The Race for Homecourt Thread

[Bynum4MVP]

Tiebreakers: Dallas clinched over Boston.  Boston split head-to-head with LA , but lead in second tiebreak, conference record - 33-9 vs 30-11.

Great recaps you do.

Just a little correction.

The Lakers currently own the tiebreaker over the Celtics.  In the Finals; the tiebreaker is "Record against OPPOSING conference".

Because the Lakers have been better against the East than the Celtics have been against the West, the Lakers own the tiebreaker.

Do you have a citation on this?  I can't find anything that describes different rules for interconference tiebreaks.

This has already happened once before so the precedent has already been set for it.

2001 NBA Finals ... Sixers vs Lakers.  Lakers had the same record as the Sixers but got HCA due to the inter-conference record tiebreaker.

So it looks like the Celtics have to get 2 more wins than the Lakers to close out the season in order to regain HCA in a Laker/Celtic Finals.

There was also a recent Celtic blog look at the tiebreaker.
http://www.celticstown.com/2011/03/23/lakers-hold-tiebreaker-against-celtics/

[fairweatherfan]

Do you have a citation on this?  I can't find anything that describes different rules for interconference tiebreaks.

This has already happened once before so the precedent has already been set for it.

2001 NBA Finals ... Sixers vs Lakers.  Lakers had the same record as the Sixers but got HCA due to the inter-conference record tiebreaker.

So it looks like the Celtics have to get 2 more wins than the Lakers to close out the season in order to regain HCA in a Laker/Celtic Finals.

There was also a recent Celtic blog look at the tiebreaker.
http://www.celticstown.com/2011/03/23/lakers-hold-tiebreaker-against-celtics/

Thanks for the info, it's odd that that scenario isn't described in any of the "official" tiebreaker pages I've found, but it seems legit.  I've updated the table accordingly.  I'd TP you, but...y'know (I'll wish you a happy weekend instead).

[Bynum4MVP]

I'd TP you, but...y'know (I'll wish you a happy weekend instead).

Lol, understood.  TP for you though since I have actually been  coming to this thread the last 3 weeks to keep up with HCA across the Bulls/Celtics 

Hey, I'm still looking forward to another rematch.

[KobeShesNotConsenting!]

I'm very close to losing faith. Not that i think they cant get it together but...if we don't have homecourt I just see us getting almost there again. I'm not worried about east coast teams at all. It's all about the lakers and i think without homecourt it'll be just like last year where fatigue and some slightly unfair officiating (which COULD'VE been ours had we got HC) put the seal on this team's faith in another devastating game 7.

[PseudoElite]

Don't mean to be a pessimist here but I highly doubt the C's get #1 at this point. Seed #2 is more realistic, but Miami are right at the Celtic's heels and it's going to take some pretty consistent basketball (which the C's haven't been doing recently) to keep it.

Let's assume #3 is the worst case scenario, 2 probably the best (barring some kind of miracle aka: Bulls going on a slump and C's catching fire).

Chicago has been amazing at home this year, and that's a scary thought, but frankly I'm more worried that the Lakers have overtaken the Celtics record (that is of course assuming the Celtics make it all the way).

Wasted opportunity for an easier finals run with HCA. This will be constantly cited, along with the Ainge trade, if the C's don't raise Banner 18 this year.

[barefacedmonk]

The no. 1 seed is not completely out of play yet...is it?

[PosImpos]

The no. 1 seed is not completely out of play yet...is it?

No, but more or less.

Realistically, the Celtics would have to win all but 1, maybe 2 of their remaining games, and the Bulls would have to falter and lose a few more than the Celtics do.  It's extremely difficult to envision that happening at this juncture.

[Bynum4MVP]

The Celtics still have a decent chance at overtaking the Bulls if they stop playing like they have been recently.

1) Chicago needs to lose 1 game
2) Celtics need to win in Chicago April 7th securing the tiebreak
3) Celtics match the Bulls the rest of the way

[fairweatherfan]

Missed yesterday's update due to Carolina-related mayhem - sadly, that won't come up again this year, so this will hopefully have my undivided attention for a few more weeks at least.  Go VCU-Butler winner!

Yesterday's results:    Well, we won!  Barely, and after blowing all of a 25-point lead to the Timberwolves.  Better than an L, but not very encouraging. 

However, Miami, Dallas, and the Lakers all won their games, so it was just a day of treading water for us.  But, we did clinch homecourt in the first round, so yay, I guess.


Monday, March 28th

Team                 W - L   GB (Losses Back)
Chicago Bulls   53-19     --
Boston Celtics  51-21     2 (2)
Miami Heat       51-22     2.5 (3)

Tiebreakers:  Boston clinched over Miami, Boston leads 2-1 over Chicago in first tiebreak, and 33-10 to 32-12 in second tiebreak, Chicago clinched over Miami.


Team                 W - L   GB (Losses Back)
LA Lakers         53-20     --
Dallas Mavs      52-21     1 (1)
Boston Celtics  51-21     1.5 (1)

Tiebreakers: Dallas clinched over Boston.  LA clinched over Boston with second tiebreak.


Our magic number for clinching a top 3 seed is 5

Today's games: A key back-to-back as Boston travels to Indiana to take on the Pacers.  And Chicago is at home against the Sixers.  Despite our struggles, we could be right back in the Eastern race after tonight. 

[fairweatherfan]

Yesterday's results:   Well, we played the Pacers last night, and...you know what?  We all know what happened, and I don't really want to talk about it any more.  So instead, here are two minutes of fart noises:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOdpX6dcrU4

I think that sums it up nicely.  Oh yeah, and the Bulls lost too. 


Tuesday, March 29th

Team                 W - L   GB (Losses Back)
Chicago Bulls   53-20     --
Boston Celtics  51-22     2 (2)
Miami Heat       51-22     2 (2)

Tiebreakers:  Boston clinched over Miami, Boston leads 2-1 over Chicago in first tiebreak, and 33-11 to 32-13 in second tiebreak, Chicago clinched over Miami.


Team                 W - L   GB (Losses Back)
LA Lakers         53-20     --
Dallas Mavs      52-21     1 (1)
Boston Celtics  51-22     2 (2)

Tiebreakers: Dallas clinched over Boston.  LA clinched over Boston with second tiebreak.


Our magic number for clinching a top 3 seed is 4

Today's games: Just one notable game:  Miami at Cleveland.  If Miami somehow manages to squeak past the worst team in the league that their best player has a grudge against, we will officially be in 3rd in the East.  Wheeeee.

[Assassin70]

We are going to have to win EVERY game remaining this year to finish ahead of the Heat.

They have a cupcake schedule the rest of the year other then ATL and us.

They usually dont lose to bad teams so 3 seed is a reality unless we win out.

[Roy H.]

You know, I've been blaming the trade for our reason run of terrible play, but maybe I should be blaming this thread.  I think we're 8-7 since FWF posted this.

[fairweatherfan]

You know, I've been blaming the trade for our reason run of terrible play, but maybe I should be blaming this thread.  I think we're 8-7 since FWF posted this.

Yeah, BFM proposed that last page. 

I think after the season's over I will use my newfound jinx power to create the "Race to Prevent Bin Laden from Getting Torn apart by Wolves Thread"

[Drucci]

Well Miami lost to Cleveland last night so maybe you guys should post more "this thread jinxed us!" messages to reverse the jinx.

[prov1ml34]

Is it me or does it seem like the Lakers consistently 2-3 days off between almost EVERY game?! Every time I look to see who they are going to play I have to search through about 2 or 3 days worth of games to find their next matchup. This week they played on Sunday and then don't play again until Thursday. When was the last time the Celtics had 3 full days off between games? I think they could use it