NBA Playoffs Update: Race for the 8
Literally, Someone Has to Make the Playoffs
It was another lackluster week from the bottom eight teams in the Western Conference. Blazers’ fans likely did not take me serious last week, asking if they were good enough for the playoffs. They are in the process of rebuilding and figuring out which players work well around Damian Lillard. Each week, I will remind Blazers’ fans, and each of these teams’ fans, it is a very real possibility. Not because these teams are great; Just that someone has to make it, even if it only takes 35 wins.
If you forgot the assumptions that this article is operating under, read last week’s article here. Basically, Darryl Morey is likely crafting an extravagant way to break up Khloe Kardashian and James Harden. An update on the bottom eight teams in the Western Conference is below, in descending order of RCP Playoffs %.
*RCP Playoffs % is a complex algorithm that consists of watching NBA games and making partially educated guesses.
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The Bottom Eight
Utah Jazz: 10-10 LW: 2-1 RCP Playoffs % = 28% (+2%)
The Jazz had a solid week, beating the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks at home, while losing to the Kings on the road. They will be lucky to escape the next three games with a win: Two against Oklahoma City and at San Antonio. Head Coach Quin Snyder might have to change things up and remake a defense without the ‘Stifle Tower’ for 6-8 weeks.
New Orleans Pelicans: 5-16 LW: 1-1 RCP Playoffs % = 18% (-2%)
With Ryan Anderson trade rumors swirling, the New Orleans Pelicans could be giving up on the season after the terrible start. I don’t buy it. The Pelicans cannot afford to throw away a season of a transcendent player hitting his prime, (Anthony Davis!) especially with the increasingly mediocre Western Conference. I actually think they might overhaul the roster with trades involving Anderson, Eric Gordon and possibly others. This current core around Davis is clearly not a winning combination.
Phoenix Suns: 10-13 LW: 2-2 RCP Playoffs % = 18% (Unchanged)
Markieff Morris was a healthy scratch last week after picking up a needless technical the night before. He then picked up a mysterious illness and sat out Wednesday night’s game. It sounds like he has checked out. One thing is for certain, whoever trades for him better drug Stan Van Gundy into bringing Marcus Morris in the deal. Both are shooting a career low field goal percentage this season.
Portland Trail Blazers: 9-14 LW: 1-2 RCP Playoffs % = 14% (-1%)
The Portland Trail Blazers closed out the Timberwolves on the road; A step in the right direction. They followed up the victory by squandering two leads on the road; Back to the old Trail Blazers way. Looking at the positives – Ed Davis and Allen Crabbe are providing the Trail Blazers the strongest bench of the Terry Stotts’ era. The Trail Blazers get a chance for redemption against Phoenix tonight, followed by a two winnable home games. It could be a good week for Rip City.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Mason Plumlee (24) fouls Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15)
Minnesota Timberwolves: 9-12 LW: 1-2 RCP Playoffs % = 12% (-1%)
The Timberwolves gets a pat on the back for beating the Lakers in overtime, but that’s it. It was not a good look to have the Blazers close out a 4th quarter in Minnesota last weekend. The T-Wolves are making it tough for the fans to be excited about young core: They are 3-9 at home. They will get a chance to do some damage in the standings this week with the Nuggets scheduled twice.
Sacramento Kings: 9-15 LW: 2-2 RCP Playoffs % = 7% (+1%)
The Knicks, Jazz and Kings played a super-secret round robin tournament that no one cared about from Tuesday to last night. The Kings came out on top. For this monumental moment in Kings’ history, I will award them one more percent chance to make the playoffs.
Denver Nuggets: 8-14 LW: 1-1 RCP Playoffs % = 3% (+1%)
Does a win over the 76ers still count in the standings? If no one watches that game, did it really happen? Will Kenneth Faried fit into the hipster culture in Portland? These are just some of the questions I deal with instead of watching Nuggets games.
Los Angeles Lakers: 3-19 LW: 0-4 RCP Playoffs % = 0% (Unchanged)
Ricky Rubio is still on pace to the worst shooter in NBA history and he is shooting a career low this season (33.6%). Yet based on the first 22 games, if he and Kobe Bryant both put up a shot, Rubio’s is 9% more likely to go in. Good thing Bryant doesn’t shoot very much…