Race To The # 1 Seed, Spurs Or Thunder?

[heyheymymy]

gaining games on almost all the top teams in the last few days. now if okc could toss a few more and ind 1-2 more as well please haha

[ace3g]

WESTERN		W	L	PCT	GB	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	DIFF	STRK	L10
1	San Antonio	51	16	.761	-	26-8	25-8	9-3	29-10	105.4	98.0	+7.4	Won 11	10-0
2	Oklahoma City	49	18	.731	2	28-7	21-11	9-5	29-12	105.7	99.1	+6.6	Won 1	6-4
3	LA Clippers	48	21	.696	4	29-5	19-16	9-4	29-12	107.5	100.3	+7.1	Lost 1	9-1
4	Houston	45	22	.672	6	27-7	18-15	9-4	25-17	106.4	101.7	+4.7	Won 1	6-4
5	Portland	44	24	.647	7 ½	25-9	19-15	12-3	24-20	107.6	103.2	+4.3	Won 1	4-6
6	Golden State	43	26	.623	9	22-11	21-15	9-5	24-17	103.5	98.8	+4.7	Won 2	7-3
7	Memphis	40	27	.597	11	21-14	19-13	3-11	22-19	95.9	94.4	+1.4	Won 2	8-2
8	Dallas	41	28	.594	11	22-11	19-17	9-5	21-19	104.4	102.1	+2.2	Lost 1	5-5
	Phoenix	39	29	.574	12 ½	23-13	16-16	7-6	23-19	105.3	102.8	+2.5	Won 1	5-5

[timtonymanu]

OKC @ Cleveland and Toronto the next two games. Hopefully Toronto actually plays like a playoff team against them.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Toronto beat the Thunder on OKC and have had a fantastic season. I think they could give OKC a run for their money when they come up here.

[cd021]

Spurs 1 1/2 games ahead of Indiana

Up 4 1/2 games against Miami (including tie break it would be 5 1/2, as Spurs hold tie breaker)

Spurs have 15 remaining game...

[spurraider21]

the end of our schedule isn't easy at all. we have to clean up the next 5-6 games imo

[aal04]

I dont want to come into the finals after peeing on tank teams.

I want our games to be battle ready.

[FromWayDowntown]

Magic number to clinching a playoff birth should be 4 (though the Spurs will almost certainly hold the tiebreaker over Phoenix by season's end)

Magic number to clinch a top 4 seed and home court in Round 1 should be 6 (though, again, the Spurs will almost certainly hold the tiebreaker over Portland by season's end)

Magic number to clinch the division should be 9 (Spurs won't hold tiebreaker over Houston and must win outright).

[boutons_deux]

Check the Pacers remaining games. Spurs have real chance for HCA throughout the playoffs

[therealtruth]

You risk losing both games like that tbh. Better to just get the win against a team you should dominate.

The only way to get better is to play the tough teams. Playing creampuff teams does nothing to prepare you for the playoffs.

[Robz4000]

The only way to get better is to play the tough teams. Playing creampuff teams does nothing to prepare you for the playoffs.

Look at April's schedule and get back to me on that...

[Seventyniner]

The only way to get better is to play the tough teams. Playing creampuff teams does nothing to prepare you for the playoffs.

You can only play the teams on the schedule, you know. The Spurs will get their test in a couple weeks, though if the Thunder lose a few more games (depends on how long Westbrook is out) the Spurs might have a 3-game cushion heading into that final week.

[timtonymanu]

Thanks for the choke, Toronto.

[Hoops Czar]

The only way to get better is to play the tough teams. Playing creampuff teams does nothing to prepare you for the playoffs.

Since when did GS become a threat or become a tough team? The Spurs bench already beat them once and I don't think the big three need to prepare themselves for the playoffs by playing tough teams. They've been there and done that. It's funny because all the talk earlier in the season was get healthy and don't worry about seeding. But, all of a sudden seeding means something. OKC is still in prime position to win the conference thanks in large part to the Spurs coughing up two home games to the Thunder. Pop won't change his strategy of resting players on b2bs so don't expect the Spurs to stay on top unless OKC completely craps the bed.

[exstatic]

Since when did GS become a threat or become a tough team? The Spurs bench already beat them once and I don't think the big three need to prepare themselves for the playoffs by playing tough teams. They've been there and done that. It's funny because all the talk earlier in the season was get healthy and don't worry about seeding. But, all of a sudden seeding means something. OKC is still in prime position to win the conference thanks in large part to the Spurs coughing up two home games to the Thunder. Pop won't change his strategy of resting players on b2bs so don't expect the Spurs to stay on top unless OKC completely craps the bed.

^^ Hasn't heard that Westbrick was carted off tonight with another knee injury.

[td4mvp21]

Check the Pacers remaining games. Spurs have real chance for HCA throughout the playoffs

They'll probably have a better record than MIA and IND. OKC is the main threat; Clippers could cut it close too.

[Johnny RIngo]

^^ Hasn't heard that Westbrick was carted off tonight with another knee injury.

Russell Westbrook was in great spirits after the game. Left the arena walking just fine. No brace. No crutches. Doesn't expect to miss time.

[Hoops Czar]

^^ Hasn't heard that Westbrick was carted off tonight with another knee injury.

And here I thought they were a better team without westbrick.

[Mel_13]

They'll probably have a better record than MIA and IND. OKC is the main threat; Clippers could cut it close too.

The Spurs would have to lose six more games than the Clippers over the remaining 14 games in order to be passed by them. A top 2 seed is all but a certainty. Taking clinched tiebreakers into account, magic numbers over potential WC playoff teams:

OKC 13
LAC 9
HOU 9
POR 7
GSW 5
DAL 2
MEM 2
PHX 2

[ace3g]

WESTERN		W	L	PCT	GB	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	DIFF	STRK	L10
1	San Antonio	52	16	.765	-	26-8	26-8	9-3	30-10	105.3	97.7	+7.6	Won 12	10-0
2	Oklahoma City	51	18	.739	1 ½	28-7	23-11	9-5	29-12	105.8	99.4	+6.5	Won 3	7-3
3	LA Clippers	48	21	.696	4 ½	29-5	19-16	9-4	29-12	107.5	100.3	+7.1	Lost 1	9-1
4	Houston	46	22	.676	6	28-7	18-15	9-4	26-17	106.7	101.8	+4.9	Won 2	7-3
5	Portland	45	24	.652	7 ½	26-9	19-15	12-3	24-20	107.7	103.2	+4.4	Won 2	4-6
6	Golden State	44	26	.629	9	23-11	21-15	9-5	24-17	103.7	98.9	+4.7	Won 3	8-2
7	Dallas	42	28	.600	11	23-11	19-17	9-5	22-19	104.6	102.2	+2.4	Won 1	6-4
8	Memphis	40	28	.588	12	21-14	19-14	3-11	22-19	95.7	94.4	+1.3	Lost 1	7-3
	Phoenix	40	29	.580	12 ½	24-13	16-16	7-6	23-19	105.2	102.7	+2.5	Won 2	5-5

[cd021]

Indiana and Miami losses give the Spurs 2 game lead over Pacers and 5 game lead (not including tie breaker advantage) over Heat.

[ace3g]

Western Conference
WESTERN		W	L	PCT	GB	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	DIFF	STRK	L10
1	x - San Antonio	53	16	.768	-	26-8	27-8	9-3	31-10	105.2	97.6	+7.6	Won 13	10-0
2	Oklahoma City	51	18	.739	2	28-7	23-11	9-5	29-12	105.8	99.4	+6.5	Won 3	7-3
3	LA Clippers	49	21	.700	4 ½	30-5	19-16	9-4	29-12	107.6	100.4	+7.2	Won 1	9-1
4	Houston	47	22	.681	6	28-7	19-15	9-4	26-17	106.9	101.9	+5.0	Won 3	7-3
5	Portland	45	25	.643	8 ½	26-9	19-16	12-3	24-20	107.5	103.5	+4.0	Lost 1	4-6
6	Golden State	44	27	.620	10	23-12	21-15	9-5	24-18	103.5	98.9	+4.5	Lost 1	7-3
7	Dallas	42	28	.600	11 ½	23-11	19-17	9-5	22-19	104.6	102.2	+2.4	Won 1	6-4
8	Memphis	41	28	.594	12	22-14	19-14	3-11	22-19	95.5	94.1	+1.4	Won 1	7-3
	Phoenix	40	29	.580	13	24-13	16-16	7-6	23-19	105.2	102.7	+2.5	Won 2	5-5

[N0 LyF3 ScRuB]

x - San Antonio	53	16	.768	-	26-8	27-8	9-3	31-10	105.2	97.6	+7.6	Won 13	10-0
Oklahoma City	51	18	.739	2	28-7	23-11	9-5	29-12	105.8	99.4	+6.5	Won 3	7-3
x - Indiana	51	19	.729	2 ½	32-4	19-15	10-2	34-8	98.1	91.9	+6.2	Lost 1	5-5
LA Clippers	49	21	.700	4 ½	30-5	19-16	9-4	29-12	107.6	100.4	+7.2	Won 1	9-1
x - Miami	47	21	.691	5 ½	27-6	20-15	12-2	28-13	103.6	98.6	+5.0	Lost 1	4-6
Houston	47	22	.681	6	28-7	19-15	9-4	26-17	106.9	101.9	+5.0	Won 3	7-3
Portland	45	25	.643	8 ½	26-9	19-16	12-3	24-20	107.5	103.5	+4.0	Lost 1	4-6
Golden State	44	27	.620	10	23-12	21-15	9-5	24-18	103.5	98.9	+4.5	Lost 1	7-3
Dallas	42	28	.600	11 ½	23-11	19-17	9-5	22-19	104.6	102.2	+2.4	Won 1	6-4
Memphis	41	28	.594	12	22-14	19-14	3-11	22-19	95.5	94.1	+1.4	Won 1	7-3
Phoenix	40	29	.580	13	24-13	16-16	7-6	23-19	105.2	102.7	+2.5	Won 2	5-5
Toronto	38	30	.559	14 ½	20-14	18-16	8-3	23-16	101.0	97.8	+3.2	Lost 1	6-4
Chicago	39	31	.557	14 ½	22-13	17-18	8-5	27-15	93.2	92.1	+1.1	Won 1	6-4
Brooklyn	36	31	.537	16	23-11	13-20	8-5	21-20	97.9	98.8	-0.9	Won 3	8-2
Washington	36	33	.522	17	17-16	19-17	7-4	25-16	101.0	100.4	+0.6	Won 1	5-5
Minnesota	34	33	.507	18	19-13	15-20	7-8	19-23	106.3	103.1	+3.2	Lost 1	6-4
Charlotte	34	36	.486	19 ½	20-15	14-21	2-9	21-20	96.1	97.1	-1.0	Won 1	7-3
Atlanta	31	36	.463	21	20-12	11-24	7-6	21-19	101.8	102.4	-0.6	Lost 1	5-5
Denver	31	38	.449	22	18-16	13-22	4-10	16-24	103.9	105.8	-2.0	Lost 1	6-4
New York	29	40	.420	24	16-20	13-20	6-6	21-23	98.7	99.8	-1.1	Won 8	8-2
New Orleans	29	40	.420	24	17-17	12-23	3-10	11-29	100.0	102.3	-2.3	Won 2	6-4
Cleveland	26	44	.371	27 ½	15-20	11-24	4-8	14-26	97.1	101.7	-4.5	Lost 4	2-8
Detroit	25	44	.362	28	15-21	10-23	5-6	20-21	100.8	103.9	-3.2	Lost 5	2-8
Sacramento	24	45	.348	29	14-20	10-25	2-10	12-29	101.0	103.5	-2.5	Lost 1	4-6
Utah	23	47	.329	30 ½	15-19	8-28	3-9	11-31	94.5	101.2	-6.6	Won 1	2-8
Boston	23	47	.329	30 ½	15-21	8-26	5-7	19-21	95.5	99.6	-4.0	Lost 1	3-7
LA Lakers	22	46	.324	30 ½	11-22	11-24	5-7	12-29	101.9	108.8	-6.8	Lost 4	3-7
Orlando	19	51	.271	34 ½	15-18	4-33	3-10	15-28	96.8	102.2	-5.4	Lost 8	1-9
Philadelphia	15	55	.214	38 ½	8-29	7-26	3-9	10-33	98.8	110.0	-11.2	Lost 24	0-10
Milwaukee	13	56	.188	40	8-27	5-29	3-9	11-31	95.0	103.1	-8.1	Lost 6	1-9

[cd021]

x - San Antonio	53	16	.768	-	26-8	27-8	9-3	31-10	105.2	97.6	+7.6	Won 13	10-0
Oklahoma City	51	18	.739	2	28-7	23-11	9-5	29-12	105.8	99.4	+6.5	Won 3	7-3
x - Indiana	51	19	.729	2 ½	32-4	19-15	10-2	34-8	98.1	91.9	+6.2	Lost 1	5-5
LA Clippers	49	21	.700	4 ½	30-5	19-16	9-4	29-12	107.6	100.4	+7.2	Won 1	9-1
x - Miami	47	21	.691	5 ½	27-6	20-15	12-2	28-13	103.6	98.6	+5.0	Lost 1	4-6
Houston	47	22	.681	6	28-7	19-15	9-4	26-17	106.9	101.9	+5.0	Won 3	7-3
Portland	45	25	.643	8 ½	26-9	19-16	12-3	24-20	107.5	103.5	+4.0	Lost 1	4-6
Golden State	44	27	.620	10	23-12	21-15	9-5	24-18	103.5	98.9	+4.5	Lost 1	7-3
Dallas	42	28	.600	11 ½	23-11	19-17	9-5	22-19	104.6	102.2	+2.4	Won 1	6-4
Memphis	41	28	.594	12	22-14	19-14	3-11	22-19	95.5	94.1	+1.4	Won 1	7-3
Phoenix	40	29	.580	13	24-13	16-16	7-6	23-19	105.2	102.7	+2.5	Won 2	5-5
Toronto	38	30	.559	14 ½	20-14	18-16	8-3	23-16	101.0	97.8	+3.2	Lost 1	6-4
Chicago	39	31	.557	14 ½	22-13	17-18	8-5	27-15	93.2	92.1	+1.1	Won 1	6-4
Brooklyn	36	31	.537	16	23-11	13-20	8-5	21-20	97.9	98.8	-0.9	Won 3	8-2
Washington	36	33	.522	17	17-16	19-17	7-4	25-16	101.0	100.4	+0.6	Won 1	5-5
Minnesota	34	33	.507	18	19-13	15-20	7-8	19-23	106.3	103.1	+3.2	Lost 1	6-4
Charlotte	34	36	.486	19 ½	20-15	14-21	2-9	21-20	96.1	97.1	-1.0	Won 1	7-3
Atlanta	31	36	.463	21	20-12	11-24	7-6	21-19	101.8	102.4	-0.6	Lost 1	5-5
Denver	31	38	.449	22	18-16	13-22	4-10	16-24	103.9	105.8	-2.0	Lost 1	6-4
New York	29	40	.420	24	16-20	13-20	6-6	21-23	98.7	99.8	-1.1	Won 8	8-2
New Orleans	29	40	.420	24	17-17	12-23	3-10	11-29	100.0	102.3	-2.3	Won 2	6-4
Cleveland	26	44	.371	27 ½	15-20	11-24	4-8	14-26	97.1	101.7	-4.5	Lost 4	2-8
Detroit	25	44	.362	28	15-21	10-23	5-6	20-21	100.8	103.9	-3.2	Lost 5	2-8
Sacramento	24	45	.348	29	14-20	10-25	2-10	12-29	101.0	103.5	-2.5	Lost 1	4-6
Utah	23	47	.329	30 ½	15-19	8-28	3-9	11-31	94.5	101.2	-6.6	Won 1	2-8
Boston	23	47	.329	30 ½	15-21	8-26	5-7	19-21	95.5	99.6	-4.0	Lost 1	3-7
LA Lakers	22	46	.324	30 ½	11-22	11-24	5-7	12-29	101.9	108.8	-6.8	Lost 4	3-7
Orlando	19	51	.271	34 ½	15-18	4-33	3-10	15-28	96.8	102.2	-5.4	Lost 8	1-9
Philadelphia	15	55	.214	38 ½	8-29	7-26	3-9	10-33	98.8	110.0	-11.2	Lost 24	0-10
Milwaukee	13	56	.188	40	8-27	5-29	3-9	11-31	95.0	103.1	-8.1	Lost 6	1-9

How crazy is that? Phili has lost 24 straight and are still 1 1/12 better than the Bucks.

[jARS mEsH sEt]

I'd love to see a Philly vs Milwaukee game. Watching both teams try to deliberately tank would be tremendously entertaining, tbh.