Man, this is horrible news with our upcoming games. This could really challenge our home court advantage status. Luckily, the two immediately behind us (Charlotte and Miami) we already own the tiebreaker with, so they'll have to play 2.5 and 2 games better than us for the rest of the season in order to jump us in the standings. Also, we play both of them at the end of the season at home, so we'll have our chances to keep our position I think. So if he's out until March 28 when we play the Clippers in LA, here's what we'll need to do to keep our heads above water until then:
@ Pacers W
vs. Thunder (B2B) L
@ Raptors L
@ Sixers W
vs. Magic (B2B) W
vs. Raptors L
@ Suns W
We need to at least go 4-3, but I think we could also very well go 5-2 (beat Raptors at home and/or at Toronto).
The Heat's schedule during that stretch is:
vs. Nuggets
vs. Hornets
vs. Cavaliers
@ Pelicans
@ Spurs
vs. Magic
So they'll probably go 4-2 or 3-3. The Hornets' schedule during that stretch is:
vs. Dallas
vs. Orlando
@ Miami (B2B)
vs. Denver
vs. Spurs
@ Nets
@ Pistons
@ Bucks (B2B)
So they'll probably go 4-4 or 5-3 during that stretch. So barring any other injuries to these teams, it'll probably be a tight race for the third spot by the time Crowder gets back. Luckily, given the facts that we have A) swept both Charlotte and Miami this season, B) subsequently own the tiebreakers, and C) play them both once more at home at the end of the season, I think we're still in good position to keep the number three position if we continue our high level of play.