Too many for one spot

[Monte_Cristo]

We are only a month away from the end of the regular season and not all the playoffs tickets have been distributed so far. Let's take a look at the current situation and perspectives for running contenders in both conferences.

EAST

7. Indiana Pacers (38-30, 14 games remaining: 9 home, 5 away)
The Pacers will definitely have a field advantage for the remainder of the regular season. The team won 8 of its last 10 games and it will be very hard for other teams to steal their #7 ticket before the end of the season.

Forecast: 47-35, #7

8. Washington Wizards (37-31, 14 games remaining: 6 home, 8 away)
Washington has a pretty tough schedule ahead and will need to win the key games against other contenders (Indiana, Charlotte). Unlike the Pacers, the Wizards can't afford to lose too many games and as their 8th spot is very much in jeopardy. They will have to perform away from D.C.

Forecast: 44-38, #9

9. Chicago Bulls (37-31, 13 games remaining: 7 home, 6 away)
Chicago is certainly one of the most serious contender for the 8th spot in the conference. Like the Pacers, they recorded an 8-2 in the past 10 games. They will only play against teams already waiting for the playoffs or for preparing for the off-season but have one or two games less than many other contenders. They will have to be solid but have good chances to make the cut.

Forecast: 45-37, #8

10. Charlotte Hornets (32-35, 15 games remaining: 6 home, 9 away)
Charlotte won 6 of its last 10 games but the schedule they have to face is far from easy: a lot of away games and some of them against other contenders. Will they have what it takes to make history and clinch a playoffs ticket some say is already lost for them?

Forecast: 40-42, #11

11. Toronto Raptors (31-35, 16 games remaining: 8 home, 8 away)
The Raptors are sure starting from far behind but some factors may keep the Canadian team hopes alive: they have more games left than any other contender, their schedule is balanced and they only lost 6 of their last 20 games (losses were all away games). They will play against some contenders but also against teams which are already focused on the next stage. How close can they get?

Forecast: 41-41, #10

WEST

7. Portland Trail Blazers (32-35, 15 games remaining: 6 home, 9 away)
The Blazers are in a good spot for now but they will have to perform on the road. They will have to face two major contenders away from Oregon (San Antonio, Phoenix) and some other big teams (Atlanta, Boston). They have more games than San Antonio but can't afford losing against their direct contenders.

Forecast: 41-41, #7

8. San Antonio Spurs (32-37, 13 games remaining: 6 home, 7 away)
The Spurs have only 13 games remaining and will have to perform home against to main contenders (Portland, Phoenix). Their schedule seems a bit easier than for other contenders but they will need to keep the error margin to the lowest possible if they don't want to end up with a cruel 9th spot.

Forecast: 40-42, #8

9. Phoenix Suns (30-37, 15 games remaining: 6 home, 9 away)
Phoenix schedule is similar to Portland's but they will need to be a lot more efficient since they only won 4 of their last 10 games. The team will be facing contenders from both the Eastern and Western conference and is about to enter a very long away games streak that could undermine the team morale if it resulted in a losing streak.

Forecast: 38-44, #9

10. Golden State Warriors (27-40, 15 games remaining: 8 home, 7 away)
It would be a miracle to see the Warriors in the playoffs but we all know the quality of their squad and they could very well create a big upset by snatching the last spot for the next stage. Can Stephen Curry & Cie make it happen? We will have the answer in less than a month.

Forecast: 36-46, #10


No major injury is to be reported amongst the different contenders and we should attend a very intense and pleasant end of regular season. See you in a month for the verdict.

[andrei]

Good read

Just looked at some of the forecasts in the West with a sigh of relief that we are probably not going to end up there. We have been struggling so badly lately - playing like a lotto team.

In teh East - Indiana will make it for sure and it will be a battle between Chicago and Was. I'll give a slight edge to Chicago as their schedule appears to be easier.

In teh West, I like POR and Phoenix. Don't think SA will make it but Phoenix has a very active GM who knows what he's doing

[Rizzo]

If we didn't have such a great start to the season then we would be highlighted in this article as well. Hopefully we can hold on to our 6 seed at the worst and hopefully overtake the Knicks for the 5 seed.

[Dennis]

Very cool article! The East really depends on how Indiana does without a GM. Goikiri was one of the best GMs and managed to get the team play above their ratings. Especially the time he didnt have PG available.

Washington is normally a PO lock. Wall is a Monster and paired with Porter and Beal in the backcourt they are very hard to beat. Though their Front court is really nothing special.

Chicago is doing a good Job lately and their team is very balanced. But as they are behind it really depends how WSH and Indiana will do.

West isnt as strong as the East. But I hope Phoenix and portland will make it because their GMs are very active.

[NanashiWake]

Good read!

So it's going to be a battle for that last spot, looking forward to it. Have some plans in mind to try to make sure we get that last spot. IF(!) we get to the playoffs, we're going for the upset too. Calling it now. lol

[WillyJakkz]

I think the Bulls sneak in and Spurs hold onto their spots.

Nice read, started to write something like this myself.

[DWK]

I think the Bulls sneak in too

Good read

[GreenBear]

Yeah, Suns are in a freefall right now. Overachieved for 4/5 of the year, and it honestly looks like they've just decided to quit on the season with a few games left. They're completely healthy and consistently getting blown out (including a blowout at the hands of the Bucks). I haven't changed a single thing recently. I have no explanation for why they've suddenly become awful. Maybe next year.

[Marcos_Beck]

Very cool article! The East really depends on how Indiana does without a GM. Goikiri was one of the best GMs and managed to get the team play above their ratings. Especially the time he didnt have PG available.

Washington is normally a PO lock. Wall is a Monster and paired with Porter and Beal in the backcourt they are very hard to beat. Though their Front court is really nothing special.

Chicago is doing a good Job lately and their team is very balanced. But as they are behind it really depends how WSH and Indiana will do.

West isnt as strong as the East. But I hope Phoenix and portland will make it because their GMs are very active.

You said everything here DJ. We don't depend on ourselves. We just gotta do our part and hope someone else loses quite few games.. Or PO contenders / lottery teams rest some players against us so we can have better opportunities to win

[emplep7]

I think with Washington getting a GM, that hurts the Bulls a lot, but Indy can now fall out of the playoffs opening things up for them. Going to be a fight to the finish.

[Chilikonkarne]

11. Toronto Raptors (31-35, 16 games remaining: 8 home, 8 away)
The Raptors are sure starting from far behind but some factors may keep the Canadian team hopes alive: they have more games left than any other contender, their schedule is balanced and they only lost 6 of their last 20 games (losses were all away games). They will play against some contenders but also against teams which are already focused on the next stage. How close can they get?

Forecast: 41-41, #10

Appreciate to be nominated but will be tough for us.

Howwever we won the last 2 and are currently sitting #10. Mathematically it is still possible

[Marcos_Beck]

Finally got into a PO spot. Now I need to hold it firmly.