Playoff Push

[carpanfan96]

With Chitown's loss we only sit a half game out of the eight spot.

[carpanfan96]

This is from sportsline.

Three and Out: Who gets the final three playoff spots in the East?

The battle for home court in the East is interesting and will go down to the wire between Cleveland, Boston, and Orlando. But that's nothing compared to the jockeying at the bottom of the conference.

Unlike the West, it's more complicated than simply the eighth spot. Starting with Detroit (31-30) down to the Knicks (25-37), eight teams are separated by 6½ games in a battle for the final three playoff spots. The Pistons and 76ers (30-31) have the most games left (21 each), and thus the most opportunities to hold their ground or gain on the six teams behind them. But if you look at the number of road games left, the Bucks (30-36) and Pacers (28-37) have the biggest advantage with only six road games left apiece. Milwaukee has managed to stay in the race without Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut, while the Pacers have gone 6-3 without Danny Granger, who could return this week.

Despite playing 10 of their last 16 at home, the Bucks are fading. They've lost seven of 10 and the schedule is packed with contenders the rest of the way: New Orleans, Boston, Portland, Miami, the Lakers, Atlanta, and Orlando (three times). So forget the Bucks.

My pick: 6. Detroit, 7. Indiana, and 8. Charlotte. The Bobcats will really have to earn it, though, as their final two weeks will be brutal: Lakers, at Boston, then Miami, followed by five of their last six on the road -- at Detroit, Philly, at Oklahoma City, at Chicago, at New Jersey, at Orlando.

[bLACKpANTHER]

i dont think we will make the playoffs after that loss to Minnesota, but i am still hopeful.. but mainly because Chicago has just a cush schedule as we do, and i just think they will handle their business down the stretch..

we have to go on a tear to keep up with them.. i see us jumping them in the standing here in a few days, but i doubt we hold onto it.. the Bucks are, as of now in the 8th spot, but they have a murderous schedule down the stretch and will fall fast..

so its basically between CHA, CHI and NYN.. NJN are in the running but they are just treading water, IMHO.. i hope we can put it together and go on another huge win streak..

[Its The Milk]

i dont think we will make the playoffs after that loss to Minnesota, but i am still hopeful.. but mainly because Chicago has just a cush schedule as we do, and i just think they will handle their business down the stretch..

we have to go on a tear to keep up with them.. i see us jumping them in the standing here in a few days, but i doubt we hold onto it.. the Bucks are, as of now in the 8th spot, but they have a murderous schedule down the stretch and will fall fast..

so its basically between CHA, CHI and NYN.. NJN are in the running but they are just treading water, IMHO.. i hope we can put it together and go on another huge win streak..

Have faith BP...have faith.

[tarheelblue89]

I have plenty faith after last night. Of course it was against the Raptors, but the defense was just amazing.

This team has a great chance to put up a five game winning streak here: Kings, @Raptors, Pacers, @Wizards. Then at Philly is winnable, but not likely. But we have to win on the road, because after those four games, we only get four more home games.

Should be interesting.

[goodlay]

I think the 8th seed will come down to us and Chicago. Last night was a good sign, because if we lost that one, it would be awfully hard to make the playoffs. I think a run here in March is necessary, seeing our April schedule is mostly road games and we have had trouble on the road all year long.

[bLACKpANTHER]

Have faith BP...have faith.

that minnesota loss took a lot of my faith away.. trying to get it back

[Its The Milk]

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to watch the Minnesota game because UNC-Charlotte has some gay MTV U channel that blocks a good portion of the games. However, I was able to watch the Raptors game last night and I must say. We had a slow start and I was getting upset but then we turned it on. Our defense was suffocating and our offense was working like a well tuned machine. When this team is clicking we can compete with anyone. And yes I am a homer but really. We play well against good teams. We were in the San Antonio game until the very end and same with the Rockets.

I think that we will surprise a lot of people and I am excited to see that my favorite team is actually contending for once.

GO BOBCATS!

and P.S. - Gerald Wallace is a freaking MONSTER!

[CatamountHoover99]

Maybe next year after a quality draft pick... I don't think it will be this year

[Its The Milk]

Unfortunately the Bulls somehow beat the Celtics which isn't good at all.

[cdandi1]

and the lakers just lost on a buzzer beater by andre and the sixers. no help from the big boys when we need it most.

[carpanfan96]

Yea now we sit 1.5 games out of eighth place, I figured after last night it would've been more in our favor. Alas Boston couldn't beat the lowly bulls for some reason.

[goodlay]

Thus, games like tonight's are crucial.