OKC Thunder: Analyzing stretch run schedules with view to seeding
LA Clippers:
So this stat might surprise you, but the only team (thanks to that 24 second gaffe by the Thunder in Bean Town) who’ve beat the top four seeds (Rockets, Warriors, Raptors, Celtics) is the LA Clippers. And, those wins have come in a variety of ways. Some pre trade , some during their injury riddled months and some post Griffin trade. The most exciting win came versus the Rockets during tunnel gate. That alone might have you pulling for a Clippers – Rockets first round.
Then again with Griffin gone is there even the same angst between the teams?
Week 22 featured four games on the Clippers current road trip with losses to the Wolves and Pacers while they won in Milwaukee and Toronto.
Remaining schedule includes:
- Milwaukee Bucks, Tuesday 27
- At Phoenix Suns, Wednesday 28
- At Portland Trail Blazers, Friday 30
- Indiana Pacers, Sunday, April 1
- San Antonio Spurs, Tuesday 3
- At Utah Jazz, Thursday 5
- Denver Nuggets, Saturday 7
- New Orleans Pelicans, Monday 9
- Los Angeles Lakers, Wednesday 11
As the Clippers close out their schedule they have a tough road to travel with seven of their final nine games versus playoff seeds. LA will play three of their last nine on the road with one back to back.
The games which may be the most important to win are the Nuggets and Jazz who are the closest to them in the standings. OKC Thunder have a four game cushion over the Clippers.
The one note to be made here is this Clippers team sans a true superstar are playing some of the best ball to close out the season. If the Jazz or one of the teams fighting for the bottom of the bracket go on a losing streak the Clippers could squeak in.