Sched Ahead Daily Update, Games of 2/25

 Yesterday's update.

Most recent weekly update, including game category definitions.

Yesterday's Games

Only one game with Western playoff ramifications.

1. Denver @ Golden State.  The Nuggets go to Golden State and win comfortably, with Billups lighting them up for 37 points and adding 9 assists and 6 rebounds, and Carmelo Anthony hitting 27.  The Nuggets were on fire from distance, going 16-27 on 3s, with J.R. Smith hitting 7 of 13, Chauncey 6 of 8, and Ty Lawson 2-3.  Billups and Anthony did play fairly long minutes, and have to come back tonight.  Kenyon Martin missed the second half after banging his knee.  Denver gets back to .500 in Cat 3 (road games against losing teams), they've been mediocre, at best, in such games this year.

Projections

1. L.A.  60.8 wins.   
2. Denver.  54.4 wins (up from 53.8).
3. Utah.  53.3 wins.
4. Dallas.  53.0 wins.
5. Phoenix.  50.6 wins.  
6. OKC.  48.8 wins.
7. Portland.  47.3 wins.
8. S.A.  45.7 wins.
9. Houston.  42.3 wins.
10. N.O.  42.2 wins.
11. Memphis.  41.6 wins.

Denver strengthens their position, everyone else gets ready for tonight.

Tonight

1. Portland @ Chicago.  A Cat 4 "Rocky Road" game for us.  Despite the win at N.J., our record on the opening half of a back to back is abysmal, it would be good to move towards respectability with a win in this one.  They have been playing very well lately, this will be a tough one.  Noah did not practice yesterday, but is expected to play.
2. Dallas @ Atlanta.  Cat 4 "Rocky Road" for the Mavs, who have been on a tear, with five straight wins, as they look to nail down the division title and chase down Denver for the #2 seed.  This will be one of their tougher remaining games.
3. Minnesota @ OKC.  Cat 1 "Cream Puff" for the "Blunder", who won a matchup between these two teams a week ago in Minnesota by two.  We would approve of a double overtime game, or something, since we play in Minnesota tomorrow.  Nick Collison is a game time decision for OKC.
4. Charlotte @ Memphis.  Another Cat 1 "Cream Puff", but a dangerous one.  Stephen Jackson has been struggling, but is due for a good game, and Crash Wallace can keep his team in the game as well.  This is the kind of game that Memphis absolutely must win if they are to get back in the hunt.  Nazr Mohammed and Tyson Chandler both missed the last game for Charlotte, no word on their return.  The Bobcats may struggle against the Grizzlies' size without them.  Edit:  Apparently Chandler is out.
5. S.A. @ Houston.  Cat 4 "Rocky Road" for the Spurs, Cat 2 "Jawbreaker" for the Rockets.  The Rockets don't have a bad schedule the rest of the way, so they could mount a challenge, but right now the Kevin Martin trade looks to have scuppered their chances this year.  A win in this game and they are alive.  For the Spurs, this is the kind of game they have lost over and over this year, and they have a lot of them left.  They have to win some of these road games against tougher teams, and this is one they can ill afford to let go, or they could still slide out of the playoffs, or at least down to #8.  A must win for the Rockets, and almost that for the Spurs.  Ariza is out for the Rockets with a severe hip pointer, while Parker is expected to play but has been struggling with a strained hip flexor.
6. Detroit @ Denver.  Yet another Cat 1 "Cream Puff", this one for the Nuggets, who are on a back to back.  Denver cannot afford to drop this one if they want to hold off Dallas and Utah.  No word yet on K-Mart, but reports didn't make it sound serious.
7. Clippers @ Phoenix.  The fourth Western contender with a Cat 1 "Cream Puff" today.  The Suns have been rolling -- but the Clippers have Blake and Outlaw, and have won 3 in a row.  And Blake always kills the Suns.  We can always hope....
8. Orlando @ N.O.  Cat 2 "Jawbreaker" for the Hornets, who have already dropped two this week and find it doesn't get easier as Howard and friends roll into town.  The Magic already did us one favor this week by winning in Houston, would be nice to have them add to that with a win in the Big Easy.  The Hornets' playoff chances aren't quite on life-support yet, but they are in intensive care.
9. Utah @ Sacramento.  Cat 3 "Banana Peel" for the Jazz, who have been tearing up the league, but this is potentially dangerous.  I think Sacramento matches up well with them, especially after adding Carl Landry, and the Kings beat them in Utah earlier this year.  Jason Thompson is out.
10. Philadelphia @ L.A.  Yet another Cat 1 "Cream Puff" for a Western power, this time the L@kers as they host the 76ers.

Every single team in the Western hunt plays tonight.  But half of them play Cat 1 games, while we have one of the toughest, a Cat 4.  The teams chasing us all play at home.  If we can keep pace tonight, it would be a superb accomplishment, and our playoff chances become very, very strong.