So folks... I hadn't paid too much attention at the beginning of the year, but I've been looking at the play-in tournament situation, and we're in GREAT shape for at least 1 bonus game after the season ends.

Quick details:
At the end of the regular season, the 7-10th seeds in each conference will participate in a play-in tournament.
1) 7-8 play. The winner gets the 7th seed. The loser moves to step #3
2) 9-10 play. The winner moves to step 3. The loser goes to the lottery.
3) the loser of #1 and winner of #2 play. The winner gets the 8th seed. The loser goes to the lottery.

We should all be extremely excited to be in a strong position to grab at least the 10th seed. But clearly, #6 or better is highly desirable.

Can we get to 6th? The team most likely to fall are the Hornets, who are down Ball, Hayward, and Monk. The Heat and Celtics have underperformed all-season but you'd think these playoff tested teams can get it together for a mini run.

We have 2 games left against the Celtics as well as 2 against the Hornets, so we have some level of control of our destiny to move up.

On the other hand, I think we're in pretty solid shape to stay in the top 8. The Pacers are extremely banged up and will have to resort to using LeVert in the short term for hero ball. Sabonis and Turner are both nursing through ankle sprains and Brogdon has had his fair share of nagging issues, most notably a bad hip.

The Bulls made some interesting moves at the trade deadline, acquiring Vucevic. They're mostly healthy, but they're also missing "something" - defensive chemistry - no defensive anchor? Billy Donovan hasn't been able to work his magic with the roster.

As of morning 4/7:
4th: 27-24 Atlanta
5th: 25-24 Hornets
6th: 26-25 Heat
7th: 25-26 Knicks
8th: 25-26 Celtics
9th: 22-27 Pacers
10th: 21-28 Bulls
11th: 20-31 Raptors

https://www.nba.com/news/nba-play-in-tournament

I think this team will limp into the play-in game. The Bulls are a talented mess, but the other bottom teams are serious threats. The Raptors are probably the scariest of them all if they somehow sneak in.

I have no illusions about the playoffs. Without real actual plays to run( no, the PnR to get the PG into the paint doesn't count because it's the only play we run and because it does not create an easy scoring opportunity)
So yes, we are not winning squat if we are going to run ISO ball all day. We need an offensive coordinator in the worst possible way.

The playoffs become a dream the more we find it hard to win close games.

We are indeed limping to the finish line and unfortunately we have established we can keep a game close against playoff-bubble teams, but don’t have what’s necessary to pull off the win. One thing is a bad bounce or an uncharacteristic bad shot, but another is to be consistent at struggling offensively and, for all the defensive greatness, still have a hard time to pull that big stop when it matters.

It might be hard at this point to fall to 11th, but it’s highly likely we find another way to lose a close one in the play-in. A team that has in a way overachieved but has hit a wall in terms of pulling out wins against good teams, we have the classic look of the team that can lose the two games it plays in the play-in.

The play-in is good for those teams that think they would’ve made the playoffs if one or two games during the season had turned out differently, like us probably soon.

But a one or two game elimination favors any team that has a star that can carry them. That’s one of the reasons why we have struggled in late games, we don’t have a number one nor a guy that cannot be stopped in crunch time. So if we stay at 8 and Boston stays at 7, we are screwed. Then a game against Pacers or Bulls, you know it’s gonna come down to the final possession and that’s our kryptonite.

smackeddog wrote:

BigDaddyG wrote:I think this team will limp into the play-in game. The Bulls are a talented mess, but the other bottom teams are serious threats. The Raptors are probably the scariest of them all if they somehow sneak in.

I don't know looking at the standings- the Pacers have been slumping badly so have the Craptors (think they'll end up tanking to be honest!). I think we'll finish 8th, maybe 9th at worse.

Yeah, but the Pacers are more talented when healthy. The Raptors, if they make it, have a crew of guys who've been there before. All those teams could cause the Knicks problems.

I was hoping we make noise with play in games. The drama would be fun. Then catch the nets sleeping. Fun 2x!!!
BTW, I have not lived in NY in 35 years so I see nets like any other team. I’m void emotional hate that some of you have but I find them infinitely fascinating given the cast of characters. I always respected Nash as a player and a fan of MDA thru the years. I always hoped he’d win a title (Preferable when he was here!) and perhaps a consolation prize would be as lead assistant with Nets.
Am happy a as long as knicks succeeding.

Question, Nets are having a good season with stars. Is there a buzz about with causual fans? Hard to gauge as attendance is not a factor. Cable viewership? Arguments with friends who are “Nets fans”?

I think the Knicks need to do literally everything possible to avoid the playin tournament. Anything can happen in one game. What if both Randle and RJ can't hit from 3? What about if no one steps up as a viable third option? I want the Knicks to officially make the playoffs and the losing the play-in means the Knicks didn't qualify for the postseason

KD, Kyrie, Harden are tremendous players. And the fact the three have not played together and often without two of them and the Nets are still rolling is scary.