It's been a rough few days for the Clippers. They get a couple more chances to make up ground with Minnesota and Golden State (both on national TV, btw) before the rematch with the Kings where they could be all but eliminated from ever getting to the 3 seed (that game is not on national TV but should be). Trying to make up ground after the All-Star break is really hard, even for good teams.
Kings Playoff Standings Watch!!!
- Thread starter Rain man
- Start date
Looking at these teams I'm not sure who to even root for going forward for the first round matchup.
Assuming we hold onto 3, I want no part of the Suns but that probably won't be a concern.
Golden State and the Clippers are also worrying as veteran squads. Between the two, I'd prefer the Clippers, but Golden State is getting dangerously close to that 6th seed mark.
Dallas is all offense, no defense like us, but with more top star power, laughable depth, marginally worse offense and legitimate worst defense. Wouldn't mind them.
I'm hoping for them, Minnesota, or NOLA.
Assuming we hold onto 3, I want no part of the Suns but that probably won't be a concern.
Golden State and the Clippers are also worrying as veteran squads. Between the two, I'd prefer the Clippers, but Golden State is getting dangerously close to that 6th seed mark.
Dallas is all offense, no defense like us, but with more top star power, laughable depth, marginally worse offense and legitimate worst defense. Wouldn't mind them.
I'm hoping for them, Minnesota, or NOLA.
This was 1 day/ 1game......with the other team missing their best player .... again,
If the Kings are STILL up 4 games 12 games out that'll be much better, and they'll probably be @ 42 wins if so If they go 7-3 with their next 10 opponents they'll have earned it. At least 7 of them are fellow playoff teams.
If the Kings are STILL up 4 games 12 games out that'll be much better, and they'll probably be @ 42 wins if so If they go 7-3 with their next 10 opponents they'll have earned it. At least 7 of them are fellow playoff teams.
Yeah there's not really a great answer here. PHX is probably the only team I don't think we'd have a chance at winning a series against, so they're at the top of the list. That LAC game gave me a lot of confidence that we can match up with them decently enough and be a tough match-up. I'm not sure they want to play at our pace for a 7-game series. And we literally took Kawhi's best possible performance and got the W. But still, that depth+Kawhi/PG star power is a lot to overcome in a series.
DAL probably has the weakest overall team, but you still don't love the Luka/Kyrie star-power in a 7-game series. Want no part of the Warriors if they're healthy with Steph back too. NOP hasn't been great the past month, but if they ever get Zion healthy, a Zion/BI/McCollum offensive core isn't fun to deal with either. And they have a Herb Jones to throw at Fox all game.
DAL probably has the weakest overall team, but you still don't love the Luka/Kyrie star-power in a 7-game series. Want no part of the Warriors if they're healthy with Steph back too. NOP hasn't been great the past month, but if they ever get Zion healthy, a Zion/BI/McCollum offensive core isn't fun to deal with either. And they have a Herb Jones to throw at Fox all game.
Agreed. The good news is that if we can maintain the #3 spot and win our own series, Phoenix would need to take down Denver before we get to them. A Denver-Phoenix match up would probably be a 7 game series, so we could potentially get a beaten up Den/Phx team to face in the WCF, if we get there.
The key is to keep the #3 spot, I think that gives us the best chances in the playoffs.
The key is to keep the #3 spot, I think that gives us the best chances in the playoffs.
The playoffs are going to be a bloodbath in the West with so many teams evenly matched. There are some encouraging signs for our squad though. When this group is well-rested and focused they can hang with anybody. They also have one of the best road records in the league. It's hard to explain why they haven't dominated at home like top teams are expected to, but we all know that home playoff atmosphere in Sacramento is going to be off the charts crazy, in the opening round series especially. The #2 or #3 seed is where we want to be for matchups -- that way we get either the best of the play-in teams or the worst of the 4-6 teams. There's no chance we're catching Denver so those are the goals: stay at #3 or move up to #2. I've got 50 wins in mind as a target but it probably won't take quite that many to stay at #3.
Yeah, I've been talking about 45 wins as a magic number to stay top 6, but staying at 3 might be as "easy" as 47 wins. Rest of season:
SAC: 12-10
PHX: 14-6
LAC: 14-5
DAL: 15-5
That's a tough pace for those teams to match with so few games left. And the Kings just have to play a hair over .500 ball.
The Kings quick 3-0 post all-star break really have given them a bit of breathing room. Still some very tough games ahead, but they strongly control their own destiny on where and how they finish the year. 3 games up on PHX, 4 games up on the 6 seed Mavs. Just continue to play good basketball and we'll be able to avoid the madness that is the 4-13 seed that's only separated by 3.5 games.
SAC: 12-10
PHX: 14-6
LAC: 14-5
DAL: 15-5
That's a tough pace for those teams to match with so few games left. And the Kings just have to play a hair over .500 ball.
The Kings quick 3-0 post all-star break really have given them a bit of breathing room. Still some very tough games ahead, but they strongly control their own destiny on where and how they finish the year. 3 games up on PHX, 4 games up on the 6 seed Mavs. Just continue to play good basketball and we'll be able to avoid the madness that is the 4-13 seed that's only separated by 3.5 games.
Since acquiring D-Lo, Vanderbilt, and Beasley, the Lakers have gone 4-1....
ya, I remember people here saying that they would only be good "on paper." They're only 2.5 games back from the 6th seed, and I think that'll be where they're targeting. As a matter of fact, I think that might be where all the teams beneath us are targeting if the Kings continue to hold onto the 3rd seed.
What does this mean for the Kings' playoff chances? I think it's going to make every team in the NBA motivated to keep winning and try to slot in #6. They probably see us the "easiest" road to the 2nd round and WCF due to our playoff inexperience.
Every win from here on out is going to be crucial. I don't think we can afford to have any losing skids because everyone else is legitimately only a couple win streaks away from threatening our playoff spot despite being up 10 games above .500. We can't take our foot off the gas pedal.
ya, I remember people here saying that they would only be good "on paper." They're only 2.5 games back from the 6th seed, and I think that'll be where they're targeting. As a matter of fact, I think that might be where all the teams beneath us are targeting if the Kings continue to hold onto the 3rd seed.
What does this mean for the Kings' playoff chances? I think it's going to make every team in the NBA motivated to keep winning and try to slot in #6. They probably see us the "easiest" road to the 2nd round and WCF due to our playoff inexperience.
Every win from here on out is going to be crucial. I don't think we can afford to have any losing skids because everyone else is legitimately only a couple win streaks away from threatening our playoff spot despite being up 10 games above .500. We can't take our foot off the gas pedal.
