Pacific Division
Golden State is rolling along as we expected at this point despite several lost games by Stephon Curry this season. The Warriors have won 8 of 10 heading into the week, and are in a perfect position to retain the top seed in the West for another week, as they lead the Rockets by 3.5 games in the conference race, and lead the Clippers by 13.5 in the division. The Warriors are coming off of a loss to Houston last week, but should be able to get back on track with games against New York and Minnesota coming up at home, followed by a third home game against the best team in the East, the Boston Celtics.
The Clippers are probably the only other playoff team in the division right now, and they are tenuously holding onto that as it is at just 23-23. The Clips took a tough loss on the road to Utah last weekend, and need to regroup in a hurry if they hope to hold onto the 8th seed at all. It would seem like the Clippers are shopping key components on the rsoter, including Blake Girrfin, DeAndre Jordan, and Lou Williams, so they my not be interested in holding onto that last playoff spot as well, and may be more in the mode of roster implosion. That said, the Clippers had won 6 straight before the loss to Utah, which included wins over both Golden State and Houston. It's a loaded week upcoming, with home games against Minnesota and Boston, before they travel to Memphis and New Orleans to close out the week.
The Lakers have shown signs of life without the injured Lonzo Ball on the court, as he continues to deal with a "sore knee" issue. Luke Walton has no answers for when he expects him back, and has not seen him on a court recently. There are rumors that he could rejoin the team on the upcoming road trip, but that is not set in stone. In the meantime, Jordan Clarkson exploded for 33 points in a win over New York in Ball's place. The Lakers have now won 6 of 8, and may be starting to find some kind of identity with Ball off of the court. The Lakers get the Celtics at home this week, before heading on the road to Chicago and Toronto to start a 5 game road swing.
Phoenix snapped a 3 game losing skid when they knocked off Denver last week, and they find themselves 19.5 games behind Golden State, tied for third with the Lakers in the Pacific. Devin Booker scored 30 points in the win, and TJ Warren added 25. Before the win over the Nuggets, the Suns had lost 6 of their last 8 games. They get Milwaukee and Indiana on the road this week, will return for a home game with the Knicks, and will then go back on the road to face Houston next Sunday to close out the week.
Sacramento has lost 10 of 12 as they head into the week, and have lost 7 straight. The Kings are no more thean schedule fodder at this point, as they try to build on their young and disjointed roster. After falling in Memphis to close out last week, the Kings stay on the road to play 4 games this week against Charlotte, Orlando, Miami, and San Antonio.
No comments:
Post a Comment