Don't want to speak too soon, but the Knicks are on a late season collapse. Those last few games are going to be rather huge in determining their draft pick as they can't really make their position much worse unless they get hot and make the playoffs, but can drastically improve the Bulls pick.

Right now, NY is 31-43 (38 home games played, 36 road games played)
Philly and Charlotte are both at 30 wins....Atlanta, Milwaukee and Boston will finish with a worse record.

Out West, Minnesota is also 31-43, but Portland, Seattle, and Sacramento all have 30 wins.

Currently, let's call the Knicks the 11th worst team (Minnesota has the same record, but let's call them 10th), but with 5 teams just slightly better this could catapult them all the way down to 5 or 6 by the end of the season.

Who do the Knicks have left ?

Friday, April 6th vs. Minny (that's actually a big game for the draft standings)
Saturday, April 7th @ Milwaukee (they are tanking)
Monday, April 9th vs. Detroit
Tuesday, April 10th @ Chicago
Friday, April 13th @ NJ
Sunday, April 15th @ TOR
Monday, April 16th vs. NJ
Wednesday, April 18th @ Charlotte

- I think they go 1-1 this weekend, but I think it's entirely possible they don't win another game after the Milwaukee game. I think, at best, this is a 2-6 finish.

Should be interesting...The Bulls may not want to draft a player, but the higher it goes, maybe it helps in getting a post player!

Who cares, the playoffs are about to start!

How do you mean?

Anyhow, I think this is a fairly deep draft, and it looks like the Knicks will keep the Bulls in high-pick contention; this will give the Bulls many options at the end of the season.

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One thing to keep in mind is that the other crappy teams (I believe with the exception of Atlanta) are keeping their own picks, so they have incentive to tank. The Knicks don't share that same incentive.

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What I mean is they may just look to package the pick with someone to bring in a scoring post player. I don't think they'd get anything great in return for the pick, and I also don't think they should take a big man just because as most tend to end up sucking, but it's probably an option.

I'm hoping for a 6-8 pick, but it'll probably be a 9-11 pick.

Knicks lost to the wolves!! Thanks KG

Yes!

This is fun. It's like having two teams: the bulls, and the knicks' opponent. That's 2 wins tonight.

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You can't see me because of internet.

The landowner effectively owns part shares in millions of part-time slaves called, "taxpayers." -Roy L
A Personal Relationship with Jesus?

We can start another thread to talk about our playoff outlook. This thread is dedicated to the Knicks hopefully tanking their season.

Not only did the Knicks lose last night, we got wins for the Blazers, and Kings to tie them with the Knicks at 31 wins.

Tonight is a game the Knicks should win - at Mlwaukee. They may have found someone playing worse they are, and Michael Redd has missed the past few games, and I'm guessing he's going to be shut downt as Milwaukee looks to lose out.

After this game today, NY has the really rough end to their season:
Monday, April 9th vs. Detroit
Tuesday, April 10th @ Chicago
Friday, April 13th @ NJ
Sunday, April 15th @ TOR
Monday, April 16th vs. NJ
Wednesday, April 18th @ Charlotte

I don't believe the Knicks will lose to the Bucks tonight. Even with Isaiah coaching them, they'll still find a way to back into a win

Knicks trailed by double digits for a little bit there, but went on to win in OT. Thankfully, both Orlando and Indiana, ahead of them in the playoff chase, also won.

Knicks improve to 32-44, 2 wins ahead of Philly and Charlotte. Minnesota lost last night as well so they now have identical record with NY. Seattle came from behind to beat Utah so they have 31 wins currently.

Knicks schedule, as I have mentioned, gets pretty tough now.

last night's Knicks victory almost made me blow chunks:-( Eddy Curry making a fadeaway 3-POINTER with less than a second remaining to force the game into OT!!! Could it get any more improbable than that?

can someone please tell the Pistons to wake the F up! How can they be losing?

thank you Steve Francis

Knicks lose!

Knicks fall to 32-45

Orlando is going to win as well tonight but that just further ensures they will be going to the playoffs....

big sigh of relief!

Now, we need the Knicks to lose remainder of their games while Minnesota, Sacramento, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Seattle and Portland each have two wins at lease one game (preferably 2) before the end of the season.

I know, BUT I'M GREEDY

I'll mix some playoff's in here:

Cavs/Bulls have identical records, but Bulls do hold the tie breaker.
Here's how the remaining schedules shake out.

Cleveland:
Thursday vs NJ
Saturday vs ATL
Tuesday, April 17th @ Philly
Wednesday, April 18th vs. Milwaukee.

- Cleveland should destroy both ATL and Milwaukee. Philly could be an interesting game if the 76ers are fighting for a playoff spot, and the Cavs SHOULD beat the the Nets on Thursday, though that's not a gimme either. Overall, given the Cavs need to win games, they should go 4-0, and no worse than 3-1.


Chicago:
Tuesday vs. NY
Friday vs. Charlotte
Sunday @ Washington
Wednesday @ NJ

- That NJ game is the one that worries me. They could be looking for revenge off the blowout in Chicago, and they are fighting for playoff positioning. Sunday vs. Washington is not easy either, but without Arenas/Butler, that's a game the Bulls need to win.

I think the Bulls go 3-1 with this schedule.

Updating the Knicks situation, they now stand at 32-45 entering the Bulls game tonight. No Marbury either, but Francis is back. The Bulls, coming off the Toronto beatdown, are 12.5 favorites tonight, and this is a game the Bulls should win easily.

1) Memphis: 19-59
2) Boston: 23-53
3) Milwaukee: 26-51
4) Atlanta: 28-49
5) Seattle: 31-47 (@PHO, @ POR, @LAL, DAL)
5) Charlotte: 31-47 (MIA, @CHI, @MIL, NY)
7) Portland: 31-46 (HOU, @ LAC, SEA, @ UTH, GS)
8 ) Sacramento: 31-45 (@ MEM, @ SA, GS, @LAC, NO, LAL)
8 ) Philadelphia: 31-45 (IND, @ BOS, ORL, @DET, CLE, @ TOR)
10) Minnesota: 32-45 (DAL, SA, @ GS, @ DEN, MEM)
10) NY: 32-45 (@CHI, @ NJ, @TOR, NJ, @ CHAR)

I put the Knicks at #11 in my worst case scenario.

The order getting even more jumbled as the Bulls lead the Knicks big at the half, and Charlotte, Philadelphia already winning along with Sacramento currently winning.

I'll update in the morning once the results are in.

well, both the 76ers and Bobcats won tonight!

This is going to be one messed up race till the end

I agree, and I think it's great entertainment. Knicks could really move up towards the top of this draft with a bad ending, and some help.

Funny how a few days can turn everything around. As recently as 72 hours ago when the Bulls were slotted for the 11 pick, I was hoping for every eligible prospect to declare. If they can hold on to this 8 spot, or better yet move up to 5 or 6, then I'd like to see some of these kids go back to school, especially the young point guards.

1) Memphis: 19-60
2) Boston: 23-54
3) Milwaukee: 26-51
4) Atlanta: 29-49

5) Seattle: 31-47, 0.397 (@PHO, @ POR, @LAL, DAL)
6) Portland: 31-46, 0.403 (HOU, @ LAC, SEA, @ UTH, GS)
7) Charlotte: 32-47, 0.405 (@CHI, @MIL, NY)
8) NY: 32-46, 0.410 (@ NJ, @TOR, NJ, @ CHAR)
9) Minnesota: 32-45, 0.416 (DAL, SA, @ GS, @ DEN, MEM)
9 ) Sacramento: 32-45, 0.416 (@ SA, GS, @LAC, NO, LAL)
9 ) Philadelphia: 32-45, 0.416 (@ BOS, ORL, @DET, CLE, @ TOR)

Knicks improve to #8 in my worst case scenario.

Wednesday NBA:
Shouldn't get much help tonight in our quest for the Knicks to finish as worst as possible.
- Philly SHOULD get their 33rd win of the season tonight vs. Boston.
- Portland (at Houston), Seattle (at PHX), Sacramento (at SA), and Minny (vs Dallas) will face long odds tonight.

Slow down, champ. They could finish in this slot, and still pick 11th if the top 3 teams get shafted in the lottery (everbody moves down).

By the by, the Atlanta pick goes to Phoenix if it's not in the top 3.

Yeah, I shouldn't say worst case scenario. By that, I mean only as we stand today without taking how the lottery will move these teams around.

I'm only focusing on the Knicks record hopefully falling in the 5-6th worst which would obviously increase the Bulls chances of a miracle in the lottery.

Yeah, the trade for Joe Johnson looks like it worked out ok for both teams. I can't recall if any other players were moved, but Raja Bell gives Phoenix a solid defensive guard who can still score 10-15 points, and Johnson, when healthy, has been a 25 PPG player.

Atlanta needs a point guard in the worst way. If they are able to keep their pick, any early projections for them ?

They’ll get Indiana’s pick (should be late lottery) via the Al Harrington trade. There aren’t any PG’s that appear to be worthy of a top-5 pick (if they keep their own), but they could be looking at Mike Conley (if he declares) or possibly Acie Law from Texas A&M. Law’s stock dropped a bit during the tourney, but if his workouts are solid, he should go somewhere in the teens.

This might be the most poor PG draft I've seen in a while. If Conley doesn't come out, you only have 2 1st round draft picks that would be points in law and pruitt. Both would go in the second half of the round.

Actually, to go further, guards quality is low in the draft. Batum from France might be the first true guard taken and he's a 2/3.

1) Memphis: 19-60
2) Boston: 23-55
3) Milwaukee: 26-52
4) Atlanta: 29-49

5) Seattle: 31-48, 0.392 (@ POR, @LAL, DAL)
6) Portland: 31-47, 0.397 (@ LAC, SEA, @ UTH, GS)
7) Charlotte: 32-47, 0.405 (@CHI, @MIL, NY)
8 NY: 32-46, 0.410 (@ NJ, @TOR, NJ, @ CHAR)
8 Minnesota: 32-46, 0.410 (SA, @ GS, @ DEN, MEM)
8 Sacramento: 32-46, 0.410 (GS, @LAC, NO, LAL)
9 ) Philadelphia: 33-45, 0.423 (ORL, @DET, CLE, @ TOR)

Seattle, Portland, Minnesota, and Sacramento all lost, but none of the losses were surprising last night.

Philadelphia did beat Boston to drop them down, and the Knicks are now tied record wise with Minny and Sacramento.

Thursday NBA:
Standings will not be affected tonight with only the Clippers, Lakers, Nets, and Cavs on the schedule.

are you sure NY would have the higher pick (right now, 8th ) if they have the same record as the other teams? Do they have a lower winning percentage against their conference?