Phoenix Suns 2016 NBA Draft Lottery Watch: March 7
Mar 7, 2016, 8:27 AM | Updated: 10:42 am
Phoenix Suns center Tyson Chandler (4) shoots in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies Sunday, March 6, 2016, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
(AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Things are getting weird toward the bottom of the NBA. We take a look back at the past week in this edition of 2016 NBA Draft Lottery Watch.
1. Philadelphia 76ers (8-55)
Last Week: 0-4 with losses to the Wizards, Hornets and Heat twice.
The Sixers are starting to gain some distance between them and the pack in the race for the most ping pong balls. Philly has lost 12 in a row and is the only team in the NBA with a winning percentage under .200 at this moment.
This Week: Wednesday vs. Rockets, Friday vs. Nets, Saturday vs. Pistons
Light week and all three games at home. There’s potential for the losing streak to come to an end.
2. Los Angeles Lakers (13-51)
Last Week: 2-2 with wins over the Nets and Warriors and losses to the Nuggets and Hawks.
WAIT, WHAT? THE LAKERS BEAT THE WARRIORS? Yep, that actually happened. I want to see the bar tab from where Golden State was out in Los Angeles on Saturday night. D’Angelo Russell is living up to the hype of being the number-two pick after some early season struggles.
This Week: Tuesday vs. Magic, Thursday vs. Cavaliers, Sunday vs. Knicks
All three games are at home and two are against bad teams in the Magic and Knicks. One win is definitely in play and Thursday marks the last time Kobe Bryant will face LeBron James. I feel old.
3. Phoenix Suns (17-46)
Last Week: 2-2 with wins against the Magic and Grizzlies and losses against the Hornets and Heat.
The Suns split their four games on the road and have won two in a row for the first time since early in December. Alex Len and Devin Booker are coming along nicely and Ronnie Price is still playing way too many minutes. Sounds like Brandon Knight is nearing a return soon (maybe?).
This Week: Wednesday vs. Knicks, Thursday at Nuggets, Saturday at Warriors
Two winnable games and a death match.
4. Brooklyn Nets (18-45)
Last Week: 1-3 with losses to the Clippers, Lakers and Timberwolves and a win over the Nuggets.
A strong week for the Celtics (remember they have the Nets’ pick) as Brooklyn lost to two teams in the lottery watch. Phoenix is only one game ahead of Brooklyn.
This Week: Tuesday at Raptors, Friday at 76ers, Sunday vs. Bucks
Brooklyn’s got a chance to win twice this week.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves (20-43)
Last Week: 1-2 with losses to the Wizards and Bucks and a win against the Nets
Minnesota is four games worse than the Pelicans, who are on the outside looking in.
This Week: Monday at Hornets, Tuesday vs. Spurs, Friday at Thunder
Rough week for the T’Wolves. The Hornets are playing good ball, plus matchups against the Spurs and Thunder. This might get ugly.
So, in the last week the four teams not named the Sixers in the lottery watch went a combined 6-9. That’s actually pretty good! Let’s see if we get a return to normalcy this week or an upward trend continues.
