Okay, so we gave in to the Hornies - but only with a good fight.

[pause for the context to overtake the hilarity of phrasing]

And by the way, Sac O' Mentos took the Suns to overtime before losing by one basket. So whaddya say we look at the standings as they exist, and compare it with What Could Have Been if the Blazers had beaten the Nookies (reference to when the Hornets were from New Orleans AND Oklahoma City, and scoreboards often ID'd them as "NO/OK", suggesting both "nookie" and the reaction to a turndown, "No? Okay.") AND Phoenix gave it up to Sac O' Mentos.

(All standings in "[Standing]) [Team] [(Games out of first)] - Explanation of standing (where necessary")

As it stands:

1) L[xxx]rs (--) 

2) Phoenix (1)

3) Utah (1 1/2)

4) New Orleans (2)

5) Your! Portlannnnnd . . . TRAIL BLAZERS! (2 1/2) - head-to-head over Houston

6) Houston (2 1/2) - better conference record tiebreaker over the Nougats

7) Denver (2 1/2)

8) Kings (4) - percentage points over the Spoors
(yes, Sandy Auntie is technically NO games out of a playoff spot after their horrrrrrrrible start)

What Could Have Been :

1) La La La La La I Can't HEAR yyyooooouuuuu (--)

2) Utah (1 1/2) - head-to-head tiebreaker over Portland

3) Your! Portlaaaannnnnd . . . TRAIL BLAZERS! (1/12)

4) Rickets (2 1/2) - division-leader status over Phoenix AND Denver

5) Suns (2)

6) Nougats (2 1/2)

7) New Orleans (3)

8) Sac O' Mentos (3)

So this was a big loss for us. But it was a bigger WIN for Phoenix and New Orleans!
Look at how they'd've slid with losses! 3 places!

And how about The Sac! If WE win, and THEY win, look at them! Right there with the Nookies!
Instead of percentages points out of ninth, FOUR spots behind CP3!!!