Overview:

Sixers Draft Pick Tracker

Sixers pick (currently 3rd):

• Sixers won (bad): The Sixers had a miraculous comeback against the Kings, dominating the end of the 3rd / beginning of the 4th. Fun to watch, but has some negative consequences on the Sixers draft positioning.
• Minnesota lost (bad): Minnesota fell to OKC, which was good for the OKC pick, but now gives them 1 less win than the Sixers. After a good stretch of play the Wolves have now lost 7 of their past 8 games.

2015 Top-of-Draft Standings

Lakers pick (top 5 protected, currently 4th)

• Sacramento lost (good): While the Sixers winning was bad, the Kings losing did at least keep them within 5 games of the Lakers, not that it’s likely to matter.
• Orlando lost (good): Orlando also lost to Boston. Another costly game, as the surging Celtics are far too close to Miami, but it does keep Orlando only 4 wins up on the Lakers.
• Minnesota lost (good): Again, Minnesota losing is a net-negative, as it pushes them to the #2 spot ahead of the Sixers. It does, at least, keep the Lakers from moving up from the 4th slot. The Sixers have a 17.2% chance at getting the pick if the Lakers stay at 4, only 4% if they move up to 3.
• Detroit lost (good): Detroit lost their 9th in a row and have 6 more wins than the Lakers.

Lottery Odds - Lakers Pick

Heat pick (top 10 protected, currently 12th):

• Charlotte won (bad): Again, any team in this range (with the exception of the Pacers), I want to lose. With Miami just a half-game up on Boston for the 10th slot, I’m not relying on an one team to falter. And with Boston and Utah playing so well, it might *have* to be Charlotte who stumbles. Any Charlotte win is bad at this point.
• Boston won (bad): Boston’s win over Orlando has them only 1 win back of Miami in the 10th slot. 11th = 97.1% chance the Sixers get it, 10th = 9.1%. Panic.
• Miami lost (bad): I’ve mentioned before how close this is, and how well Utah and Boston are playing. Miami might need to play better than mediocre ball for the Sixers to get the pick.

Standings - Miami Pick

Lottery Odds - Heat Pick

Oklahoma City Thunder pick (top 18 protected, currently 14th):

• OKC won (good): I may have preferred Minnesota to win, but the OKC win at least helps their pick. They’re now tied with New Orleans for the last playoff seed in the West and only a game behind Washington.
• Chicago lost (good): Again, I would have preferred Chicago beat Charlotte, but at least it moves Chicago (4 wins up on OKC) closer as a backup plan.
• Toronto won (bad): Toronto ended a 4 game skid, which put them in as a team to watch. The win keeps them 3 wins up on OKC as another backup plan to catching Washington.

Standings - Thunder Pick

Tonight’s games:

• Nets @ Sixers: Either outcome helps, as any loss for the 9th slotted Nets keeps them further away from Miami, but Brooklyn has lost 5 in a row and shouldn’t be much of a threat. With the Sixers now in the 3rd slot, and a whole slew of winnable games coming up, some losses here would be key.
• Celtics @ Pacers: Pacers win not only keeps them up on Miami, but also slows the Celtics down. The C’s are in the 10th slot and only a half game behind Miami (Panic!)
• Kings @ Wizards: The Kings are theoretically still in play with the Lakers pick, as they have 5 more wins with 18 left to play. But I can’t see that happening. The Wizards are a game up on OKC in the 19th slot.
• Bucks @ Grizzlies: Bucks, while in the 17th slot, have 2 less wins than OKC and are playing poor basketball. A loss helps, but you shouldn’t have to worry too much even if they pull off the win.
• Pistons @ Jazz: Pistons have lost 9 in a row and are now in that 7th spot with 6 more wins than the Lakers. Even with the Pistons freefall I can’t see them losing 6 games on the Lakers, and with how Miami’s struggling I pretty much want *all* teams in that range to lose a couple.
• Knicks @ Warriors: Go Knicks.