For those too lazy too look at the schedules every day, I'm posting the key games to watch over the next few days and will update as needed - provided there's enough interest. If so, mods can sticky the thread.
I won't bother with the division leaders, as I doubt Utah has a shot at catching OKC, SA or the Lakers. But there is a real chance at moving up perhaps all the way to #4 - and who wudda thunk it the week before the deadline?. Well, I guess KOC and Ty, but what do they know?
Anyway, as of 3/21, here are the conference standings of the teams having a shot at the playoffs:
[TABLE="class: data"]
[TR="class: label"]
[TD]Team
[/TD]
[TD]W
[/TD]
[TD]L
[/TD]
[TD]Pct.
[/TD]
[TD]GB
[/TD]
[TD]Home
[/TD]
[TD]Road
[/TD]
[TD]Conf
[/TD]
[TD]Div
[/TD]
[TD]Strk
[/TD]
[TD]L10
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row2"]
[TD="align: left"]
Oklahoma City
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]35
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]12
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0.745
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]-
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]20 - 4
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]15 - 8
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]26 - 9
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]7 - 2
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]W1
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]6-4
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row1"]
[TD="width: 22%, align: left"]
San Antonio
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]30
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]14
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0.682
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]3½
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]18 - 4
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]12 - 10
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]20 - 11
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]8 - 4
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]W1
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]6-4
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row2"]
[TD="width: 22%, align: left"]
L.A. Lakers
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]29
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]18
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0.617
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]6
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]19 - 3
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]10 - 15
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]21 - 9
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]5 - 3
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]W1
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]6-4
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row1"]
[TD="width: 22%, align: left"]
Memphis
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]25
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]19
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0.568
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]8½
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]16 - 7
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]9 - 12
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]15 - 16
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]5 - 4
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]L1
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]6-4
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row2"]
[TD="width: 22%, align: left"]
L.A. Clippers
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]26
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]20
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0.565
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]8½
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]15 - 8
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]11 - 12
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]15 - 15
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]3 - 5
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]L2
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4-6
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row1"]
[TD="width: 22%, align: left"]
Dallas
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]27
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]21
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0.562
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]8½
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]18 - 8
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]9 - 13
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]18 - 16
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4 - 3
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]L1
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]5-5
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row2"]
[TD="width: 22%, align: left"]
Denver
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]26
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]21
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0.553
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]9
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]15 - 12
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]11 - 9
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]14 - 20
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]3 - 5
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]W1
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]6-4
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row1"]
[TD="width: 22%, align: left"]
Houston
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]25
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]22
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0.532
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]10
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]17 - 6
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]8 - 16
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]15 - 17
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4 - 4
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]W1
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4-6
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row2"]
[TD="width: 22%, align: left"]
Utah
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]24
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]22
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0.522
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]10½
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]18 - 6
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]6 - 16
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]15 - 17
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]5 - 4
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]W4
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]7-3
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row1"]
[TD="width: 22%, align: left"]
Phoenix
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]23
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]24
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0.489
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]12
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]15 - 10
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]8 - 14
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]15 - 16
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]6 - 4
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]L2
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]6-4
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: row2"]
[TD="width: 22%, align: left"]
Minnesota
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]23
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]25
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0.479
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]12½
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]12 - 12
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]11 - 13
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]18 - 16
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]3 - 4
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]L1
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4-6
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Utah is just 2 games back of Memphis, LAC and Dallas for the 4th seed. And just 1/2 game back of Houston for #8. Jazz now have 1 1/2 game lead over Phoenix and 2 over Minnesota. Need to keep an eye on both those teams as they could make runs.
A few things that really stand out to me are the number of home games Dallas and Denver have played. Utah has a good shot at catching both of those teams as they'll have road-heavy schedules down the stretch. And the Clippers have been...well, playing like the Clippers of old. And look at the last column. The Jazz have the best record of all the WC teams over their last 10 games. AMAZING!
