In the NBA regular season that ended today, the Nuggets lost 98-111 to the Timberwolves at home, and this game completely messed up the West.
After this game, the Nuggets have suffered two consecutive losses, and their record has changed to 51-23, falling to third in the West. What is even more terrifying than the drop in the rankings is the attitude of the Nuggets, it seems that the Nuggets do not care about the regular season standings, and even they prefer to finish third in the West.
And once the Nuggets drop No. 3 in the West, it means that No. 6 in the West will be the worst ranking.
Because the Nuggets have a full lineup, rich experience, and are still the defending champions, under normal circumstances, it is difficult to be defeated in the first round unless there is a big accident, and they are ranked 6th in the West, which means that there is extremely low hope of qualifying.
No. 6 in the West, to play the defending champion Nuggets.
The 7th and 8th places in the West will play play-offs.
This makes the already fierce competition in the second half of the west not only fierce, but also cruel.
The Mavericks are currently ranked 6th with 44-29, the Suns are 7th at 43-31, the Kings are 8th at 42-31, the Lakers are 9th at 41-33, the Warriors are 10th at 39-34, and the Rockets are 11th at 38-35.
They are all battling for 6-11 spots in the West. Even the Pelicans 45-28 and the Clippers 46-27 in front of them could fall to the 6-11 range. It can be said that there are 8 teams in the West that are entangled, and they were originally trying to compete for 4-6 places and go directly to the playoffs, but now the Nuggets may drop 3rd, then 6th may not be the best choice, and sometimes 7th may be more suitable than 6th.
Although they are in seventh place to play in the play-offs, if they win, they may meet the Timberwolves without Towns, or the young Thunder. They are certainly strong, but they are not enough, and it is obviously easier to beat them than to beat the Nuggets.
Therefore, judging from the current situation, the Clippers can concentrate on keeping No. 4 and passing the first round first, and they will not meet the Nuggets in the second round.
The Pelicans must be 5 to 4, and it is more suitable to play the Clippers than the Nuggets.
And the Mavericks, Suns, Kings, and Lakers, there is no choice at present, maybe just like last season, leave the suspense in the last game, the last win is 6th, and the loss is 9th, it is possible.
However, if the Nuggets are 3rd, then if the Suns and Lakers are ranked 7th or 8th in the West, they fully have the strength of the black 7 or black 8, then the West will indeed be in chaos, you must know that the West already had black 7 and black 6 last season.