Sixers pick (currently 2nd):
- Sixers lost (good): The Sixers looked dreadful in their 94-74 loss to the Pacers. With NYK and Minnesota idle, it puts the Sixers back into the second slot, only 1 win away from the Knicks, who have won 2 in a row.
- Lakers lost (bad): The Lakers fell to the Thunder, who were playing without Durant and Westbrook. The Sixers are still 3.5 up on the Lakers and 3 games up in the win column, but the Lakershow had the chance to pick up a game on all of Orlando, Sacramento, and Denver, and put themselves one game further away from the Sixers, which would have been amazing. Shame the Lakers couldn’t pull that one out.
Lakers pick (top 5 protected, currently 4th):
- Lakers lost (bad): As mentioned above, the Lakers had a chance, against an injury depleted team, to pick up games on Orlando, Sacramento, and Denver in their magical run for the 6th slot.
- Orlando lost (good): At the very least, Orlando lost, keeping them with 3 more wins than the Lakers for the 5th slot.
- Sacramento lost (good): Same thing with Sacramento losing. The Lakers couldn’t pick up a game, but at least they didn’t lose one, either. Sacramento is in the 7th slot and 4 wins up on the Lakers.
- Denver lost (good): Same thing with Denver, who fell to the Pelicans. At 20 wins, Denver remains 4 wins up on the Lakers in the 6th slot.
Miami pick (top 10 protected, currently 16th):
- I legitimately have no idea how to mark these anymore. There are 6 teams (plus Miami) that are between 23 and 25 wins. The Sixers need 3 of them to pass the Heat. I don’t care which 3. Any 3, really. Just not 4.
- Boston lost (good?): Boston is currently 10th at 23 wins, so we don’t want them passing Miami, but this could change. Interpret these results as you see fit.
- Charlotte won (good?): Charlotte is currently 11th with 24 wins, one less than Miami. I suppose we want them to pass Miami.
- Indiana won (good): Indiana beat the Sixers, putting them at 25 wins, 0.5 games behind Miami for the 16th slot.
Oklahoma City pick (top 18 protected, currently 18th):
- Oklahoma City won (good): OKC winning was bad for the Lakers pick, but good for their own pick, which now sits at 18th, a game behind idle Washington.
- New Orleans won (bad): New Orleans beat Denver, which is probably good overall (keeps Denver closing to the Lakers), but bad for the OKC pick. At 32-27, the Pelicans are a half-game away from knocking OKC out of the playoffs, which means the Sixers wouldn’t get the pick.
- Chicago lost (good): Chicago lost to the Clippers, and are now only 4 wins up on OKC. With OKC (hopefully) getting healthy, and the Bulls without Rose for the foreseeable future, they’re probably the best backup plan in case the Thunder aren’t able to catch the Wizards for the 19th spot.
Tonight’s games:
- Toronto @ Philadelphia: Go Raptors (impacts Sixers pick)
- Phoenix @ Miami: Go Suns (impacts Miami pick)
- Golden State @ Brooklyn: Go Nets (impacts Miami pick)
- Clippers @ Minnesota: Go Wolves (impacts Sixers pick)
- New Orleans @ Dallas: Go Mavs (impacts OKC pick)
