12 games last night, with a lot of impact on the Sixers potential 1st round draft picks.
Sixers pick (currently 2nd):
- Sixers lost (good): There’s a part of me that would have enjoyed the Sixers beating the Bucks. But, ultimately, there’s only 26 games left, and every loss is important. The Sixers loss, combined with the Lakers and Minnesota winning, really helps the Sixers quest for the #2 slot.
- Lakers won (good): The Lakers are, surprisingly, on a 2 game winning streak, thanks to a 100-97 win over Utah. Both of the Lakers last 2 wins have come right down to the wire, 2 wins that could prove crucial come May. With the win and the Sixers loss, the Lakers now have 3 more wins than the Sixers and are 3.5 games back overall.
- Minnesota won (good): The first game in the KG-has-returned-era turned out to be a smashing success, with a 97-77 win over the Wizards, which not only helped the Sixers pick but also the OKC pick as well. The win gives the Wolves 13 wins to the Sixers 12, and puts the Sixers in a good spot now that Minnesota is finally healthy and playing pretty decent basketball.
Lakers pick (top 5 protected, currently 4th):
- Lakers won (good): If the Lakers stay at the 4th slot, the Sixers have ~17% chance of getting the pick this year. Not only is that not a good chance, but it also means that if that 17% chance comes to fruition that 2 teams below the Lakers would have jumped into the top 3, which could spell bad news for the Sixers own draft pick. In order to really feel good about getting the Lakers pick, the Sixers are going to need the Lakers to go in a real winning streak here. Having won 2 in a row is about as good as one could have hoped for post-deadline. It’s still an absolute long shot, but every miracle needs a starting point to its story.
- (BTW, with the depth of this draft 2-6, and the uncertainty of the Lakers possibly improving this offseason, I do think it would be beneficial for the Sixers to get the pick this year).
- Orlando lost (good): Orlando currently sits 5th. If the Lakers pick remains in the 4th slot, the Sixers will only have ~17% chance of getting it, but if the Lakers somehow drop to the 5h slot that jumps all the way up to 45%. It’s still a long shot — the Lakers have 4 less wins than the Magic — but picking up a full game represents a good night.
- Sacramento won (bad): The Kings have 5 more wins than the Lakers, and again represent an incredible long shot. But you want the Kings to lose, as the more teams that get closer to the Lakers the better, not just because there’s a better chance of 1 out of 3 teams falling off of a cliff to end the season than relying on just 1 to do so, but also because 2 teams passing the Lakers would be absolute best case scenario.
- Denver lost (good): The loss puts Denver at 20-37, 5 wins up on the Lakers and 4.5 games up overall. Another long shot, but losing against a struggling Phoenix team helps.
- Utah lost (good): Utah is at 21-35, 6 wins up on the Lakers and 6 games up overall.
- Boston won (bad): A Boston loss is about the only blemish on the night, as them finding a way to lose to the Knicks would have helped the Sixers pick, and also pulled them one game closer to the Lakers. Boston sits at 22-33, 8 wins up on the Lakers and 7.5 games up overall.
Miami’s pick (top 10 protected, currently 16th):
- Miami won (good?): Miami beat Orlando. Again, want 3 of Detroit, Indy, Charlotte, and Brooklyn to pass them. If Miami lost this game — and it took them OT to beat Orlando — I would have been concerned about all 4 passing the Heat. Miami’s now won 2 in a row, but I’m not convinced that they’ll finish out the season well. The win does give them 2 wins more than all of Detroit, Indy, Charlotte, and Brooklyn, though.
- Charlotte won (bad?): I’m kind of counting on one of Charlotte or Brooklyn to collapse and not pass Miami, so I’m classifying this one in the bad category, although if one of Detroit, Indy, or Brooklyn end up not passing Miami it could very well end up being a positive outcome. Charlotte is now 2 wins back of Miami in the win column and 1.5 games back overall.
Thunder’s pick (top 18 protected, currently 18th):
- Washington lost (good): Washington has now lost 5 in a row, and at 33-25 sits only a half game up on the idle Oklahoma City Thunder (32-25) for the 19th slot. With the Thunder on a 7 game winning streak and the Wiz on a 5 game skid, it seems like only a matter of time before OKC slides into that 19th spot, which means the Sixers would get the pick this season.
- Milwaukee won (bad): The Milwaukee win was good for the Sixers own pick, which is the more important pick for the Sixers future, but it does slightly hurt the OKC pick, as it puts Milwaukee back in a tie with OKC for the 18th pick. Still, between the two teams, I’d bet on OKC finishing with a better record down the stretch.
- San Antonio lost (bad): I’m putting this in the bad category because I want the OKC pick to be at #19, not #20. The loss puts the Spurs, who have lost 4 in a row, only 1 win up on the Thunder and 2 games up overall. That being said, if the Thunder don’t pass one of Milwaukee or Washington, this could end up being a good thing.
- Chicago lost (bad): Similar situation to the Spurs in that it could be good, I just don’t want the Thunder to pass too many people. The Bulls do have 4 wins more than the Thunder, which would seem tough to overcome, but with Rose out this could come down to the wire.
- New Orleans won (bad): I suppose I should list this in the interest of full disclosure, as the Pelicans passing the Thunder (and knocking the Thunder out of the playoffs) would obviously be bad. N.O. has won 3 straight and sits at 30-27, 2 wins behind OKC. I don’t see it happening, but it’s something to watch going forward.
Tonight’s games:
- OKC @ Phoenix: A win could pull the Thunder to a tie with Washington for the 19th spot. Phoenix is only 2-8 in their last 10, and struggling.
