RCP breaks down the race for the final NBA Playoff spot in the Western Conference.
The Western Conference remains wide open near the bottom half of the standings. The Gobert-less Jazz remain in a free fall, the Nuggets are surging, and the Pelicans are still running in place. The Trail Blazers on the other hand, broke even this week. How will it impact their probability of making the NBA playoffs?
*RCP Playoffs % is a complex algorithm that consists of watching NBA games and making partially educated guesses.
Utah Jazz: 10-14 LW: 0-4 RCP Playoffs % = 25% (-3%)
Be careful not to over react to the Utah Jazz losing all four games this week. Just as they adjust to life without Rudy Gobert, they played the Thunder twice followed by the Spurs. Barring a fluke, every team in this article would lose all three of those games. The loss at home versus the New Orleans Pelicans Wednesday night is more concerning.
New Orleans Pelicans: 7-18 LW: 2-2 RCP Playoffs % = 18% (Unchanged)
I want to take the New Orleans Pelicans chances at the playoffs down, but I just cannot do it. Even after the disastrous start, all is not lost: They are just four games out of the eighth seed, took care of the Jazz on the road last night and continue to employ Anthony Davis! I went to last week’s article just to ensure I properly mentioned Davis with an exclamation point. It turns out, I did.
Phoenix Suns: 11-16 LW: 1-3 RCP Playoffs % = 17% (-1%)
I turned on the Phoenix Suns game against the Golden State Warriors the other night to see this masterful four-on-one breakaway. The game only got worse from there. The Suns have a chance to go on a run starting tonight. They have five straight games against teams with a losing record, including the infamous Philadelphia 76ers.
Portland Trail Blazers: 11-16 LW: 2-2 RCP Playoffs % = 16% (+2%)
That’s right. A 2-2 week vastly improves your chances at the eighth spot in the Western Conference Playoffs this year. It is difficult to look back at the other games of the past week after that thrashing Wednesday night at the hands of Oklahoma City. There were positives this week though: The Blazers redeemed themselves against the Suns, took care of New Orleans and were an inch away from beating the Knicks. An Eastern Conference road trip is ahead and unlike years past, it will be tricky.
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Sacramento Kings: 10-15 LW: 1-0 RCP Playoffs % = 9% (+2%)
Somehow Sacramento played just one game over the past seven days. They will make up for it quickly, as the Kings have four road games in the next six days. I have a quick suggestion for the Kings: Announce that you’re going to start Seth Curry against his brother December 28th and play him a majority of the game. If anyone has a shot at stopping Stephen Curry, maybe it is they guy who grew up playing 1-on-1 in the driveway with him. What’s the worst that could happen? The Warriors blow out the Kings and everyone talks about how silly the idea was instead of Rajon Rondo’s homophobic slurs. I can live with that.
Denver Nuggets: 11-14 LW: 3-0 RCP Playoffs % = 8% (+5%)
Where did this come from? A three game winning streak has the Nuggets squarely in 8th place in the Western Conference. They get a chance to separate themselves with all four games this week against the other teams in this article. Although it could be a touchy subject for Blazers fans, Will Barton is my choice for sixth man of the year so far.
Minnesota Timberwolves: 9-16 LW: 1-2 RCP Playoffs % = 7% (-5%)
The Timberwolves are in a free fall currently. They will likely trade Kevin Martin soon. While their coaching situation is a sensitive situation (R.I.P. Flip Saunders), it is bizarre that Karl Anthony-Towns received 18 minutes of playing time in a close contest versus the Phoenix Suns last week. The kid has been incredible. He deserves better.
Los Angeles Lakers: 4-22 LW: 1-3 RCP Playoffs % = 0% (Unchanged)
After the Milwaukee Bucks stopped the Golden State Warriors record breaking winning streak, then they went to the Staples Center and lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. Basically, the Lakers are better than the Warriors now. It makes sense if you think about it long enough…