To Win or Not to Win?
The poor fans of these ‘Bottom Eight’ teams are all mixed up. One good week and you shoot up to the eighth seed in the Western Conference. One bad week and you sit right above the Los Angeles Lakers with the second best chance in the West at winning the “Ben Simmons Lottery.” What to root for? The worst possible scenario is to be stuck right in the middle. The teams on this list will be hard pressed to figure out which way to go before the trade deadline in February.
In spirit of the Christmas season, I worked with Kris Kringle himself to find the top wish for of these teams.
The Bottom Eight
*RCP Playoffs % is a complex algorithm that consists of watching NBA games and making partially educated guesses.
Utah Jazz: 12-15 LW: 2-1 RCP Playoffs % = 26% (+1%)
Christmas wish: A healthy “Stifle Tower”
The Utah Jazz are the clear favorite for the final playoff spot. However, Rudy Gobert is the key to their defense. As Purple and Blues pointed out yesterday, this team cannot get stops without Gobert in the lineup. Once he returns, the Jazz have a chance to separate themselves from this mediocre crowd in the West.
New Orleans Pelicans: 9-19 LW: 2-1 RCP Playoffs % = 20% (+2%)
Christmas wish: Continuity.
Now that the New Orleans Pelicans are generally healthy, they need to find lineups that work. They have plenty of talent on the roster, but it is unclear who should be the crunch time five on the floor. Also, we are a third into the season and their starting center, Omer Asik, has as many turnovers as field goals (16).
Phoenix Suns: 12-19 LW: 1-3 RCP Playoffs % = 16% (-1%)
Christmas gift needed: Markieff Morris off the team.
Apparently Morris was unsure if everyone knew he was unhappy, so he threw a towel at his coach. Coach Jeff Horancek is going to lose this team (if he hasn’t already) if this continues much longer.
Portland Trail Blazers: 11-20 LW: 0-4 RCP Playoffs % = 13% (-3%)
Christmas wish: Home games.
The Portland Trail Blazers have played seven fewer home games than road games. On the road this week, the Blazers picked up a couple injuries and more than a couple losses. Damian Lillard missing time could be a blessing in disguise, as Rip City project pointed out yesterday. The Blazers have become too reliant on Lillard and C.J. McCollum to create offense. With other players getting a chance to create offense right now and plenty of home games in January, the Blazers are poised for some wins whenever Lillard is back in action.
Sacramento Kings: 12-17 LW: 2-2 RCP Playoffs % = 9% (unchanged)
Christmas Wish: Seth Curry guarding his brother Stephen Curry this week.
I mentioned this last week, but please Sacramento, give us something to talk about instead of the deficiencies of Rajon Rondo as a human.
Denver Nuggets: 12-17 LW: 1-3 RCP Playoffs % = 8% (unchanged)
Christmas wish: Solid trade offers.
I have a feeling the Nuggets hit their peak last week: 14 of their next 17 games are against teams with winning records. We might be a few weeks away from a Nuggets fire sale. One man who will not be on the move is Will Barton. (Rip City faithful can cover their eyes.) Barton has been the 6th man of the year thus far.
Dec 18, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves interim head coach Sam Mitchell talks to guard Ricky Rubio (9) in the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Target Center. The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Sacramento Kings 99-95. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota Timberwolves: 11-18 LW: 2-2 RCP Playoffs % = 8% (+1%)
Christmas Wish: Ricky Rubio to break his arm Henry Rowengartner style.
At this point, the plot of “Rookie of the Year” seems the most likely scenario that Rubio becomes a good shooter. Do not be surprised if the equipment manager is ordered to leave extra basketballs on the court at practice for Rubio to trip on…
Los Angeles Lakers: 5-24 LW: 1-2 RCP Playoffs % = 0% (Unchanged)
Christmas Wish: A Philly win streak
Remember, the Lakers lose their first round pick if it falls out of the top 3. They would love if the Philadelphia 76ers won a game or two in order to increase their chances at a top 3 pick.
Lou Williams posted a memorable box score in losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder Wednesday night: 0-6 shooting from the field and a -47 plus/minus. It could have been worse though – At least he made two of his six free throw attempts.