Sixers Draft Pick Tracker – March 7th, 2015

Overview:

Sixers Draft Pick Tracker

2015 Top-of-Draft Standings

Sixers pick (currently 2nd):

• Sixers lost (good): The Sixers lost to the surging Jazz, putting them at 13-49 and technically 0 games back from the Knicks (although the Knicks, with one less win and a lower winning percentage, maintain the worst record). The Sixers remain tied with Minnesota at 13 wins, but the Wolves have 2 more losses. The Sixers are 3 wins and 3.5 games up on the Lakers.
• Lakers lost (bad): The Lakers had the lead late in the game against Memphis, which would have been an improbable, great victory. Instead, the Lakers blew the lead down the stretch.

Lakers pick (top 5 protected, currently 4th)

• Lakers lost (bad): Tough loss for Sixers fans. At one point, it looked like the Lakers could win and the Magic lose. Instead, the Lakers are now 4 wins back of Orlando for the 5th worst record.
• Orlando won (bad): Orlando beat Sacramento 119-114, ending their losing streak. They are 4 wins up on the Lakers with only 19 left to play.
• Sacramento lost (good): The loss does, at least, keep the Kings “only” 5 wins up on the Lakers.
• Denver lost (good): Denver lost a tough one to San Antonio, but they’re 6 wins up on the Lakers and playing better of late.

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

• Heat lost (good): The Heat lost. I’m going to put this in as good because it drops them from 16th to 12th, a much better pick from the Sixers. I’d love for the Sixers to end up with an 11-12 pick, because I think it gives them much better options. But this is playing with fire at this point.
• Jazz won (bad): I’ve now changed my rooting interests, hoping the Jazz continue to win and the Nets lose. The Jazz are playing much better basketball of late, going 7-3 in their last 10, and are only 2 wins behind Miami at the 9th slot. The only thing that might keep them from passing Miami is the fact that they play a much tougher schedule in the Western Conference.
• Detroit lost (good): Detroit, now 4 wins worse than Miami, seems pretty locked into the bottom 8 in the league. After a brief turnaround, they’ve now lost 5 in a row.
• Boston won (bad): Boston is currently 11th. In theory, Boston passing Miami to knock the Heat down to 11th wouldn’t be bad, but it’s my concern about the Jazz jumping up that makes me want Boston to lose.
• Charlotte won (good?): Again, I’ve been hoping for Charlotte to pass Miami, and with the events of last night, they have, as Miami has one more loss than Charlotte. But, with how close everything is, it’s really hard to figure out who to root for here.
• Brooklyn lost (good?): Again, I had been hoping Brooklyn would pass Miami, but the Jazz recent play has me rethinking that. I’m now hoping the Nets and Celtics lose, at least until I get a better read on the Jazz and Celtics odds of sustaining their success, and until some separation forms. Brooklyn has lost 2 in a row, currently sits 10th, and is 2 wins behind Miami.
• Indiana won (good): Indiana has gone 8-2 in their last 10, are a half game up on Miami, and seem like a virtual certainty to pass the Heat.

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

• Washington won (bad): Washington beat Miami to remain a game up on OKC for that critical 19th spot. Right now, the Sixers need OKC to pass Washington to get OKC’s pick.
• Chicago lost (good): Chicago did lose to Indy, which keeps them 5 wins up on OKC. This is a long shot, though. The Thunder really need to pass Washington for the Sixers to get that pick.

Tonight’s games:

• Atlanta @ Sixers: A Sixers loss obviously helps their own pick.
• Memphis @ New Orleans: Need New Orleans to lose to keep OKC in the playoffs.
• Sacramento @ Miami: I might just be pulling for Miami here, because of my concern over them falling into the top 10, and also to keep the (minuscule) hope alive that the Lakers could get out of the top 5.
• Indiana @ New York: I think Indy is going to end up with a better record than Miami anyway, so I’m pulling for New York to pull off an upset here.
• Portland @ Minnesota: Minnesota wins help keep the Sixers in the 2nd slot.
• Washington @ Milwaukee: It benefits the OKC pick for both teams to lose, as Milwaukee is 17th and Washington 19th. Go Milwaukee.
• Houston @ Denver: An incredible long shot, but Denver losses are still preferable.

Lottery Odds - Heat Pick

Lottery Odds - Lakers Pick