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NLL Insider - Playoff Races

by houndy, updated on Wednesday, April 22 2015, 03:45 pm EST

With the season approaching its end, many NLL teams are eyeing post season play. The East has all their teams in, while the West has only 6 in, with 3 teams duking it out for the last two spots. It will come down to the last week for many teams, and while some may go home, others may advance on to the NLL playoffs and gun for a title.


West 7&8

The West has the most intriguing playoff race out of the conferences; the race for 7 and 8. In this race are the New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies, and the Denver Nuggets. The Pelicans are currently in 7th, followed by the Grizzlies, and then the Nuggets. The Pelicans are surprising many, after sending away Eric Bledsoe on deadline day, leading this race. Trevor Ariza and crew had to battle it out with 6 people on IR, with their only win coming against another team fighting for a spot: the Denver Nuggets. The Pelicans will play 2 home and home games; one vs the Sacramento Kings, the current 2 seeds in the West, and the other coming up against the Chicago Bulls, who are out of the playoffs in the East. It seems as if the Pelicans can pull a game out of each, they will be in. On the other hand, the current 8 seed Grizzlies are faced with a tough challenge. Led by Jeff Green lately, this Grizzlies team has split the last 4 weeks with 2 wins and 2 losses. The Grizzlies will need to rely on Teague and Green and look to calm down Exum’s shooting; the young Aussie shot 23% from the floor last week, and Grizzlies fans know that they can not have that happen in order for them to clinch a spot. The Grizzlies boast the toughest schedule out of the 3 at .666, inviting Cleveland, current East 2 seed, and Golden State to Fedex Forum, and traveling to Indiana and Los Angeles to face the Pacers and the Lakers respectively. The final one out of this bunch are the Denver Nuggets, who come in tied with Memphis record wise, tied in head-head, but on the short end of the next tie breaker, conference record. The Nuggets suffered an awful week without John Wall, going 0-4 with a loss to the Pelicans. They got Wall back, and the Nuggets look in prime position to go into the playoffs, having the weakest SOS at .444. However, some records can be deceiving. They will play the Suns,Blazers, Jazz, and Rockets. Last week however, Portland looked very impressive, and this team is looking to knock off some potential playoff teams. Overall, this race is going to be nerve wracking for all parties involved.  



East 6-8


This next race is separated by only two games, with the Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks, and New York Knicks all trying to get out of playing the NLL super teams in the 76ers and Cavaliers. The Bucks come in as the frontrunner, up two games over both other teams. The Hawks have been on fire as of late, with Dwight Howard coming into the foray, providing them with a boost that has led them into this race. The Knicks have Kyrie finally back, and are ready to come back and evade facing the 76ers. Overall, each team wants to get to that 6 spot, where they play a Boston over a team like the Cavs. However, that’s not any better either, as the Celtics have 58 wins as well! It’s the East though, and in this conference, these teams are tough. Expect each team to put on a show against whoever they face. The Bucks have a tough week ahead; along with facing Houston, they must play Boston (potential first round matchup), Indiana, and Atlanta, who they’re competing with. Atlanta on the mean hand, has an even TOUGHER schedule! With Milwaukee, they also must play Cleveland, Boston, Brooklyn, and New York, the other team in this mix! The Knicks meanwhile play a medium level schedule, with the Warriors, Hawks, and Blazers coming to town, while traveling to Dallas to play the Mavs. This race has two games that can help determine in, and is almost as intriguing as the West’s fight.


East 1-2


This one isn’t as crucial as the other two,but involves the top 2 teams in the NLL; the Philadelphia 76ers, and the back-back-back NLL Champions, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Both teams have been cruising through the NLL season, each holding a 65-13 record, with Cleveland holding the upperhand in the department of Head-Head (3-1). The 76ers have always been good, led by GM vt, but only have 1 title to their name. Meanwhile, the Cavs have been constantly dominating the NLL, led by LeBron James, who has quietly put together a nice year, having 27 points per game along with 6 boards and assists. Last year, the Cavs defeated the 76ers in 5 games to claim the Eastern Conference Title. These two look to be on a crash course for the conference final again. Can each make it, or will one stumble to a team like Atlanta, who has been on the rise recently. The Cavs play Atlanta, Memphis, Indiana, and Orlando while Philadelphia plays Boston, Washington, Portland and Indiana. Overall, both are expected to win out, leading to a tie at the 1 spot, which would go to the Cavs due to a better overall record. The Cavs would love nothing more than to reclaim the #1 spot, and the Sixers would love to knock off the Cavs from that crown.


Overall, these races are just the beginning of the post-season runs, and while some teams will be prepping for the new season, others will be at home, watching the game in dismay and in sadness. Let the games begin.

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