NBA Thread

[GM Franchise]

Well, he's called Big Baby for a reason...I've never thought it was because of his size.

Apparently Big Baby was being a Big Baby tonight...

[The TeeJ of Philly]

Big Baby actually came from him being a big baby at birth

but yeah, acting like a child isn't going to bring attention to that at all

[GM Franchise]

Playoff Picture and Magic Numbers: Pacers can't kick Heat



http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/24505754/playoff-picture-and-magic-numbers-pacers-cant-kick-heat

More NBA: Power Rankings | Expert Picks | Latest news, notes

East No. 1 vs. No. 2: Indiana Pacers vs. Miami Heat

And just like that, the Heat are back to being two back. All that progress Indy made with the big win, and they can't capitalize. Not only does Miami clock the Pistons despite missing four key rotation players, but the Pacers get trounced by the Wizards. Miami might even be peeling back on its efforts to secure the 1-seed, choosing to pursue rest, and yet they're not losing ground.

Relevant Games Saturday: Miami faces the might Milwaukee Bucks, and can climb within 1.5 games of the top seed.

East No. 3 vs. No. 4 vs. No. 5 vs. No. 6: Toronto Raptors vs. Chicago Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets vs. Washington Wizards

Toronto's win clinched a playoff berth for the Raptors, the Knicks' loss clinched a playoff berth for the Bulls. Not bad for two teams expected to tank at different points of the season.

The Raptors pulled up by a full win over Chicago and moved their magic number for the division to nine. If Chicago wants to keep the Pacers in their bracket, staying in the four is preferable. But now the Nets are back to within 1.5 games of Chicago. The Bulls have a lot of work left to do.

I'm bumping Washington back up into this tier. You beat the Pacers to climb within 1.5 of the six, you've earned it.

Brooklyn's magic number for a playoff berth is two; it's two for the Wizards as well thanks to tiebreaker.

Relevant Games Saturday: The Wizards can move within a game of Brooklyn. It's a back to back, and a loss would move them three games in the loss column behind the Nets, five behind the Raptors.

East No. 7 vs. East No. 8 vs. East No. 9: Charlotte Bobcats vs. Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks

The Bobcats' loss to the Magic wasn't a death knell to their hopes at the six, but it's going to take a long, sustained winning streak to overtake Washington.

Atlanta keeps benefiting not from wins but New York's colossal ineptitude. Atlanta's back up by two. Who will lose less next? Find out on the next episode of America's Most Pathetic!

Bobcats' magic number is five, Atlanta's is nine.

Relevant Games Saturday: Atlanta can put 2.5 games between them and the Knicks.

West No. 1 vs. No. 2: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Spurs win. That's their thing. Up by three over OKC for the No. 2. The Spurs have clinched homecourt in the first round. Their magic number for the division is five.

Relevant Games: San Antonio gets the Pelicans who may be without Anthony Davis on a back to back. San Antonio and Oklahoma City both gain a game on either the Clippers or Rockets with the two teams playing Saturday night.

West No. 3 vs. No. 4 vs. No. 5 vs. No. 6: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Houston Rockets vs. Portland Trail Blazer vs. Golden State Warriors

Huge wins by the Blazers and Warriors to keep pace Friday night. Portland kept a game ahead of Golden State.

The Clippers' magic number for a playoff berth is one. Houston's is four.

Relevant Games: Well, the Clippers play the Rockets, with a chance for Houston to tie the Clippers (Clippers have tiebreaker regardless).

West No. 7 vs. No. 8 vs. No. 9: Phoenix Suns vs. Memphis Grizzlies vs. Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks caught a break with Memphis' loss. They're still just a half-game back, now. Phoenix was totally out of it and their chances were fading a week ago. Now they're in seventh. Welcome to the West.

[Ian "Wolfie" Trumps]

Can I just say once more...Noah is the best big man in the game right now and deserves to be the MVP of this season!

[The TeeJ of Philly]

Can I just say once more...Noah is the best big man in the game right now and deserves to be the MVP of this season!

Yes to the first part, no to the second, it's KD's to lose he deserves it just as, if not, more than Noah. He played much of the season without the second best guy on his team and has them at the top of the West. Noah and Blake will fight it out for third

[Ian "Wolfie" Trumps]

Yes to the first part, no to the second, it's KD's to lose he deserves it just as, if not, more than Noah. He played much of the season without the second best guy on his team and has them at the top of the West. Noah and Blake will fight it out for third

Aye, but the Bulls should have been completely down and out this year. No Rose and the trading of Ian's semi beloved Luol Deng...add to that Carlos Boozer who is probably one of the most overpaid players ever. I just feel Noah has willed Chicago into the postseason. Given I felt we were due to collapse further once we traded Deng.

[GM Franchise]

Stephen Curry should also get some MVP consideration as well. He's played phenomenally this season.

[The TeeJ of Philly]

Stephen Curry should also get some MVP consideration as well. He's played phenomenally this season.

Nah, the team has done worse than expectations, that plays into the voting

Aye, but the Bulls should have been completely down and out this year. No Rose and the trading of Ian's semi beloved Luol Deng...add to that Carlos Boozer who is probably one of the most overpaid players ever. I just feel Noah has willed Chicago into the postseason. Given I felt we were due to collapse further once we traded Deng.

In the terrible East? Nah. This is the same team that beat a better Nets team last year with Nate Robinson and a hobbled Noah. I love Noah though, hated him at Florida, but the way he plays is awesome

[GM Franchise]

Nah, the team has done worse than expectations, that plays into the voting

His last five games...

3/28   Mem   5   8   1   2   33
3/22   SA   6   6   1   0   20
3/20   Mil   3   11   1   0   31
3/18   Orl   3   5   0   0   23
3/16   @Por   4   5   1   0   37
3/14   Cle   4   8   3   0   27

Guy has been on fire. Just saying.

[The TeeJ of Philly]

His last five games...

3/28   Mem   5   8   1   2   33
3/22   SA   6   6   1   0   20
3/20   Mil   3   11   1   0   31
3/18   Orl   3   5   0   0   23
3/16   @Por   4   5   1   0   37
3/14   Cle   4   8   3   0   27

Guy has been on fire. Just saying.

Too bad the MVP isn't determined by the last five games someone has. He's about the same he was last year. He's great, maybe All-NBA, but not MVP. Blake and Noah have better cases.

[GM Franchise]

 

[Reya Serra]

The Suns might actually make the playoffs.

[Gravedigger]

I like how you guys talk about MVP and no one has mentioned a relatively unknown guy who plays forward down in Miami....

The award will go to Durant. Very good team record and his individual performance has been outstanding. Noah and Griffin have good cases, even though I might argue CP3 as the most valuable of the Clippers, but LeBron needs to be in the discussion. Wade has missed significant time this year and they could still get the #1 seed.

[GM Franchise]

You seem to be forgetting that they play out East. The a Phoenix Suns, who are currently seeded ninth out  West with 44 wins, would be the third best team in the East if they were in that conference. East is the weaker conference so that's a moot point right there Digger.

http://www.nba.com/standings/team_record_comparison/conferenceNew_Std_Cnf.html

[Jon]

You seem to be forgetting that they play out East. The a Phoenix Suns, who are currently seeded ninth out  West with 44 wins, would be the third best team in the East if they were in that conference. East is the weaker conference so that's a moot point right there Digger.

http://www.nba.com/standings/team_record_comparison/conferenceNew_Std_Cnf.html

Heat are 20-8 against the Western Conference.

So much for that moot point.

LeBron is and always will be in the MVP talk as long as he continues to post ridiculous video game numbers.