JSCOT'S STUPID SCHED PROJECTIONS (C)

       Seed                     Curr    Projected
	1	Los Angeles	54-20	59.8 wins
	2	Dallas		49-25	54.1 wins
	3	Utah		49-26	53.6 wins
	4	Denver		48-27	52.8 wins
	5	Phoenix		48-26	52.4 wins
	6	Portland	45-29	50.1 wins
	7	Oklahoma City	45-28	49.7 wins
	8	San Antonio	44-29	48.6 wins

And the East, in case anyone is interested...

       Seed                     Curr    Projected
	1	Cleveland	58-16	64.3 wins
	2	Orlando		52-22	57.5 wins
	3	Atlanta		47-26	52.5 wins
	4	Boston		47-26	52.2 wins
	5	Miami		40-34	46.1 wins
	6	Milwaukee	41-32	45.5 wins
	7	Charlotte	38-35	43.2 wins
	8	Toronto		36-37	41.6 wins
	--	Chicago		35-39	38.5 wins

GAME BY GAME TABLES - 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.

The Battle for 5 - 8

Probably need to move Denver in here

The Battle for Top Seeds

GAMES OF 3/30:

Oklahoma City 111 at Philadelphia 93 -- Yeah, I wasn't holding out much hope in this one, but hey, the Nets knocked of the Spurs on Monday, so you never know, right?  Wrong.  OKC got off to a hot start with 33 points in the 1st, and never really looked back.

Phoenix 111 at Chicago 105 -- We almost got a bit of help here, although I'm sure Chicago was more concerned with their own playoff chances than ours. Chicago put in a valiant effort, and led by a half dozen early in the 4th, but Nash and company were too much down the stretch.

GAMES OF 3/31:

Oklahoma City at Boston -- Here's one we could really use.  OKC is coming off a back to back while Boston has had a full two days rest to stew on that home egg they laid against the Spurs on Sunday. Hard to ever root for KG and company, but I will hold my nose and make an exception tonight.

Phoenix at New Jersey -- Can New Jersey knock off a West playoff team for the second time this week? I wouldn't bet on it, but that's why they play the games, right?  Those wanting to see Phoenix-Portland in the first round might actually want the Suns to win as much as possible down the stretch, as them getting to the 3 spot is probably more likely than Portland getting to 5 and Denver slipping to 6th.

Dallas at Memphis -- Who to root for?  Do Portland fans feel confident in holding the 6th seed and thus wish for Dallas to slip enough to fall behind Utah into the 3rd spot?  Or do you think we'll finish 7th and thus want the Mavericks to win this one?  So many scenarios to ponder...

Houston at San Antonio -- No such worries here.  Houston has taken 2 of 3 from the Spurs this year, including the two most recent.  Can they win the season series outright tonight and help the Blazers out in the process?

New York at Portland -- Obviously, taken care of business at home against a terrible team is priority number 1-A for Portland tonight.  Portland has had a bad habit of playing poorly at home against inferior teams as well as when on extended rest.  Tonight both those things are in play.  Will we see another Wizards-type performance, or will Portland welcome Sergio back to town in a bit less friendly manner?

Golden State at Utah -- See Dallas notes above to determine your rooting interests in this one. The Jazz won by 11 in Oakland in their only meeting thus far this season.