If the playoffs started today: 2009-2010 edition

[ziggy]

Despite suffering through that 7 game losing streak we are still only 1/2 a game out of the 8 seed. If we continue playing anywhere close to the level that we have over these last 3 games, then I have no doubts that we'll get in. This is how the east looks so far.

1. * Orlando --
2. Atlanta --
3. * Boston --
4. * Cleveland 1.0
5. Miami 2.5
6. Milwaukee 3.0
7. Chicago 5.0
8. Indiana 5.0
9. Toronto 5.5
10. Charlotte 5.5
11. Washington 6.0
12. Detroit 7.0
13. Philadelphia 7.0
14. New York 9.0
15. New Jersey 12.0

[ohara831]

Thank you for bringing it back. I was hoping to restart this badboy and enjoy some scoreboard watching as we try to make a run at the Playoffs! Important to win tonight against the Wizards as we have Boston and Phoenix lurking. Gotta keep up the momentum.

[Demon DeaCat]

I was just thinking about this myself last night. We're in surprisingly good shape given the rough start. Looking at the teams ahead of us, I don't think Indiana is as good as their record, and Jennings' heroics aside, I'm not sure Milwaukee is either. With the addition of Jackson, I definitely think we're a top 8 team.

Tonight is the type of game that will define whether we're a playoff team or not. A road game against a struggling team on the day after a big win. The table is set for a letdown, but these are the games we've got to figure out a way to win if we're going to be playing in May. This is also a great opportunity to create some separation with Detroit and Philly. With Gordon and Williams out they should both struggle. We've got a chance to win 3 of our next 4 so this will be a pivotol stretch.

[BRNC]

The teams 6-9 (as the list stands) are all very suspect for one or more reasons...just as other teams know that our PG play is erratic...our season may very well depend on how consistent our PG play becomes...but we match-up and can overtake any team up to #6...so I do not think that 6th seed is out of the question...

The game today (back-to-back and on the road) will give me a clear indication of how badly everyone on our team actually wants a playoff seed...if we don't start "stealing" some road wins we will be at home again...

[playoffs...PLAYOFFS?]

1. * Orlando --
2. Atlanta --
3. * Boston --
4. * Cleveland 1.0
5. Miami 2.5
6. Milwaukee 3.0
7. Chicago 5.0
8. Indiana 5.0
9. Toronto 5.5
10. Charlotte 5.5
11. Washington 6.0
12. Detroit 7.0
13. Philadelphia 7.0
14. New York 9.0
15. New Jersey 12.0

I was just thinking about this today...Remember all the offseason talk about how every team in the eastern conference had gotten better ..and the bobcats had not acquired any talent?

well, i think everyone forgot to take into account the difference - coaching

once again, Larry Brown makes the most out of what he has. Detroit is loaded with talent (granted a lot of injuries) , Toronto made a bunch of moves. Neither team is really living up to the expectations..

I like our playoffs chances after this three-game winning stretch...it's still too early, but if we keep winning games at home..we're on to something..

[Toocool]

If the cats continue to play the way they are now, I expect us to do decently in the playoffs, perhaps second round. Although I remember the Kings making a run into the Finals in...2004 (don't cite me on that), only to loose to the Lakers due to dodgy refereeing. That aside, if we can continue to put in this consistent level of play and continue to improve, good things will happen.

[Demon DeaCat]

I was just thinking about this today...Remember all the offseason talk about how every team in the eastern conference had gotten better ..and the bobcats had not acquired any talent?

well, i think everyone forgot to take into account the difference - coaching

At the point people were saying that, it was true. The team we started the season with was REALLY bad and would have struggled to win 25 games. We didn't do much in the off-season to help ourselves. The difference has been the Jax trade.

[KT#20]

once again, Larry Brown makes the most out of what he has.

You mean like last season when we started off 7-16 despite having a home riddled schedule, and despite the fact that we were a more talented team than the one under Vincent? Yeah, I guess he gets the most out of what he has. *shrugs*

Our "finding the light" has much more to do with the addition of Stephen Jackson than it does with Larry Brown.

[BRNC]

...and the Jax trade was not available in the off-season...you have to make trades when they're available...and the guys we went after in the off-season signed with other teams...I don't think that will be as much of a problem after this year...

Crash and Jax on our team will be attractive to other players...we have a solid core group with solid youth (UPS and Hendo)...we've made ourselves more attractive and that is what we had to do first...and a trade was the only way to accomplish it...Jackson is big because he is a player that makes his teammates better...and I'm always for that kind of trade...

The guys we've ended up with (Jackson, Diaw, and Law) actually make the JRich trade a good one...if we continue to get talent for talent we will be in good shape...but the trades (Twiggy and Hammer for Diop) for the sake of trading have got to stop...just my opinion...

[Demon DeaCat]

The Jax trade wasn't available in the off-season, but AI was. That's a move we could have made that would have made us better and we didn't. In the end it worked out since we got Jax, but I don't think that makes the criticism of our off-season stategy any less valid.