Sched Ahead Daily Update, Games of 3/15

Yesterday's Update

Last Weekly Update

YESTERDAY'S GAMES

1. Denver @ Houston.  Very close game, A Brooks hits game winner, Houston wins.  A Brooks 31 pts 9 asts, K Martin 29 pts 7 rbs, L Scola 23 pts 11 rbs.  C Anthony 45 pts 10 rbs, C Billups 17 pts, J Smith 17 pts, N Hilario 15 pts 10 rbs, J Petro 11 pts 10 rbs.
2. Washington @ Utah.  Back to back for Utah, blowout win anyway.  C Boozer 23 pts 9 rbs, D Williams 17 pts 11 asts, seven score in double figures.  A Blatche 24 pts, M Miller 14 pts 10 rbs.  Shooting Hall of Shame for Washington:  A Thornton 1-9, J Singleton 1-6, E Boykins 1-5.  8 straight losses for Washington.
3. L@kers @ G.S.  M Ellis 3 pointer at buzzer hits the rim three times and misses, L.A. wins.  K Bryant 29 pts 9 to, P Gasol 26 pts 9 rbs, A Bynum 19 pts 14 rbs 8 to, L Odom 17 pts 12 rbs.  S Curry 29 pts 9 asts, C Hunter 22 pts 7 rbs, C Maggette 18 pts, M Ellis 13 pts 11 asts 5 st.  Weird things:  M Ellis 5-23 shooting, rbs L.A. 56-25, L.A. 24 to, G.S. 5 to, L.A. 75 FGA, G.S. 100 FGA, L.A. 42 FTA, G.S. 13 FTA.  L.A. 18 losses, G.S. 18 wins.
4. N.O. @ L.A. Clippers.  N.O. wins.  D West 24 pts 7 asts, D Collison 18 pts 14 asts, M Peterson 17 pts 8 rbs, M Thornton 17 pts, E Okafor 12 pts 14 rbs.  R Butler 19 pts, D Gooden 18 pts 9 rbs, B Davis 18 pts 17 asts, T Outlaw 13 pts 7 rbs 0 asts, D Jordan 11 pts 11 rbs.

Chasing Pack Game by Game Table -- Remaining Games

Sorted by difficulty, with road games against elite teams (top four in each conference) grouped together, then road games against playoff contenders, then home games against elites, home games against contenders, and road and home games against bottom feeders.  Second of back to back games in italics, opponents on the second of a back to back in bold, both teams on a back to back in both bold and italics.  The more games in the top part of the table, the tougher the schedule, the more white space up high the easier the schedule.

Teams Just Ahead Game by Game Table -- Remaining Games 

Projections

1. L.A.  59.8 wins (up from 59.6).   
2. Dallas.  55.3 wins (up from 3rd).
3. Denver.  55.1 wins (down from 55.6 in 2nd).
4. Utah.  53.3 wins (up from 52.9).
5. OKC.  51.1 wins.
6. Phoenix.  50.2 wins.  
7. Portland.  48.9 wins.
8. S.A.  47.6 wins.
9. Houston.  42.9 wins (up from 41.6 in 10th).
10. Memphis.  42.6 wins (down from 9th).
11. N.O.  39.9 wins (up from 39.3).

 Tonight

1. S.A. @ Miami.  Cat 4 "Rocky Road" for S.A.
2. Chicago @ Memphis.  Cat 1 "Cream Puff" for Memphis.
3. Washington @ Denver.  Cat 1 "Cream Puff" for Denver, back to back for Washington. 
4. Minnesota @ Phoenix.  Cat 1 "Cream Puff" for Phoenix.
5. L@kers @ Sacramento.  Cat 3 "Banana Peel" back to back for L.A.

S.A. at Miami is the important one.  Maybe Memphis will lose, too, but probably not, and it probably doesn't matter.

I don't like sitting around hoping for other teams to lose.  It is more fun to be beating teams.