The Race for Home-court Advantage - 25/26 Playoffs Seed Tracker

[Sugus]

Making this a general discussion thread for keeping track of opposing Western Conference teams and their developments through the season, as it relates to the Spurs' current push for not only the Playoffs, but even home-court advantage on them.

The Spurs are currently the #2 seed in the Western Conference, with a W-L record of 23-9.

The #1 seed, OKC, seems hard to catch up with at a 28-5 record, but we hold the tie-breaker against them. The #3 seed, Denver, is currently 22-10, right behind the Spurs - but Nikola Jokic is expected to miss about a month with his knee injury, potentially giving us some breathing room.

After the Nuggets come the Rockettes and Lakers, #4 and #5 seeds, with equal records of 20-10, but neither looking like serious contenders this season.

The Wolves hold the current #6 seed at 21-12, then it's Phoenix at #7 with 19-13, and the Warriors in the final #8 spot, with a 17-16 record.

---

In your opinion - will the Spurs manage to hold on to their current seed and HCA privilege by season's end?

 

[Sugus]

Nuggets' Nikola Jokic to miss 4 weeks with hyperextended knee

Source for the Jokic news. Never happy about injuries to players but this comes at a great time with the Spurs' recent skid and the Nuggets breathing down their necks in the standings...

 

[LeBowen]

Yes because Jokic is out for a month and Nuggets won't be in top4.

We basically need to beat just one of Rockets/Lakers/Timberwolves with the Lakers looking terrible.
Shouldn't be that hard.

 

[spursparker9]

LAL will probably implode, so our real competitors are Rockets and T-wolves

 

[spursistan]

A clear path to 2-3 seed bracket has opened with that Jokic news. It would really be a huge disappointment if we don't seize this opportunity. This team needs home court more than any team in top 6. They are young and in their first rodeo..

 

[Sugus]

Yeah, this is a season where getting HCA could make a REALLY big difference for the team; not only for the advantage itself, but for being as far away from OKC's bracket as possible.

Regular season wins mean jack shit when going against the defending champions in the playoffs, I'd like to delay that as much as possible, and the Spurs would grow much better from hard-fought wins or losses than just getting beaten down to a pulp.

 

[BatManu20]

With Jokic set to miss 4-6 weeks, Denver is going to plummet in the standings. I predict they'll fall into the Play-In range without him. Imagine if the Nuggets finish the season as the 6th or 7th Seed and the Spurs have to face them in the First Round

https://twitter.com/x/status/2006039788235739230

 

[spursparker9]

If OKC stay put at trade deadline, I don't mind getting them in the 2nd round.

At least they will brick their open 3s with us

 

[spursparker9]

With Jokic set to miss 6-8 weeks, Denver is going to plummet in the standings. I predict they'll be in the Play-In range without him. Imagine if the Nuggets finish the season as the 6th or 7th Seed and the Spurs have to face them in the First Round

No worries, in that case we can roughly see their position and try to lose accordingly to avoid them

 

[spursistan]

That's Jokic out of MVP contention (65-game is ridiculously stringent rule) as Denver play 4 B2Bs in Jan with Gordan/Braun/Cam Johnson still on the shelf.. Expect multiplying Ls and drop in the standings all way to 6th and maybe play-in (Let's not forget, Jokic is only going to be reevaluated after 4 weeks, we might not see him until ASB). Just awful to see a historic season get derailed like that.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2006044007407767629

 

[Ice009]

That sucks for Jokic and the Nuggets. I am just very glad that the injury isn't worse.
Thanks for posting the thread, btw.

 

[Kick-Stand]

Nuggets' Nikola Jokic to miss 4 weeks with hyperextended knee

Source for the Jokic news. Never happy about injuries to players but this comes at a great time with the Spurs' recent skid and the Nuggets breathing down their necks in the standings...

Great until the Nuggets drop to the 7 seed and the Spurs reward for securing the 2 seed is getting to pop their playoff cherry against Jokic.

 

[timtonymanu]

Great until the Nuggets drop to the 7 seed and the Spurs reward for securing the 2 seed is getting to pop their playoff cherry against Jokic.

That should give us revenge for 2019.

 

[Kick-Stand]

That should give us revenge for 2019.

By losing to them again?

Not saying the Spurs couldn't beat them, but if both teams are healthy I think I'd still give the Nuggets a bit of an edge in a series even if the Spurs have homecourt.

 

[KobesAchilles]

Murray is about to be going bananas with his numbers. He’s first second and third option on that team.

I think the Lakers are about to implode for no reason other than LeBron is on the team. Plus Reaves is out a month. I think the Rockets are going to go on a tear and these two games coming up against them are crucial

 

[timtonymanu]

By losing to them again?

Not saying the Spurs couldn't beat them, but if both teams are healthy I think I'd still give the Nuggets a bit of an edge in a series even if the Spurs have homecourt.

Oh we're probably losing but it's a reverse of 2019 where a veteran team is playing a young #2 seed with a generational star.

Fucking West though. Getting HCA means nothing once the playoffs start.

 

[Kick-Stand]

Oh we're probably losing but it's a reverse of 2019 where a veteran team is playing a young #2 seed with a generational star.

Fucking West though. Getting HCA means nothing once the playoffs start.

I think homecort means a lot for the Spurs given how young they are. Didn't mean shit for Tim's Spurs teams but every one of them was loaded with grizzled vets who had been there before. We can't confuse this team with those. Nor with the Nuggets, Wolves, Warriors, or Thunder who know what it takes to win a really difficult series.

 

[BatManu20]

Great until the Nuggets drop to the 7 seed and the Spurs reward for securing the 2 seed is getting to pop their playoff cherry against Jokic.

My worry as well. In that hypothetical, I'd rather drop to the 4th Seed tbh. That way, if we're able to win our First Round matchup, we'd have the opportunity to ruin OKC's season in the 2nd Round tbh.

 

[Kick-Stand]

My worry as well. In that hypothetical, I'd rather drop to the 4th Seed tbh. That way, if we're able to win our First Round matchup, we'd have the opportunity to ruin OKC's season in the 2nd Round tbh.

IDK if it comes down to Game 82 against Denver and a win locks you into a first round matchup with them while a loss gets you an easier bracket then yeah just rest everyone and tell the media you wanted to be fresh for the playoffs. Otherwise I just let the chips fall where they may and tell the team every game matters.

 

[Correct Crusader]

By losing to them again?

Not saying the Spurs couldn't beat them, but if both teams are healthy I think I'd still give the Nuggets a bit of an edge in a series even if the Spurs have homecourt.

Gonna have to play them eventually. Just win.

 

[100%Duncan]

im honestly not worried about the lakers or houston, they dont have enough to beat us.

Minnesota though is scary, standings wise and match up wise.

 

[Dbreiden83080]

No 1 seed NOT likely with the way we have been playing lately. 2 seed maybe..

 

[RC_Drunkford]

my hope is that we can make it out of the first round with HCA and then have a tough series in the second round. That would give our guys a lot more experience. Home court matters for a young team. Let‘s hope they can lock up the 2 seed.

 

[ird80]

I want a better record than Detroit

 

[Kick-Stand]

my hope is that we can make it out of the first round with HCA and then have a tough series in the second round. That would give our guys a lot more experience. Home court matters for a young team. Let‘s hope they can lock up the 2 seed.

I mean my hope is they make the playoffs and win their final game but I'll be happy with a good playoff showing since this team is super inexperienced.