5th-8th seeds in West and predictions

[D.J.]

5. Portland(45-27)
6. Golden State(44-27)
7. Memphis(42-28)
8. Dallas(43-29)

9. Phoenix(42-29)


Portland
@Atlanta
@Chicago
Memphis
@Los Angeles Lakers
Phoenix
New Orleans
Sacramento
@Utah
Golden State
Los Angeles Clippers


Portland could possibly lose 7 of their final 10. Only advantage they have is outside of Chicago, their tough opponents are all home games.


Golden State
Memphis
New York
@Dallas
@San Antonio
Sacramento
Utah
Denver
@Los Angeles Lakers
@Portland
Minnesota
@Denver


No reason not to win 7-8 out of their final 11, but I'll be conservative and say 7. Outside of their mini Texas trip, Memphis is their only rough game IMO. I'm not even worried for them in their Portland game because the Blazers have been slumping.


Memphis
@Utah
@Golden State
@Portland
@Denver
@Minnesota
Denver
@San Antonio
Miami
Philadelphia
@Los Angeles Lakers
@Phoenix
Dallas


Their record in the last 12 depends on their 5 game road trip, which can go either way. If they go even 3-2 in those 5 games, I think they'll go 4-3 in their last 7, making them 7-5 in their last 12.


Dallas
Los Angeles Clippers
Sacramento
Golden State
@Los Angeles Clippers
@Los Angeles Lakers
@Sacramento
@Utah
San Antonio
Phoenix
@Memphis


Their finish is tough. They have Sacramento twice and Utah,but they also have the Clippers twice, Golden State, San Antonio, Phoenix with Bledsoe, and a hot Memphis team. Even if they split their 4 game road trip, I only see them going 4-6 in their last 10.


Phoenix
@Washington
New York
@Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Clippers
@Portland
Oklahoma City
@New Orleans
@San Antonio
@Dallas
Memphis
@Sacramento


The first 5 games start off easy for the most part, but their last 6 is rough. I can see them managing 6-5 in the last 11.


So if the predictions happen to be right, this is how it would look:


5. Golden State(51-31)
6. Memphis(49-33)
7. Phoenix(48-34, I have Phoenix beating Portland in their matchup making them 3-1 on the year)
8. Portland(48-34)

9. Dallas(47-35)

[Droid101]

Exactly what I expect. Here's hoping!

[oarabbus]

Good work OP. We get to see how good the Suns and Blazers are, and how much Dirk has left in the tank. Should be a good end to the season.

[Cone]

phoenix in over mavs would be pretty lame

[CrazyLond]

5. Golden State
6. Phoenix
7. Memphis
8. Dallas

9. Portland

[TheReturn]

phoenix in over mavs would be pretty lame

Disagree. Phoenix would be pretty unpredictable and I could see them winning 1 or 2 games against a top seed.

[wally_world]

It's a shame one of these teams have to miss the playoffs

But if i had to pick one, Memphis is the team i want to watch the least. But doubt they'll miss it. I think Dallas will drop out, it's a shame tho.

[creepingdeath]

Phoenix@Dallas and Memphis@Dallas

It's crazy that those games each might be elimination games for the 8th seed.

[OmniStrife]

Phoenix@Dallas and Memphis@Dallas

It's crazy that those games each might be elimination games for the 8th seed.

Playoffs atmosphere for sure...

[ArbitraryWater]

OP beat me to doing exactly one of these... and of course I got my Mavs making it, but thats just the fan speaking. Im a bit worried.

[Darius]

Good post, OP.

Actual data and analysis... a rarity.

I agree with your 5 & 6 but see phoenix being the odd man out.

Memphis is a beast right now.... GSW playing okay but rising pretty much due to Portland falling.

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

Its a complete joke that a team like Dallas, Memphis or Phoenix are gonna miss the playoff when the fcking Bobcats are in it

[WallIn]

5. Warriors
6. Grizzlies
7. Mavericks
8. Suns
9. Blazers

[Doranku]

It's a shame one of these teams have to miss the playoffs

But if i had to pick one, Memphis is the team i want to watch the least. But doubt they'll miss it. I think Dallas will drop out, it's a shame tho.

I feel the exact same way. I wish I could see all 5 of these teams in the playoffs, but if I had to choose I'd rather Memphis be the team to miss out.

It's crazy to think that Portland might miss the playoffs after holding onto a top 3 seed for a good portion of the year. Especially because they didn't really have any significant injuries or anything like that.

[bdreason]

5. Warriors
6. Blazers
7. Grizzlies
8. Mavs



Blazers won't slip passed the 6th seed IMO. They've been playing poorly lately, but Aldridge will be back soon.

As a Warriors fan, I think I would actually rather get the 6th seed, if that means playing the Clippers instead of the Rockets. The Rockets have really had our number the past couple years.