs win the West if they beat Sacramento and Utah. If that happens, I'm betting Pop shuts it down for the LA and PHX games, and we take losses in those two games. Tim, Tony, Manu and Dice see very limited minutes in LA and little to no minutes in PHX.

And yeah, the magic number to get the overall NBA homecourt over Chicago is 4, and Bulls could conceivably get that if they win their last 5 and we tank LA & PHX (or Bulls win 4 out of their last 5 and win a coinflip for homecourt in David Stern's office).

Guessing Pop chooses team health over NBA overall homecourt adv., especially considering 1st round of the playoffs starts TWO DAYS after the PHX game. Also the NBA Finals are 2-3-2 format, so it puts pressure on Chicago (if they have the overall homecourt advantage) to win both at home if they get that far. I bet Pop doesn't mind the chances of stealing one and then coming home to 3 straight games, should Spurs make it that far too.

That said, rooting for Celtics over Bulls Thursday night, and very curious to see if Memphis keeps tanking games so they can play us. Would obviously prefer New Orleans as a better matchup for Spurs in 1st round.

would be 3 now silverheart, coz we needed 5 wins before the 6 straight losses, and now we won 2 straight and still need 3 for overall 1st seed and 2 wins for 1st in West

[tdunk21]

^ correct me if am wrong but thats what jeff mcdonald reported before....

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

^ correct me if am wrong but thats what jeff mcdonald reported before....

It's not 3 because if the Spurs win 3 they'd be at 62-20, Chicago could also finish with the same record, provided that they win out. They are 1-1 in the head to head games and both at 23-7 against ther other conference, thus the coinflip scenario, in which the Spurs have a 50% chance of losing ( or more depending on one's trust in Stern :) )

BTW if McDonald has reported it wrongly, he's welcome to come here and update his maths skills and opinion.

[Mel_13]

Magic Numbers to eliminate the remaining teams:

Chicago- 4

Lakers- 2

Boston- 1

Miami- 1

[Silverheart80]

tdunk: I hope you're right, but here's the way I figure it:

What's the max wins Chicago can achieve if they win all 5 remaining on their schedule? A: 62

For Spurs to win 62, they'd have to win 3 out of 4 remaining (currently at 59 after the ATL win). So then, Chicago and SA would be tied if that happens. What's the tiebreaker? Head to Head? A: Tied, 1-1. Next one: conference record? A: Identical. Tied there too. Next tiebreaker is coinflip in David Stern's office.

Safe to say, we do NOT want to trust a coinflip in DStern's office for NBA finals homecourt. No thanks. LOL

Therefore, that's why I say we've gotta get to 63 OR of course have Chicago lose 1 or more so that we don't need to win our last 4 in order to clinch overall homecourt.

Does that check out correctly?

That said, regardless of record, I still think Pop rests up the old guys for the LA & PHX games because we know we start 1st round, Game 1 either Sat. Apr. 16 or Sun. Apr. 17.

[TampaDude]

Could've had this shit closed out a week ago, but oh, well...two weeks rest is too much, IMHO...don't want to lose the edge. Beat Sacto and Utah and then shut it down until the playoffs. I don't think the Bulls are getting past Boston or Miami, anyway.

[DrSteffo]

Oh Widipedia. The one and onely reliable source for everything. If youre 12 years old. I took the time to read before I made a comment. You took 10 seconds to cut and paste from Wiki. Impressive.

Your friend(?) also posted that the Griz tanked their game to stay in 8th place and leave the door open to getting knocked out of the playoffs entirely. Even though it looked like the Lakers were going to beat Utah and have a good chance of taking over the no.1 spot. I bet he was probably right about that too. Why dont you look that up on fucking Wikipedia?

You can take your new(?) and shove it up your ass. I had an account for a long time but never post because of people like you. Im on location with an internet connection that fades in and out. Youre welcome to check out my IP any time. I bet you wont make the same offer. Nothing more pathetic than a guy licking his own taint. Why dont you quote that too.

Feel free to provide a better link.

I don't know Mel personally but I think that he is a good poster. Also it doesn't matter because fact is he is right and you are wrong.

Thanks but I have absolutely zero interest in you or your IP adress. I'm typing this from work (at a Swedish university). Do you think that I am Mel? :lmao

[pocjetty]

Did you even bother to plug the numbers into your wiki formula? Course you didnt. It doesnt work. Lots and lots of math egghead articles saying the same thig. Heres a link http://riot.ieor.berkely.edu/~baseball/faq.html Look at the example of LA vs SD. The part where it says that LAs magic number is 20 but their first place clinch number is 17. Thats because they play each other. Same thing we had. The las sentence says 'This example illustrates how the magic number dows not always tell the whole story'.

Argue with the professors at Berkley. Im sure you know more than them too. I wish Id never got started arguing with you.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Did you even bother to plug the numbers into your wiki formula? Course you didnt. It doesnt work. Lots and lots of math egghead articles saying the same thig. Heres a link http://riot.ieor.berkely.edu/~baseball/faq.html Look at the example of LA vs SD. The part where it says that LAs magic number is 20 but their first place clinch number is 17. Thats because they play each other. Same thing we had. The las sentence says 'This example illustrates how the magic number dows not always tell the whole story'.

Argue with the professors at Berkley. Im sure you know more than them too. I wish Id never got started arguing with you.

1. The numbers work perfectly plugged into the formula
2. You don't understand the difference between the magic number and whatever other hypothetically derived numbers
3. This thread is about the magic number
4. Maths and logic aren't for you

[DrSteffo]

1. The numbers work perfectly plugged into the formula
2. You don't understand the difference between the magic number and whatever other hypothetically derived numbers
3. This thread is about the magic number
4. Maths and logic aren't for you

Welcome to the ownage party BG :downspin:

[Mel_13]

The state of affairs at the opening of tonight's NBA action:




Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:


http://www.sportsmemorabilia.com/image_php_297754.jpg






Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://www.basketballwallpapers.tk/images/wallpapers/Nazr%2BMohammed.jpg


Magic Numbers to eliminate the remaining teams:

Chicago- 4

Lakers- 2

Boston- 1

Miami- 1

[Brazil]

Good god Mel has been very patient in this thread !

[Brazil]

It remembers me a thread where a guy was discussing the way to calculate FG%, it was pure comedy ! didn't find in the search option but that was hilarious.

[will_spurs]

The state of affairs at the opening of tonight's NBA action:

:worthy:

Thanks for keeping this thread alive and being very patient. It's good to know where we stand, and amazing that despite the Spurs overall record in the Duncan era we haven't had the chance of seeing this kind of thread each and every year.

[ajballer4]

Kidd resting tonight for Dallas. Anyone think that they might be tanking to get to the 4 seed to avoid LA also?

[Sense]

Kidd resting tonight for Dallas. Anyone think that they might be tanking to get to the 4 seed to avoid LA also?

They're a better match up against LA than they are against SA....


so that would be dumb..

[Spurs and Mavs fan]

Kidd resting tonight for Dallas. Anyone think that they might be tanking to get to the 4 seed to avoid LA also?



Why? The Mavs are in for a hard slog regardless of whether their WCSF opponent is LAL or SAS.

[Mel_13]

Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:


http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Houston+Rockets+v+San+Antonio+Spurs+bV0F7nWLYFNl.j pg






Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://www.hot.ee/spurs/derekanderson/derekanderson3.jpg

[Shifty]

Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:


http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Houston+Rockets+v+San+Antonio+Spurs+bV0F7nWLYFNl.j pg






Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://www.wallcoo.net/sport/NBA_Spurs_0910_Player/images/wallpaper_hairston_0910.jpg

THC :hat
:ttiwwp:

[D-rob fan]

Where are all you guys getting this David Stern coin flip for tie breaker with Chicago?

Here are the tiebreakers (http://www.nba.com/standings/team_record_comparison/conferenceNew_Std_Div.html) in order of precedence courtesy of NBA.com
(-) Tie breaker not needed (better overall winning percentage)
(1) Division leader wins tie from team not leading a division
(2) Head-to-head won-lost percentage
(3) Division won-lost percentage
(4) Conference won-lost percentage
(5) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff teams, own conference
(6) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff teams, other conference
(7) Net Points, all games


#1 and #2 are a wash. That leaves scenario #3. Chicago is 14-1 in their division. Spurs are 10-6. Sucks that we play in the toughest division. Chicago will win the tiebreaker when it comes down to it. We have to finish ahead to get HC throughout the playoffs.

[TampaDude]

Is Da'Sean Butler still on the roster??? :lol

[Mel_13]

Where are all you guys getting this David Stern coin flip for tie breaker with Chicago?

Here are the tiebreakers (http://www.nba.com/standings/team_record_comparison/conferenceNew_Std_Div.html) in order of precedence courtesy of NBA.com
(-) Tie breaker not needed (better overall winning percentage)
(1) Division leader wins tie from team not leading a division
(2) Head-to-head won-lost percentage
(3) Division won-lost percentage
(4) Conference won-lost percentage
(5) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff teams, own conference
(6) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff teams, other conference
(7) Net Points, all games


#1 and #2 are a wash. That leaves scenario #3. Chicago is 14-1 in their division. Spurs are 10-6. Sucks that we play in the toughest division. Chicago will win the tiebreaker when it comes down to it. We have to finish ahead to get HC throughout the playoffs.

That's what I thought as well, but that's not how they do it.

See this post:

http://spurstalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5109276&postcount=13

[ace3g]

Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://www.hot.ee/spurs/derekanderson/derekanderson3.jpg

[ajballer4]

Warriors up 17 heading into the 4th. Could be today

[ace3g]

Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:


http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Houston+Rockets+v+San+Antonio+Spurs+bV0F7nWLYFNl.j pg



Magic number to clinch #1 seed in the Western Conference:
http://i.cdn.turner.com/sivault/multimedia/photo_gallery/0901/history.jan8/images/001287226Final.jpg

[Mel_13]

Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:


http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Houston+Rockets+v+San+Antonio+Spurs+bV0F7nWLYFNl.j pg





The Spurs have clinched the #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://www.nba.com/media/spurs/moore_240_spurs.jpg

[Silver&Black]

Congrats guys. You deserve it.

[D-rob fan]

That's what I thought as well, but that's not how they do it.

See this post:

http://spurstalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5109276&postcount=13

Thanks Mel_13. I wonder why the NBA doesn't make these rules easily available and we have to hunt this down through John Hollinger?

[Mel_13]

Magic number to clinch #1 overall seed:


http://www.blujay.com/1/432/3197955_s1_i1.jpg





The Spurs have clinched the #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://www.nba.com/media/spurs/moore_240_spurs.jpg

[duncan228]

The Spurs have clinched the #1 seed in the Western Conference:

http://www.nba.com/media/spurs/moore_240_spurs.jpg

Thanks for doing the pics countdown Mel_13, it's been fun. And this was great. :tu

[Sean Cagney]

spurs magic # for #1 West, Up 5+ games, they are up that much now or so lol.........


GO SPURS GO!!!!!!!!!!!

[tdunk21]

thanx Mel_13.....

[timtonymanu]

Thanks for doing the pics countdown Mel_13, it's been fun. And this was great. :tu

:toast to Mel.

We should do this thread in the playoffs as well. Counting down the wins from 16 to 0. Hopefully it works out.

[tdunk21]

2wins or

1 spurs win and 1 bulls loss for overall 1st seed right?

[vander]

damn, refs gave it to the Bulls, those were some charges on Rose, Orlando was shutting Rose down in the last few minutes but the refs kept bailing him out.

i've a feeling Rose going to get the 06 Wade treatment in the playoffs this year

[Budkin]

I doubt we're going to beat the Lakers Tuesday so our only chance really to clinch is if the Knicks are able to take out the Bulls. Assuming we beat Phoenix and they win their last two, who gets the top seed? I heard something about a coin toss.

[Juanobili]

i've a feeling Rose going to get the 06 Wade treatment in the playoffs this year

I was getting that feeling too

[crc21209]

I doubt we're going to beat the Lakers Tuesday so our only chance really to clinch is if the Knicks are able to take out the Bulls. Assuming we beat Phoenix and they win their last two, who gets the top seed? I heard something about a coin toss.

Yeah, if the Spurs and Bulls end up with the same record at the end of the season and somehow both ended up in the Finals, home-court would be determined by a coin toss...

[Juanobili]

I doubt we're going to beat the Lakers Tuesday so our only chance really to clinch is if the Knicks are able to take out the Bulls. Assuming we beat Phoenix and they win their last two, who gets the top seed? I heard something about a coin toss.

I think they look at their records against their division or conference. If that's all tied up then they go for the coin toss.

[Budkin]

I think they look at their records against their division or conference. If that's all tied up then they go for the coin toss.

That will be the case assuming they end up tied. Damn if we could have only lost 5 straight.

[timtonymanu]

That will be the case assuming they end up tied. Damn if we could have only lost 5 straight.

If only TP and Manu didn't turn over the ball in Portland
and Timmy made both free throws against Houston :bang

[Giuseppe]

That will be the case assuming they end up tied. Damn if we could have only lost 5 straight.

O & 6 Fest comin' back to bite ya's, eh?:lol

[silverblk mystix]

O & 6 Fest comin' back to bite ya's, eh?:lol

Not the worst that could happen...

If it comes down to a spurs/bulls finals and the bulls have HCA...

what that means is that we got past the lakers...

that is not a bad deal...we'll take it.

[Giuseppe]

You mean it's like a good thing, like a silver lining to it?:lol