2012 Magic Numbers Thread

[Mel_13]

Magic numbers current as of the end of NBA action for Friday, April 6th. OP updated:



Thunder




Lakers




None




Clippers




Grizzlies




Mavericks




Rockets
Nuggets




Jazz
Suns




Hornets
Kings
Warriors
Timberwolves
Trailblazers

[Mel_13]

Magic numbers current as of the end of NBA action for Saturday, April 7th. OP updated:



Thunder




Lakers




Clippers




Grizzlies




None



Rockets




Jazz
Suns
Mavericks
Nuggets




Hornets
Kings
Warriors
Timberwolves
Trailblazers

[Mel_13]

Spurs have clinched a playoff spot. With games remaining among the 4 teams with a magic number of 1, at least two of them have to lose at least one more game.

[Mel_13]

Magic numbers current as of the end of NBA action for Saturday, April 8th. OP updated:



Thunder




Lakers




Clippers




Grizzlies




None




Rockets




Hornets
Kings
Warriors
Timberwolves
Trailblazers
Jazz
Suns
Mavericks
Nuggets

[spursince#99]

lol I'm confused as to what the meaning of this thread stands for

[Mel_13]

lol I'm confused as to what the meaning of this thread stands for

Magic number is the number of positive results (Spurs wins plus opponent losses) that are required for the Spurs to clinch a higher seed than the other team.

For example, any combination of Spurs wins and Laker losses totaling five means that the Spurs will have clinched a higher seed than the Lakers.

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

[Obstructed_View]

This keeps up and there might become a need to put Miami and Chicago on this list.

[boutons_deux]

Spurs finish a road B2B @GS on a Thursday.

Can we expect the playoffs to start less than 48 hours later on that Saturday, as they traditionally start on a Saturday?

[quentin_compson]

The Spurs finish the RS on a quite brutal stretch of games. So I wouldn't be surprised if OKC lands the number 1 spot in the end.

[Dex]

Spurs finish a road B2B @GS on a Thursday.

Can we expect the playoffs to start less than 48 hours later on that Saturday, as they traditionally start on a Saturday?

That's what I've been hearing.

Hopefully the Spurs will get lucky and get slated for the Sunday games.

[Dex]

The Spurs finish the RS on a quite brutal stretch of games. So I wouldn't be surprised if OKC lands the number 1 spot in the end.

Finishing ahead of Oklahoma City would certainly be a bonus, but is going to require some help on their part. Pushing the Spurs to try to get 11 wins out of their last 12 would be a mistake, especially considering the flurry that the games will be coming in.

Spurs need to focus securing #2, then start getting guys ready for the playoffs. If the Thunder decide to implode a bit and make #1 possible, all the better, but I'd feel better about the Spurs having a rested squad ready to play them on the road, as opposed to a battered squad with home-court advantage. HCA can be overrated IMO.....you can spend 82 games (or 66 games, in this case) trying to get it, and then you can lose it in the course of one bad outing.

[TJastal]

Finishing ahead of Oklahoma City would certainly be a bonus, but is going to require some help on their part. Pushing the Spurs to try to get 11 wins out of their last 12 would be a mistake, especially considering the flurry that the games will be coming in.

Spurs need to focus securing #2, then start getting guys ready for the playoffs. If the Thunder decide to implode a bit and make #1 possible, all the better, but I'd feel better about the Spurs having a rested squad ready to play them on the road, as opposed to a battered squad with home-court advantage. HCA can be overrated IMO.....you can spend 82 (or 66-games, in this case) trying to get it, and then you can lose it in the course of one bad outing.

You're theory makes sense for a team like the lakers who relies so much more on their starters to win games and has practically no bench to speak of. This isn't the lakers however. The spurs can afford not to tank games with the quality on their bench. And for the most part Pop has been doing this now since the Portland "forfeit" game where he played Eric Dawson 30+ minutes and several other scrubs like James Anderson. Thank god.

Now add to that the fact that OKC plays especially well at home and you've got even more justification. Remember the last game? The spurs built up a near 30 point lead and still had to rely on Danny Green's late-game heroics to pull out the victory. That team will fight and claw on their home court like no other team in the league. Let's not also forget the spurs aren't too shabby on their home court either. It's a pretty big advantage for the spurs to have. Also consider the fact that the spurs will likely end up facing OKC in the playoffs. I think it's a pretty big deal actually.

Also consider there are only two teams with better road records than home records, NJ & NO. It makes a fairly substantial difference.

[Dex]

You're theory makes sense for a team like the lakers who relies so much more on their starters to win games and has practically no bench to speak of. This isn't the lakers however. The spurs can afford not to tank games with the quality on their bench. And for the most part Pop has been doing this now since the Portland "forfeit" game where he played Eric Dawson 30+ minutes and several other scrubs like James Anderson. Thank god.

Now add to that the fact that OKC plays especially well at home and you've got even more justification. Remember the last game? The spurs built up a near 30 point lead and still had to rely on Danny Green's late-game heroics to pull out the victory. That team will fight and claw on their home court like no other team in the league. Let's not also forget the spurs aren't too shabby on their home court either. It's a pretty big advantage for the spurs to have. Also consider the fact that the spurs will likely end up facing OKC in the playoffs. I think it's a pretty big deal actually.

Also consider there are only two teams with better road records than home records, NJ & NO. It makes a fairly substantial difference.

I agree that with the Spurs depth, they face a better chance than most in games that they rest their core players, and that could definitely end up yielding benefits in the end (it already has, really). I certainly don't think the Spurs are just going to give up games for the sake of giving them up...we can be compe ive even if Tim, Tony, or Manu don't get off the bench.

That being said, those three need to be the focus. Running any of those three guys ragged (especially Tony, who seems to be the one player Pop is willing to put out for 30+ minutes in games they are really gunning for), I fear would be a mistake. If he continues to rotate nights off for the guys, or limit their minutes when they do play, I'm all for going for the #1. Just don't run the Big Three down to get there.

Spurs could also do themselves some favors by getting a few more blowout wins where the core doesn't even sniff the fourth quarter.

[Mel_13]

Magic numbers current as of the end of NBA action for Monday, April 9th. OP updated:



Thunder




Lakers




None




Grizzlies
Clippers




None




Rockets




Hornets
Kings
Warriors
Timberwolves
Trailblazers
Jazz
Suns
Mavericks
Nuggets

[Seventyniner]

The Nuggets didn't make your most recent list, but since they're in the Johnny Moore zone anyway, it hardly matters.

[Mel_13]

The Nuggets didn't make your most recent list, but since they're in the Johnny Moore zone anyway, it hardly matters.

Thanks. I'll fix it.

And no update tonight. Just a couple of Johnny Moore Zone teams in action.

[Mel_13]

Magic numbers current as of the end of NBA action for Wednesday, April 11th. OP updated:



Thunder




Lakers




None




Grizzlies
Clippers




None




None




Hornets
Kings
Warriors
Timberwolves
Trailblazers
Jazz
Suns
Mavericks
Nuggets
Rockets

[Mel_13]

Magic numbers current as of the end of NBA action for Thursday, April 12th. OP updated:



Thunder




Lakers




None




Clippers




Grizzlies




Hornets
Kings
Warriors
Timberwolves
Trailblazers
Jazz
Suns
Mavericks
Nuggets
Rockets

[Brazil]

lol I'm confused as to what the meaning of this thread stands for

too complicated, limit yourself to the great and interesting thread you created

[Mel_13]

The Spurs have now clinched the Southwest Division and HCA in the first round of the playoffs.

Magic numbers current as of the end of NBA action for Saturday, April 14th. OP updated:



Thunder




Lakers




None




Clippers




Hornets
Kings
Warriors
Timberwolves
Trailblazers
Jazz
Suns
Mavericks
Nuggets
Rockets
Grizzlies

[Dex]

TBH, Spurs need to get past the Lakeshow since it's right within grasp, then start focusing on resting up for the playoffs. We saw last season what can happen when you start chasing the #1 overall seed (see: Manu's injury in the last game against Phoenix)

[Mel_13]

Magic numbers current as of the end of NBA action for Monday, April 16th. OP updated:



Thunder




Lakers




None




Hornets
Kings
Warriors
Timberwolves
Trailblazers
Jazz
Suns
Mavericks
Nuggets
Rockets
Grizzlies
Clippers

[Dex]

Down go the Lakers!

[Mel_13]

Lakers to the Johnny Moore Zone. Spurs have now clinched HCA through the 2nd round of the playoffs.


Magic numbers current as of the end of NBA action for Tuesday, April 17th. OP updated:



Thunder




Hornets
Kings
Warriors
Timberwolves
Trailblazers
Jazz
Suns
Mavericks
Nuggets
Rockets
Grizzlies
Clippers
Lakers

[SA210]

Yes!