NBA Playoff Status

[Gary]

Here is the current update so far

Key

z- Home Court Advantage

y- Division Champion

x- Clinched Playoff Berth

w- Leading Division, but no playoff berth as of yet

Eastern Conference

1. zy-Miami Heat

Record: 56-21 Division: Southeast Games Back: --

2. y-Detroit Pistons

Record: 51-27 Division: Central Games Back: 5.5

3. x-Boston Celtics

Record: 43-35 Division: Atlantic Games Back: 13.5

4. x-Chicago Bulls

Record: 44-33 Division: Central Games Back: 12.5

5. x-Indiana Pacers

Record: 43-35 Division: Central Games Back: 13.5

6. x-Washington Wizards

Record: 43-35 Division: Southeast Games Back: 14

7. Cleveland Cavaliers

Record: 40-37 Division: Central Games Back: 16

8. Philadelphia 76ERS

Record: 39-38 Division: Atlantic Games Back: 17

-------------------------------------------

9. New Jersey Nets

Record: 38-40 Division: Atlantic Games Back: 18.5

Western Conference

1. y-Phoenix Suns(Overall Record Leader in the NBA)

Record: 59-19 Division: Pacific Games Back: --

2. y-San Antonio Spurs

Record: 58-20 Division: Southwest Games Back: 1.5

3. x-Seattle Supersonics

Record: 50-28 Division: Northwest Games Back: 9

4. x-Dallas Mavericks

Record: 54-24 Division: Southwest Games Back: 5

5. x-Sacramento Kings

Record: 48-30 Division: Pacific Games Back: 11

6. x-Houston Rockets

Record: 48-31 Division: Southwest Games Back: 12

7. x-Denver Nuggets

Record: 47-31 Division: Northwest Games Back: 12

8. Memphis Grizzlies

Record: 44-34 Division: Southwest Games Back: 15

------------------------------------------------------------------

9. Minnesota Timberwolves

Record: 41-37 Division: Northwest Games Back: 18

Update so far. The Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, and the Washington Wizards have all clinched a playoff berth in the playoffs. But with a game within eachother and only 3-4 games left, it will be interesting who gets the 4-6th seed. Very Interesting Week Left. As far as the Spurs, I forgot to mention that they won the Southwest Division Championship on Tuesday Night.

[Cujo]

Does anyone know who owns the tie-breaker between now #6 seed Sacramento and Denver?

[jlucas4092]

Sacramento does.

I feel sick. The one team I didn't want to face in the playoffs, and we're gonna draw them as the 7 seed.

[See Red]

Sacramento does.

I feel sick. The one team I didn't want to face in the playoffs, and we're gonna draw them as the 7 seed.

Eh, if we have Camby, K-Mart, and Buckner healthy (though K-Mart was able to come back into the game last night, so he's probably fine) then it should be a very good series. Just think, if the Nuggets had Camby last night, the Rockets never get back into that game and the Nuggets probably have a 20 point halftime lead.

[Cujo]

Denver will get slaughtered unless Duncan gets re-injured.

[See Red]

Denver will get slaughtered unless Duncan gets re-injured.

Based on...?

[Cujo]

Spurs vs Denver with Duncan: 2-0

Spurs without Duncan: 0-2

[See Red]

Spurs vs Denver with Duncan: 2-0

Spurs without Duncan: 0-2

That's it?

The first two games against the Spurs were in games 12 and 32 of the season -- which was during a stretch in which the Nuggets were 17-25, had two very bad coaches, had no threat to shoot from outside.

Since then, the Nuggets have hired George Karl... you may have heard something about their record since then -- they've lost all of 7 games under George Karl, have gone 24-3 since the All-Star break... acquired Eduardo Najera and Wesley Person (the team, since then, has been great from 3 point range including Dermarr Johnson shooting about 50% since the break), and has gotten the team back to being healthy (this team was riddled by injuries more-so than anybody else in the league earlier in the season). They've gotten Doug Moe as their assistant coach -- and are now the best running team in the league (yes they average more fastbreak points per game than the Suns). Their margin of victory since the All-Star break is larger than the Spurs' has been at any point in the season.

Not to mention.. Carmelo Anthony has been playing much better, getting to the foul line a lot more. Add to that K-Mart's stats have historically gotten better in the playoffs than they were in the regular season. There haven't been many players in the league that have been better than Andre Miller since the All-Star break.

But sure, those two games against the Spurs when the Nuggets had completely different coaches and systems are what matters.

[EagleFan344]

If the Spurs face Denver, Spurs will win. In 6 IMO.

[Gary]

Here is the current update so far

Key

z- Home Court Advantage

y- Division Champion

x- Clinched Playoff Berth

w- Leading Division, but no playoff berth as of yet

Eastern Conference

1. zy-Miami Heat

Record: 56-21 Division: Southeast Games Back: --

2. y-Detroit Pistons

Record: 53-27 Division: Central Games Back: 4

3. y-Boston Celtics

Record: 45-35 Division: Atlantic Games Back: 12

4. x-Chicago Bulls

Record: 46-34 Division: Central Games Back: 11

5. x-Washington Wizards

Record: 45-35 Division: Southeast Games Back: 12

6. x-Indiana Pacers

Record: 43-37 Division: Central Games Back: 14

7. Philadelphia 76ERS

Record: 41-39 Division: Atlantic Games Back: 16

8. New Jersey Nets

Record: 40-40 Division: Atlantic Games Back: 17

-------------------------------------------

9. Cleveland Cavaliers

Record: 40-40 Division: Central Games Back: 16

Western Conference

1. y-Phoenix Suns(Overall Record Leader in the NBA)

Record: 59-19 Division: Pacific Games Back: --

2. y-San Antonio Spurs

Record: 59-21 Division: Southwest Games Back: 2

3. y-Seattle Supersonics

Record: 52-28 Division: Northwest Games Back: 9

4. x-Dallas Mavericks

Record: 56-24 Division: Southwest Games Back: 5

5. x-Houston Rockets

Record: 49-31 Division: Southwest Games Back: 12

6. x-Sacramento Kings

Record: 49-31 Division: Pacific Games Back: 12

7. x-Denver Nuggets

Record: 48-32 Division: Northwest Games Back: 13

8. x-Memphis Grizzlies

Record: 44-36 Division: Southwest Games Back: 17

[Gary]

If the Spurs face Denver, Spurs will win. In 6 IMO.

I think that San Antonio should worry about what rank they will get in the playoffs. One more win from Phoenix and San Antonio will be 2nd seed

[EagleFan344]

Sixers clinch

[Cujo]

That's it?

The first two games against the Spurs were in games 12 and 32 of the season -- which was during a stretch in which the Nuggets were 17-25, had two very bad coaches, had no threat to shoot from outside.

Since then, the Nuggets have hired George Karl... you may have heard something about their record since then -- they've lost all of 7 games under George Karl, have gone 24-3 since the All-Star break... acquired Eduardo Najera and Wesley Person (the team, since then, has been great from 3 point range including Dermarr Johnson shooting about 50% since the break), and has gotten the team back to being healthy (this team was riddled by injuries more-so than anybody else in the league earlier in the season).  They've gotten Doug Moe as their assistant coach -- and are now the best running team in the league (yes they average more fastbreak points per game than the Suns).  Their margin of victory since the All-Star break is larger than the Spurs' has been at any point in the season.

Not to mention.. Carmelo Anthony has been playing much better, getting to the foul line a lot more.  Add to that K-Mart's stats have historically gotten better in the playoffs than they were in the regular season.  There haven't been many players in the league that have been better than Andre Miller since the All-Star break.

But sure, those two games against the Spurs when the Nuggets had completely different coaches and systems are what matters.

Yeah. Denver is on one hell of a roll, but they still don't have what it takes to knock off a championship type team like the Spurs. After just watching the first half of Devner vs Phoenix (the other Western contender), I really don't see the Nugs giving San Antonio any kind of trouble in the first round. They are way too inexperienced, but there's always next year, pal.

San Antonio wins in 5.

[See Red]

Phoenix better pray that Denver can beat the Spurs because if not, the Suns hopes of going to the NBA Finals don't look too good.

I hope Denver gets another shot at Phoenix in the playoffs -- see how they can do against Phoenix with both Camby and K-Mart in the line up. Even without those two in a lineup at the same time against them, they've done fairly good against them, until tonight -- two of the games being decided in part by horrible officiating.

[Cujo]

Denver vs. Phoenix in the Conf Finals is not gonna happen. I would instead like to see the Mavs knock off the Suns in round 2 and face the Spurs in the Western Finals. That series would be a classic.

[See Red]

That's it?

The first two games against the Spurs were in games 12 and 32 of the season -- which was during a stretch in which the Nuggets were 17-25, had two very bad coaches, had no threat to shoot from outside.

Since then, the Nuggets have hired George Karl... you may have heard something about their record since then -- they've lost all of 7 games under George Karl, have gone 24-3 since the All-Star break... acquired Eduardo Najera and Wesley Person (the team, since then, has been great from 3 point range including Dermarr Johnson shooting about 50% since the break), and has gotten the team back to being healthy (this team was riddled by injuries more-so than anybody else in the league earlier in the season).  They've gotten Doug Moe as their assistant coach -- and are now the best running team in the league (yes they average more fastbreak points per game than the Suns).  Their margin of victory since the All-Star break is larger than the Spurs' has been at any point in the season.

Not to mention.. Carmelo Anthony has been playing much better, getting to the foul line a lot more.  Add to that K-Mart's stats have historically gotten better in the playoffs than they were in the regular season.  There haven't been many players in the league that have been better than Andre Miller since the All-Star break.

But sure, those two games against the Spurs when the Nuggets had completely different coaches and systems are what matters.

Yeah. Denver is on one hell of a roll, but they still don't have what it takes to knock off a championship type team like the Spurs. After just watching the first half of Devner vs Phoenix (the other Western contender), I really don't see the Nugs giving San Antonio any kind of trouble in the first round. They are way too inexperienced, but there's always next year, pal.

San Antonio wins in 5.

The Nuggets also don't have Marcus Camby tonight -- and didn't against the Rockets. So tonight's game is no indicator.

Basically, what you're doing is picking two games (without their MVP) out of a stretch in which they've had the best record in the NBA and basing whether or not they can compete in the first round on those two games.

[Cujo]

That's it?

The first two games against the Spurs were in games 12 and 32 of the season -- which was during a stretch in which the Nuggets were 17-25, had two very bad coaches, had no threat to shoot from outside.

Since then, the Nuggets have hired George Karl... you may have heard something about their record since then -- they've lost all of 7 games under George Karl, have gone 24-3 since the All-Star break... acquired Eduardo Najera and Wesley Person (the team, since then, has been great from 3 point range including Dermarr Johnson shooting about 50% since the break), and has gotten the team back to being healthy (this team was riddled by injuries more-so than anybody else in the league earlier in the season).  They've gotten Doug Moe as their assistant coach -- and are now the best running team in the league (yes they average more fastbreak points per game than the Suns).  Their margin of victory since the All-Star break is larger than the Spurs' has been at any point in the season.

Not to mention.. Carmelo Anthony has been playing much better, getting to the foul line a lot more.  Add to that K-Mart's stats have historically gotten better in the playoffs than they were in the regular season.  There haven't been many players in the league that have been better than Andre Miller since the All-Star break.

But sure, those two games against the Spurs when the Nuggets had completely different coaches and systems are what matters.

Yeah. Denver is on one hell of a roll, but they still don't have what it takes to knock off a championship type team like the Spurs. After just watching the first half of Devner vs Phoenix (the other Western contender), I really don't see the Nugs giving San Antonio any kind of trouble in the first round. They are way too inexperienced, but there's always next year, pal.

San Antonio wins in 5.

The Nuggets also don't have Marcus Camby tonight -- and didn't against the Rockets. So tonight's game is no indicator.

Basically, what you're doing is picking two games (without their MVP) out of a stretch in which they've had the best record in the NBA and basing whether or not they can compete in the first round on those two games.

Camby is not a 40 point scorer. So since that is about how much Denver will end up losing by tonight, I truly doubt he'd have been the difference between a "W" and an "L".

[See Red]

You're telling me that a man that...

Ranks #2 in the NBA in Blocks Per Game(3.02)

Ranks #7 in the NBA in Defensive Rebounds(530.0)

Ranks #8 in the NBA in Defensive Rebounds Per Game(8.0)

Ranks #1 in the NBA in Blocks(199.0)

Ranks #2 in the NBA in Defensive Rebounds Per 48 Minutes(12.6)

Ranks #8 in the NBA in Rebounds Per 48 Minutes(15.7)

Ranks #1 in the NBA in Blocks Per 48 Minutes(4.74)

Ranks #10 in the NBA in Efficiency Ranking Per 48 Minutes (30.59)

And has only played in 66 games, or some of those stats would be better...

... would make no difference?

The Nuggets defense, as a whole, is better with Marcus Camby in. Their rotations are better with Marcus Camby in. Nene is far better off the bench. Marcus Camby not only gets blocks, he forces the opponents to change their shots. He's good for 10 PPG. His defense is contagious among the Nuggets.

Once you get down in a game, especially one that has very little meaning (as coming into the game, the #6 seed was a longshot), it's pretty easy to just give up.

He could've very well have been a 14 point difference -- seeing as though they didn't lose by 40.

[Cujo]

You're telling me that a man that...

Ranks #2 in the NBA in Blocks Per Game(3.02)

Ranks #7 in the NBA in Defensive Rebounds(530.0)

Ranks #8 in the NBA in Defensive Rebounds Per Game(8.0)

Ranks #1 in the NBA in Blocks(199.0)

Ranks #2 in the NBA in Defensive Rebounds Per 48 Minutes(12.6)

Ranks #8 in the NBA in Rebounds Per 48 Minutes(15.7)

Ranks #1 in the NBA in Blocks Per 48 Minutes(4.74)

Ranks #10 in the NBA in Efficiency Ranking Per 48 Minutes (30.59)

And has only played in 66 games, or some of those stats would be better...

... would make no difference?

The Nuggets defense, as a whole, is better with Marcus Camby in. Their rotations are better with Marcus Camby in. Nene is far better off the bench. Marcus Camby not only gets blocks, he forces the opponents to change their shots. He's good for 10 PPG. His defense is contagious among the Nuggets.

Once you get down in a game, especially one that has very little meaning (as coming into the game, the #6 seed was a longshot), it's pretty easy to just give up.

He could've very well have been a 14 point difference -- seeing as though they didn't lose by 40.

I think pretty much everyone in here would agree that...

1. Camby is NOT Denver's best player.

2. Denver loses by way more than 14 if the Suns don't play reserves almost the entire 4th quarter.

3. San Antonio easily takes out Denver in the first round.

[See Red]

I think pretty much everyone in here would agree that...

1. Camby is NOT Denver's best player.

2. Denver loses by way more than 14 if the Suns don't play reserves almost the entire 4th quarter.

3. San Antonio easily takes out Denver in the first round.

Just out of curiosity -- how many Nuggets games have you watched this year? Whatever reason you have of hating the Nuggets, I'm sure it's a good one -- but please, for the sake of an intelligent conversation -- give reasoning to back up your opinion.

I'm not here saying the Nuggets are going to win the NBA Finals -- I haven't said they'd make it out of the first round. I do think San Antonio will beat them. I said 'Spurs/Nuggets will be a good series'. I've given reasons -- being that they've been, since the all-star break, the hottest team in the league. Since the All-Star break, they haven't lost a game in which both K-Mart and Marcus Camby were healthy. 'Melo has become as efficient of a player as you'll find in the league, right now. You're getting on the Nuggets for losing some games -- yet you suggest a Spurs team that just lost to a stone cold Grizzlies team is going to kill them. You choose to look at 2 games out of a stretch of 30 in which they've been the NBA's hottest team to base your argument on. Now...

1. I'm not saying he's their 'most talented' player -- that honor would go to both Carmelo and K-Mart. I'm saying he's their Most Valuable Player. Most Valuable is different from best.

The Nuggets simply do not rebound the ball very well without Marcus Camby in the game. Watch a game with Marcus Camby -- and then watch a game without Marcus Camby -- it's like night and day. If the team can't rebound on the defensive end, which they suddenly become unable to do (as shown by Mutumbo's dominance over them on Saturday), then the team can't run -- the Nuggets offense is based on running. Not to mention -- Marcus Camby has become fantastic with his shot towards the top of the key. This is important because against a zone defense, this shot will almost always be there. Add to that his shot blocking ability, his ability to get 15-20 rebounds on a given night -- he is very much the teams MVP.

2. Could be true. But Denver could lose by less if they have a healthy Marcus Camby and they don't give extensive playing time to a man that hasn't played in 78 games (though, in his defensive, Vo had a good game) and the game wasn't essentially meaningless and a chance to 'get healthy' for a team that is pretty much locked into their playoff spot. Besides... since we're going to bring 'Ifs' into it... IF the NBA called a moving pick on occasion, would the Suns really be so good?

3. I can tell your not very intelligent when the basis of your argument is just repeating one thing over and over again -- and that thing is nothing more than an opinion backed by no support, whether statistical, observational, or by any other means. It's really just 'The Spurs will destroy the Nuggets in 5.'