Eastern Conference: Who's going to the playoffs?

[psrs1]

You are mistaken. Division winner is worthless (well, it's the second tie breaker after head to head record, in case you are tied head to head). We own the tie breaker against both WAS and BOS.

Yes the league recently changed that. It makes one wonder why not just get rid of divisions as the only meaning is that you play each 4X.

[DanH]

Yes the league recently changed that. It makes one wonder why not just get rid of divisions as the only meaning is that you play each 4X.

Yeah, it's basically just a scheduling thing at this point, though it does still count as a secondary tie breaker. Still, no harm to it.

[Jclaw]

Just started listening to the March 13 Lowe Post about playoff matchups. Though he may redeem himself by the end, our man Zach has let us down starting off the post by saying something like "We'll talk about all the playoff races but the only one I forgot (and maybe we'll get to it in the end) is the Atlanta/Toronto 4-5 because it's destined and it's going to be the NBATv game becasue it's the most NBATv matchup there is". In fairness, he meant that the yearly first round Hawks are the NBATv match. Anyways....it may be the case but I'm not giving up on that 3rd seed. Time to give up on Boston..too much of a cakewalk for them. It's ironic that with 3 games left against the Pacers, we could have a lot to say about where they end up and it would be like playing an early mini playoff series.

[golden]

Yes the league recently changed that. It makes one wonder why not just get rid of divisions as the only meaning is that you play each 4X.

Raps are 12-2 this year and 14-2 last season in the Atlantic division. This division has been huge for the us the last 4 seasons, since there's always 2-3 outright division dregs to guarantee us at least 10 wins per year before the season even starts. And we don't have to play ourselves. If not for the Atlantic division, I suspect the Raps look a lot more treadmill'ish like the Hawks, Pacers, Bulls & Wiz.

[DanH]

Raps are 12-2 this year and 14-2 last season in the Atlantic division. This division has been huge for the us the last 4 seasons, since there's always 2-3 outright division dregs to guarantee us at least 10 wins per year before the season even starts. And we don't have to play ourselves. If not for the Atlantic division, I suspect the Raps look a lot more treadmill'ish like the Hawks, Pacers, Bulls & Wiz.

Yeah?

The Raptors play their division rivals 4 times each, 16 total games.

Every other (non-Atlantic) East team plays the Raptors' division rivals between 3 and 4 times each (at least a 2/2 split but sometimes playing three teams 4 times and only one 3 times). But let's assume the 2/2 split for conservatism. That means other (non-Atlantic) East teams play the non-Raptors Atlantic teams 14 total times each. That's two fewer games than the Raptors get to play them.

Now, even if you assume that those games against the Atlantic are basically guaranteed wins (which is by no means accurate, the Raps have just smacked BOS around good), that's 2 wins for the Raps. And for other teams, those 2 games would come against some random other team, so probably something close to 1 expected win.

So, you are saying that if the Raptors had 1 fewer win each season, they would look a lot more like the treadmill-ish teams?

[Jclaw]

In a move that will make it seem even worse when we lose to the Bulls...Wade is out for the season with a fractured elbow

[DanH]

In a move that will make it seem even worse when we lose to the Bulls...Wade is out for the season with a fractured elbow

Raps are gonna smash the Bulls on Tuesday.

[Demographic Shift]

In a move that will make it seem even worse when we lose to the Bulls...Wade is out for the season with a fractured elbow

In the same year the Bucks finally won a game against us the symmetry will continue and we will take one from the reeling Bulls at home next week.

The only guys that think Wade is still a relevant player are his friends in the media and the referees who give some incredibly charitable calls towards him. It's Jimmy Butler and a bunch of guys named Moe right now.

Remember back a year ago when the all powerful veteran Dwayne Wade shit the bed in game 7 as the younger faster more athletic Raps crushed him, Joe Johnson and the Heat. Wade hasn't gotten better since then.

So with him or without him the Raps end the Bulls quirky win streak against us.

Young Riensdorf will clean house in the offseason and the Bulls will begin the rebuild around Jimmy this summer.

Which is a bit sad as I am going to have to find a new team to hate as much as the Bulls. The Chowderheads and Heat are in a class of their own.

[Demographic Shift]

Just started listening to the March 13 Lowe Post about playoff matchups. Though he may redeem himself by the end, our man Zach has let us down starting off the post by saying something like "We'll talk about all the playoff races but the only one I forgot (and maybe we'll get to it in the end) is the Atlanta/Toronto 4-5 because it's destined and it's going to be the NBATv game becasue it's the most NBATv matchup there is". In fairness, he meant that the yearly first round Hawks are the NBATv match. Anyways....it may be the case but I'm not giving up on that 3rd seed. Time to give up on Boston..too much of a cakewalk for them. It's ironic that with 3 games left against the Pacers, we could have a lot to say about where they end up and it would be like playing an early mini playoff series.

The Raps...if they sweep or take 2 of 3.....could push Indy out of the playoffs entirely.

[Jclaw]

Raps are gonna smash the Bulls on Tuesday.

I would hope so...but check out post #16 from the last Bulls game thread

[Raptorsnz]

The Raps...if they sweep or take 2 of 3.....could push Indy out of the playoffs entirely.

I know the schedule is complicated to make, but it's so stupid we play a team 3 times in the last 15 games of the season.

[DanH]

I would hope so...but check out post #16 from the last Bulls game thread

The Raptors have been the bizarro Raptors of late, so they will win this one with ease. 20 point win. Because why the heck not.

I was talking about THIS coming game. Obviously.

[Deems]

I know the schedule is complicated to make, but it's so stupid we play a team 3 times in the last 15 games of the season.

This year's scheduling has been ridiculous for all teams. They need to revert back to a real person doing it. The amount of back to backs teams have played with the 2nd leg team being fresh is baffling.

[DanH]

This year's scheduling has been ridiculous for all teams. They need to revert back to a real person doing it. The amount of back to backs teams have played with the 2nd leg team being fresh is baffling.

They don't need to go back to a person - just have more reasonable inputs/limits for the program.

I'd be interested to see what they could do if they insisted all back to backs are played both games at home. Probably would need more back to backs overall, but the travel impacts would disappear, which are the biggest factor (IIRC) in back to back unfairness.

[Demographic Shift]

Couple of big games tonight in the top 5 who are jockeying for position but none for the next 5 who are fighting to get or stay in.


Utah goes to visit Lebron. This is a litmus test for the Lebrons as Utah is a pretty damn good team and will more than fairly represent good test against a playoff tier opponent. Its a fairly short bus ride from Detroit to Cleveland so the Jazz even though on the sgoab2b should be ready. Its close. Think the Cavs win it.

EDIT: Kevin Love is going to start tonight. So really do think the Cavs get this one.

OKC comes to the 6 Russell and his merry men come to the ACC with a day off. They will be ready to play. The raps will most likely conceed the triple double to Russ but the like so many of these games the one man band won't beat a good team by himself. Demar will get the better of Oladipo and Serge should put the wood to the rookie Sabonis. JV will hold his own and then some against Kanter and Adams. The Raps are a good team and will be a really good team when Kyle gets back. Raps start the drive to the 3rd seed with a win tonight.

Memphis goes to Atlanta Memphis is better suited to take on Houston than the Spurs so they will want to get back to the 6th seed. Atlanta would like to get to 4th for home court. Gasol vs Dwight. Conley vs Schroeder. Zbo vs Milsap. Pretty even matchup. Atlanta is up and down where Memphis is pretty damn consistent in what they bring every night. Flipping a coin and we get some help from Memphis tonight as the Grizz put up a W in We the South land.