Usually the playoff spot are all but wrapped up about now. Not this year. On to the rankings . . .
#30 Cleveland Cavaliers (9-35, -10.6, LW: 30)
The Cavs get 14 shots at 10 wins before the All-Star break. Things are that bad. The last team to fall apart this bad after a finals appearance was the 1998-99 Chicago Bulls. One good thing would be to get Kevin Love’s hospital bed off their books, but that won’t happen any time soon. Kevin Love is a good guy and had no problem being the Fall Guy whenever the team was struggling with LeBron here. But this contract is just awful, especially because before Halloween.
#29 Chicago Bulls (10-33, -10.1, LW: 27)
#28 New York Knicks (10-33, -8.5, LW: 29)
#27 Phoenix Suns (11-33, -8.1, LW: 28)
#26 Atlanta Hawks (13-30, -8.5, LW: 26)
#25 Detroit Pistons (18-24, -2.8, LW: 23)
#24 Memphis Grizzlies (19-24, -2, LW: 24)
#23 Orlando Magic (19-24, -3.9, LW: 25)
#22 Washington Wizards (18-26, -3.3, LW: 22)
#21 Charlotte Hornets (20-23, +0.2, LW: 19)
#20 Los Angeles Lakers (23-21, +0.8, LW: 17)
#19 Dallas Mavericks (20-23, +0.4, LW: 21)
#18 Brooklyn Nets (22-23, -0.6, LW: 18)
Wait!!! The Nets are in the playoff hunt?!?!?! How did this happen? After an eight game losing streak the Nets have gone 14-5. I’ve got to be honest with you, I didn’t see this coming, even in the East. Let’s just move on before I blow my mind. I’ve got to work tomorrow . . .
#17 Sacramento Kings (23-21, -0.8, LW: 20)
#16 Los Angeles Clippers (24-19, +1, LW: 10)
#15 Minnesota Timberwolves (21-22, +0.6, LW: 15)
On Tuesday night interim head coach Ryan Saunders got his first win in his first attempt. His father, Flip, was the most successful coach in the franchise’s history, which is now in its 30th season. He is the only T-wolves coach with a winning record, up until last season he was the only coach to lead the team into the playoffs, let alone win a playoff series (they reached the West Finals in 2004). For Ryan the team had become close since he became an assistant in his father’s second stint with the team. He grew closer after Flip died. It’s a nice story for the kid, but they also sit just two games out of a playoff spot, which would be an even better tribute for his father should they get past those ahead.
#14 Miami Heat (21-20, +1, LW: 16)
#13 San Antonio Spurs (25-20, +2.4, LW: 6)
#12 New Orleans Pelicans (21-23, +2.3, LW: 14)
#11 Philadelphia 76ers (28-16, +2, LW: 9)
#10 Portland Trail Blazers (26-19, +1.8, LW: 12)
#9 Houston Rockets (25-18, +2.1, LW: 11)
#8 Oklahoma City Thunder (26-16, +5.4, LW: 8)
#7 Utah Jazz (24-21, +2.8, LW: 13)
#6 Boston Celtics (25-18, +6, LW: 4)
#5 Indiana Pacers (28-14, +5.3, LW: 2)
#4 Denver Nuggets (29-13, +4.9, LW: 7)
#3 Toronto Raptors (33-12, +5.5, LW: 3)
#2 Golden State Warriors (29-14, +5.7, LW: 5)
#1 Milwaukee Bucks (30-12, +9.3, LW: 1)
Tonight I want to address something completely meaningless – All-Star Weekend. I’m not an old guy who says “Back in my day . . .”, but there is one thing that I would prefer the league does: Put the damn game on in the afternoon. I’m not saying this because that’s the way it was when I was a kid. I’m asking for this because of a very simple reason: There is not a damn thing on that February afternoon. Take it from someone who has watched T.J. Hooker reruns over the NFL Draft – THERE IS NOTHING ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON!!! JUST PLAY THE GAME IN THE AFTERNOON FOR MY SANITY!!! I’LL GLADLY
That is all.