The 40-20 Contender Rule: Will the Celtics Qualify?

[zoyathedestroya]

I don't know any of their sched difficulties but I don't think it's a stretch to think all of them will make it.

Nuggets need to sweep @POR, @GSW, v. SAC.
Clippers need to go 4-1: @MEM, v. SAC, v. LAL, v. WAS, @MIN
Cavs need to go 4-1: @PHI, @WAS, v. DAL, @CHI, @DET

Wolves (1-3) and Thunder (2-2) basically locks with their upcoming scheds.

Thank you for the breakdown! All of them still seem doable but I'm hoping for a couple of losses, which also seems like a pretty good shot.

UPDATE:

Cavs need to sweep: @WAS, v. DAL, @CHI, @DET. Mavs the only one that can realistically trip them up.

[Fencer reregistered]

If the Cs don't lose 20 games all season, does the rule still apply?

[31to6]

If the Cs don't lose 20 games all season, does the rule still apply?

Not necessarily expecting them to get there, but they're on pace to get to 65 wins, which would be the 4th most in franchise history.
https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/what-is-the-celtics-record-for-wins-in-a-season

[brackdan70]

If the Cs don't lose 20 games all season, does the rule still apply?

Not necessarily expecting them to get there, but they're on pace to get to 65 wins, which would be the 4th most in franchise history.
https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/what-is-the-celtics-record-for-wins-in-a-season

Yeah they should get there with the ease of the schedule if they want to…I’d expect they prioritize being ready for the post season though.

[31to6]

If the Cs don't lose 20 games all season, does the rule still apply?

Not necessarily expecting them to get there, but they're on pace to get to 65 wins, which would be the 4th most in franchise history.
https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/what-is-the-celtics-record-for-wins-in-a-season

Yeah they should get there with the ease of the schedule if they want to…I’d expect they prioritize being ready for the post season though.

We’ll see how they want to get ready for the postseason, I guess? The next two weeks the schedule seems tough — after that I see how it gets easier but it all depends what standards/expectations they set for themselves for these last 25 games. And, of course, staying healthy.

[zoyathedestroya]

UPDATE: Wolves were the 2nd team to qualify.

Nuggets just need to win their next two (@GSW, v. SAC). Cavs their next 4. OKC most likely getting one out of the two SAS games and HOU game. Clippers also likely getting 3-1 in next 4.

[zoyathedestroya]

Read on Twitter

[KamikazeK]

It's over in the east. No other eastern conference team qualifies for this besides Boston.

[zoyathedestroya]

Final Tally: Nuggets, Thunder, Wolves, and Celtics make it. Cavs and Clippers both lost earlier.

Odds are your NBA champion will come from those 4 teams.

[Mr_Mojo_Risin]

Final Tally: Nuggets, Thunder, Wolves, and Celtics make it. Cavs and Clippers both lost earlier.

Odds are your NBA champion will come from those 4 teams.

What about the 50-20 rule?

[zoyathedestroya]

Final Tally: Nuggets, Thunder, Wolves, and Celtics make it. Cavs and Clippers both lost earlier.

Odds are your NBA champion will come from those 4 teams.

What about the 50-20 rule?

Didn't bother to check but obviously that's a loftier goal and Imma bet less champion teams have achieved that compared to the 40-20 cutoff (44 of last 48 title teams IINM). Random research: Among the teams that had a 53-17 record or better after 70 games, 25 became champions.

[zoyathedestroya]

Heard this on a podcast so dunno if verified to be true... Since 2003, only two teams that didn't have a top 3 regular season record in their conference reached the Finals -- last year's Heat and the 2010 Celtics. If that trend continues, it would make for an interesting month and change for the Western conference as they jockey for top seeding.

[Mr_Mojo_Risin]

Heard this on a podcast so dunno if verified to be true... Since 2003, only two teams that didn't have a top 3 regular season record in their conference reached the Finals -- last year's Heat and the 2010 Celtics. If that trend continues, it would make for an interesting month and change for the Western conference as they jockey for top seeding.

LOL, literally listening to that very podcast right now, they finished saying it a minute ago (at the time I heard it).

[ConstableGeneva]

The Celtics are the only team that reached 50 wins before getting 20 losses.

This means they'll win the title.

Spoiler:

No, it does not mean that. It means nothing.

Spoiler:

We're winning it all!

[Mr_Mojo_Risin]

The Celtics are the only team that reached 50 wins before getting 20 losses.

This means they'll win the title.

Spoiler:

No, it does not mean that. It means nothing.

Spoiler:

We're winning it all!

What about 60-20?

[Larry_Russell]

I want to see 50 wins before 20 losses

Got what I wanted.

Now I want to see 60 wins before 20 losses

And follow that up with 4 playoff series wins.