Let’s start by not taking the Knicks game lightly in MSG. It’s a B2B for them but Thibs will still be cracking that whip so we need to ready for war. After that only the Cavs game looms as daunting to me. We have that long home stretch where we should be able to bob and weave our way to the wins we need.

Now, the Clippers are only 3 games back in the loss column behind the Lakers, Grizzlies and Denver. It’s possible that in addition to GSW, the Clippers catch 1 or 2 of those teams.

Here are the schedules:

LAC: @NYK, @BKLYN, @CLE, @ORL, NO, DAL, DAL, SAS, HOU, @SAC, @GSW.

It is very possible for the Clippers to 9-2 or 10-1. If they do, they’ll finish at 49-33 or 50-32. Anything more than 2 losses and they’re probably looking at the play in.

GSW: @MIA, @NO, @SAS, @MEM, @LAL, DEN, HOU, PHX, SAS, @POR, @LAC.

That’s a tough schedule without Steph and I see GSW with 4-5 more losses. I think they finish at 45-37 or 46-38. Clips should be able to clear them.

MIN: PHX, DET, @DEN, @BKLYN, @PHL, @MIL, @MEM, BKLYN, UTAH,

Minnesota has a soft-ish schedule but they haven’t been playing well. I expect that they’ll lose 2-3 more games and finish at 48-34, 47-35 or 46-36. They feel like a 47-35 team to me. I think the Clippers should clear them.

LAL: @IND, @CHI, @MEM, HOU, GSW, NO, @OKC, @OKC, @DAL, HOU, @POR.

Brutal schedule for a team that has lost 7 of 10 and where JJ seems to be just trying to get Luka in shape. I see LAL losing to Indiana, at least one of MEM/HOU/GSW, probably both games to OKC and one among DAL, HOU, POR. That’s 4-5 losses
which would put them at 50-32 or 49-33. If Clips more or less run the table, they could catch the Lakers. No tiebreaker advantage, but if LAL blows this roadtrip and loses to OKC twice, Clips could be in business.

MEM: @UTAH, @OKC, LAL, BOS, GSW, @MIA, @DET, @CHA, MIN, @DEN, DAL

Brutal schedule. They haven’t played well since the break but I thought they started to come out of their funk vs LAC. Still, I see 4 losses or more on this schedule. That would put the Grizz at 50-32 or worse and the Clips have a tiebreaker advantage.

If Harden is ok and Norm starts to find his groove (and Ty Lue doesn’t f up more games), the Clips control their destiny and should be able to get to the 49 or 50 win mark. At that level of wins, they’ll make the playoffs and could be as high as the #5 or #4 seed.

I know the SGA thing pisses fans off, but a lot of ppl say he flops when it’s not really that. I mean most players flop time to time. The frustrating thing about it is moreso that their defenders are very aggressive and don’t get called, but SGA gets a ton of touch fouls. If he initiates contact with you and you’re slightly out of position the refs will give him the call every time. But I’ve seen way worse acting/flopping. It’s just a very frustrating style to try to defend.