Sched Ahead Daily Update, Games of 2/24

This season is over, we're done!  It's true.  I read it on Blazersedge.

Oh, wait, we just whipped a playoff team on the road on a back to back!  We're championship contenders!  It's true.  I read it on Blazersedge!

Oh, wait....

Actually, we're a mid to lower level playoff team in the West that struggles with matching up against some good teams (like Utah or Memphis) and prospers in matchups against others (like Toronto, especially with Bosh out, or San Antonio, or Phoenix).  Well, that's what we are at least until we have a healthy center who knows our system, if that miracle should ever happen. 

Oh, wait, that's too boring.

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS, MY FRIENDS!  Yes, that's better.  We'll go with that.  Well, until Friday night, anyway.

Yesterday's update.

Most recent weekly update, including game category definitions.

Yesterday's Games

Action everywhere you look in the Western playoff race.

1. Portland @ Toronto.  We own you.  The end.  (er, until next time anyway).
2. Memphis @ Washington.  Gasol was 10 for 11, scoring all 20 in the first three quarters, and Mayo picked up 10 in the fourth, as Memphis opened it up early in the fourth, then held on for the win against the skeleton of what used to be the Wizards.  Zach had 22 and Gay added 20.  Gay: "It starts now.  We can't sit around and wait."  You got it, Rudy.  Your margin for error is razor thin.  Conley was 0-6.  Did someone say they want us to get that guy?
3. N.O. @ Milwaukee.  Speaking of thin margins, the Hornets drop another game.  Milwaukee goes to .500 (triggering recategorizations) and into the thick of the playoff hunt, with Bogut going for 26 and 13.  The rookie backcourt was good for N.O. again, with Thornton scoring 25 and Collison scoring 22, but it wasn't even close to enough, as Bogut sat out the entire fourth.  Morris Peterson went down with a strained hamstring early in the first quarter, which may make life just that much more difficult for the Hornets, already thin at the guard positions.
4. Orlando @ Houston.  Continuing the "thin margin for error" theme, Houston continues to slide.  Dwight Howard shot 11-11 (no three pointers, apparently), and had 30 points and 16 rebounds, setting an Orlando record with 19 straight double doubles.  Houston got blown out in the second quarter, and trailed by 20 at the half.  Kevin Martin started 1-9, but did finally end up with 16 points.  Houston bombed away from 3, going 12-24, to try to get back in it, but it wasn't enough.  Rockets drop to .500, with two tough games remaining this week.
5. OKC @ S.A.  Manu blocked a Kevin Durant dunk at a key moment in the game, Durant's 25 points per game streak died, and the declining Spurs beat dealt the rising "Blunder" their second straight loss, refusing to pass the torch just yet, and maybe not to that team at all.  Durant was 0-4 in the fourth quarter.  Manu finished with 26 points, and Duncan had 19 and 15 rebounds.  Richard Jefferson was finally dropped from the starting lineup, and Tony Parker returned from injury but is still struggling, 2-6 for four points with no assists in 27 minutes.  OKC got 21 from Durant, but he shot 7-19.  Jeff Green had a nice game with 19 on 8-16 shooting, but Westbrook, who has been tearing up the league, struggled to 17 on 6-21 shooting.  Sefolosha had 12 points and 13 rebounds (did someone say he's a guard?).
6. L.A. @ Dallas.  The Mavs, playing without Caron Butler due to a medication reaction, put the hurt on the L@kers behind 31 from Dirk and 30 from Jason Terry, as the two of them completely took over the fourth and scored 22 of Dallas' last 23 points.  Kobe missed a late 3 that would have tied the game, and struggled with his shooting, but finished with 20 points.  Pau only scored 11, but the L@kers had balanced scoring with six in double figures to keep it close.  The season series between the two ends even at 2-2. 
7. Philadelphia @ Phoenix.  Steve Nash is still struggling with his back, but went for 20 points and 13 assists, and it's hot in the Valley of the Sun as they held another opponent under 100, and won again, looking to nail down a good playoff seed early.  J-Rich had 24 for his third straight 20 point game.  Phoenix only attempted 13 free throws, making 10, but it didn't matter.
8. Charlotte @ Utah.  Carlos Boozer is on fire, going 33 and 16, with 20 points in the second half, as Utah turned an 11 point half-time deficit into an easy win.  Deron Williams had 20 with 12 assists, and Kyle Korver had 18 points, with two key 3 pointers in the fourth.  Kirilenko missed again with back spasms.  Stephen Jackson shot 5-15 for Charlotte, which is better than the 1-16 he had the last game, but still won't win any awards.  Gerald Wallace scored 27, and Tyrus Thomas had 20.

Not quite as much help around the league as we would have liked, but enough to significantly improve our position.

Projections

1. L.A.  60.8 wins (down from 61.3).   
2. Denver.  53.8 wins (down from 54.0).
3. Utah.  53.3 wins (down from 53.5).
4. Dallas.  53.0 wins (up from 52.4).
5. Phoenix.  50.6 wins (up from 50.5).  
6. OKC.  48.8 wins (up from 48.7).
7. Portland.  47.3 wins (up from 46.5).
8. S.A.  45.7 wins (up from 44.2).
9. Houston.  42.3 wins (down from 42.8).
10. N.O.  42.2 wins (down from 42.7).
11. Memphis.  41.6 wins (up from 40.8).

Lots of results, plus the technical adjustments from the Milwaukee recategorization.  The battle for the #2-4 seeds looks very tight, with Dallas moving up, and having some advantage in remaining schedule.  Phoenix has been on a roll and could get in that mix as well.  OKC suddenly doesn't look so far ahead of us, while San Antonio significantly improved their position with the win over OKC. 

Meanwhile, of the three teams out of the playoff spots right now, two lost again, and Memphis is well back and has a tough schedule remaining.  The top eight you see, both in the standings and in the projections, are probably the eight you'll get, though relative positions will probably shift around.  The other three look like they are more interested in seeing who can be eliminated first, rather than who will actually make a run at the playoffs.

Tonight

1. Denver @ Golden State.  Only one game involving a Western contender, a Cat 3 "Banana Peel" for Denver in the Bay area.  .

A day after Denver watched everyone else in the West play, everyone watches them.  For us, it's the rest day in a four games in five nights stretch, getting ready to face the Bulls, and hopefully pile further pressure on our rivals, both the ones behind us and those ahead.  A top four spot may be out of reach at this point, but top six is certainly possible, and top five is by no means out of reach. 

So rest well, and let's keep working on that "start of back to back" schedule with a win at Chicago.  This is already a "decent enough, we stayed alive" road trip.  One more win and it's a "good job and putting pressure on all the others" trip, and if we get that one more win on Friday, we put ourselves in position to lock down a playoff spot early.  And in case you missed it, we are now two games over .500 on the road this year, and a couple more wins on this trip would greatly improve our chances of beating .500 on the road for the season, something Portland hasn't done in far too long.