9 games out the playoff hunt with a ton of ball left. 3-1 since EG's return.
Just wanted to see what some thought. Felt like taking a poll for shiggles.
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9 games out the playoff hunt with a ton of ball left. 3-1 since EG's return.
Just wanted to see what some thought. Felt like taking a poll for shiggles.
Where is the... technically yes, but probably not. In the east, 9 games back is doable. People are talking about how Dallas and LA are not making it, and they are closer to .500 and the 8th seed.
Clippers 27-8
OKC 26-8
SA 27-10
Memphis 22-10
Golden State 22-11
Houston 20-14
Portland 19-15
Denver 20-16
This has me thinking. What has been the biggest turnaround in a season to make the playoffs. 9 games back seems pretty big, but I wonder if it has been done before.
not happening. teams like the Jazz & Lakers are going to have good second halves to the season. the Jazz tend to finish strong, i expect the blazers to fade but other than than them i see the other 7 teams being too good.
the east is a joke, the magic are only 4 or 5 games back at 12 wins. absurd
I have my doubts about the "almighty" Lakers making the playoffs. They look pretty turrible.
If we go on a 20 game winning streak, we'll talk.
Okay. Maybe not so extreme. But a 15-5 type stretch would certainly help a bundle.
They HAD our number. They haven't seen us at full strength yet.
Their should be a hell no option.
I think its something around 47+ wins is what is needed for an 8th seed in the west. So, 36 out of the next 48 games or 75%, or basically keeping up with EJ's trend so far of 3-1. Thats pretty tough to do so I'm gonna go with probably not
Mathematically, yes. Likely, nah prolly not. Would like to see it tho
I don't see it at all.
We have seen how poor this team is when one or two key pieces go down. We keep saying 3-1 and projecting that long term, but that means that you would have to project no injuries for the next 48 games. That is the part that is not likely. Could we make the playoffs if we turn injuries off somehow- maybe. But since this is the real world and not NBA 2K- zero percent chance
That sums up the team's main problem this year. Had at least Gordon been healthy all season we would be in the playoff race. We are essentially having an inverse season of last year's Timberwolves.
Ofcourse the umbrella arguments of "injuries are a part of the game" and "well other teams would be ahead of us if they were 100% healthy too" can sadly be applied to this discussion.
Well, I voted no, but I think there is still a good chance that my original prediction of 35-47 could still come true.
First and foremost, it will be dependent on how many games Gordon plays this season. If he misses another 10+ games, I think we're shot.
But, our schedule so far has been ridiculous. We have had easily the toughest schedule and we've also faced major injuries to Gordon, Davis, and Jason Smith.
Our schedule will lighten up after we're through with this month, the team will improve upon its chemistry, and the rooks will continue to adjust to the speed of the NBA.
I think we've dug ourselves too much of a hole to make the playoffs, but I think we could end up going on a good run to end the year and have a respectable season (which will help attract free agents better than a 22-60 record would).
Golden State and Portland are two teams I could see falling out of contention as the season progresses.
Golden State because they have a lot of players who have an injury history and they are always one injury away from declining. I won't say they are a fluke though, because I consider Curry an Elite player with a pretty unique skill set, and if he could be healthy and GSW put a team around them like this they could compete for a championship.
Portland because so much of their production comes from Lillard who may hit the rookie wall before the end of the season.
Besides those 2 everyone else in the west is a virtual lock.
Sorry, but I hope we don't make it. I want an good pick.
I voted no.
But its a catch 22 really.
You want the team to win games because you want to see improvement.
We want to show other free agents that the team has a winning mentality.
Guy's like Gordon won't want to stick around if the team bottom's out every season just so we can get a high draft pick.
I think we used all our luck so far on Anthony Davis.
Where ever we land we land this year and aim to use the cap space to add the missing pieces.
We cant rely on 1 or 5 players in the 2013 draft to be our saviour.
I hope we keep winning!!!
I think we will win 65% of our games from her on in, if they all stay healthy.
Jason Smith is a concern though.
Agreed, playoffs or not, I want this team to keep improving. Go into next year as a hot, young team with playoff aspirations is fine with me. I think we have a nice base right now and we need to keep playing good basketball to maintain that chemistry and build confidence.
Probably not. However, if we end up with a better record than the Lakers, i will feel a great satisfaction regardless of draft position.
We won't make the playoffs but we need to keep winning regardless. If this team healthy is bad enough to get a top 5 pick then we will have trouble rebuilding regardless of who we draft. To me this is a deep draft and we should still be able to get a good player at around high single, low double digits.
Gotta keep winning, go into next season with a lot of mo, Dell is going to have to be a wizard, he's got some serious cap space to play with but still needs just 1 more star to be a championship team.
no playoffs for hornets this year but the hornets will be playoff spoilers for a lot of teams...great potential with all the piece together,,,,,,
Too far behind in a tough conference. Assuming Gordon is healthy most of the rest of the way, then I think they can finish around that 6-10 spot in the draft, but that's about the extent of it.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/orleans...0520--nba.html
Quote:
COMMENTARY | Yesterday, I wrote an article asking if the New Orleans Hornets could still make the playoffs this year. Although that would be a monumental task, the Hornets are playing like one of the best teams in the NBA. On Wednesday night, New Orleans won its third straight, vanquishing yet another Southwest Division foe. The Hornets ended the Houston Rockets' five-game winning streak with an 88-79 comeback win.
I remember earlier this season when the Hornets were one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA. This was totally uncharacteristic of a Monty Williams coached team. Injuries, mental breakdowns, and an apparent lack of speed contributed to the Hornets' porous defense.
But in a short time, New Orleans has vaulted all the way up to 17th in the NBA in points allowed. As a fan, I couldn't wait for Wednesday's game versus the Rockets. Scoring 106.8 points per game, the Rockets entered tonight's contest as the top scoring team in the NBA. In fact, the Rockets scored 125 points against the Los Angeles Lakers in their previous game.
Unfortunately, one thing that hasn't changed for the Hornets lately is their poor third quarters. The Rockets extended their 36-34 halftime lead to 69-59 with 33 points in the third period. But New Orleans looked possessed in the fourth quarter. Somehow, the Hornets held the high-powered Rockets to 10 points in the last 12 minutes.
Lately, the Hornets seem to have a killer instinct in the fourth quarter. There is no denying that New Orleans has improved tremendously late in games since the return of Eric Gordon. Even when Gordon has an off night like he did against the Rockets with only five points, he still draws the attention of the defense away from the other Hornets. Tonight, Roger Mason was on fire off the bench with 17 points on 6-7 shooting in only 16 minutes played.
Any NBA team can occasionally upset an elite team. But three wins in a row, all against Southwest Division teams, is not a fluke. The Hornets are now healthy, confident, and recommitted to playing defense. I still can't decide if New Orleans holding the Rockets to 46 fewer points than they scored against the Lakers says more about my favorite NBA team or my least favorite NBA team.
The lack of national media attention and no respect that the Hornets receive make it likely that New Orleans will continue to sneak up on quality NBA teams like the Rockets. The return of Eric Gordon means more assists for Greivis Vasquez, more open looks for Ryan Anderson, and no pressure on Anthony Davis.
I could be wrong, but I expect the Hornets' three-game winning streak to keep increasing for a few more games.
It all depends on what we do over the next 24 games (the rest of this month and the entire February). If the team can be somewhere around 20-4, 16-8, or 15-7 during that stretch, then we'd be in great position to finish the season strong to make the playoffs. Gordon's health determines everything.
I mean we have every much of the right talent and coaching to do it if everyone stays healthy. But that's alot of pressure being put on the players to win about 35 of the remaining 47. Had Gordon not been injured to begin the season, I think we definitely would've been a 7th or 8th seed right now. He would've made the development of Davis and Rivers a lot smoother early on and might've not seen those two get injured or struggle as much.
One thing's for sure ,though. Monty is cemented as the team's HC for AT LEAST the next 10 years if he can pull something legendary like that off. Talk about having immense job security. No one can EVER question MW again if he can take a team that began the season with a 7-25 record to the postseason.
This is a rebuilding/development year. Just want them to grow together, and the youngsters get better every game. Is there a precedent for a team with our record rebounding and making the playoffs? I doubt it.
If the Clippers can win 17 in a row, then anything's possible. Most of that success was due to their scoring off the bench so that'll be key for us putting together a string of W's as well. Smith, Anderson, Roberts, Roger Mason, and Rivers is a pretty solid 2nd unit.
It's no coincidence that we're 3-1 with Gordon back. If that's any indication of what's to come, then I wouldn't rule out a 10 game win streak. We've done it twice before under Monty two seasons ago when we began the '10-'11 season 8-0 and had a 10 game win streak in January of that year. Granted, a lot of that was due to having 2 established stars and, while extremely below average, other seasoned vets that knew where to be on the floor. On paper, the team we have now easily triumphs that squad in talent but chemistry has been a big problem and missing Gordon of course. With him back on the floor, you see a boost in team morale and flashes of a playoff caliber squad. He makes everyone around him better. So, again, I wouldn't rule it out because having Gordon on the floor makes that possiblity within reach, but I won't get my hopes up only because the team dug themselves in a deep hole in L's to begin the season.
Playoffs or not, it's hard seeing us having a top 10 lottery pick unless Gordon gets hurt again. I think it'll be close to the 15th pick
1. Keep getting Ws to attract FAs and build momentum
2. Get that training facility up
3. Don't name this team the Pelicans
4. PROFIT!
I heard the lakers have to win 30 or so games to put them in the talks of playoffs not entirely guaranteeing them a spot (because West is super competitive)
Mathematically, yeah. Realistically, heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeells no. :hihi:
I'd rather just get our 10-13 pick and be happy with it. This season's been pretty darn fun even with the losses and we have the rebrand and draft to look forward to :coolg:
Of course its possible, especially if we can rack up a 7-8 game winning streak here. As someone said this draft is not top heavy, there is no clear cut #1 guy and the lottery is pretty even, we can get a similar calibre player at 3 and at 10. So go for wins, build momentum and confidence.
Even if you end up late lottery guy like Isaih Austin, Marcus Smart, Trey Burke, CJ Mcollum, Rudy Gobert, Otto Porter may still be there.
the only team that i think we possibly could catch is portland but they keep winning..just beat miami tonight with a comeback in the 4th qtr
believe:hihi:
I'll do it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHSGZ9KH_FY
:hihi: Ah it never gets old. Love it
If we were in the East, I'd say yeah, we can make it.
I definitely think Portland can slip, but we've just dug ourselves such a hole, I'd be really, really surprised to see it.
But never say never.