So apparently the NBA has extended the playoffs into March.  That’s because the Jazz are on the back-end of a back-to-back against another potential playoff team in the Denver Nuggets tonight.

San Antonio laid down for the Nuggets in the second half last night and as a result, the Denver win kept them just three games back of the Jazz.  They’re still trying to leap Golden State for that final playoff spot.  But the way Dallas and Phoenix have been playing as of late, they too could be joining the fight to miss the playoffs.

The Jazz have the fourth-easiest remaining schedule in the West according to Stein with SA and NOLA having the most difficult.  It’s a bit of a stretch, but the West could have 9 teams with 50 wins and one of them will miss the playoffs.  There’s clamor from some that the playoff system needs to be fixed.  But how can you plan for these things?  They’ve already adjusted it so that we don’t have the two best remaining teams in the conference facing off against each other in the second round.  But short of moving teams around, what are you going to do?  You could have a balanced playing schedule across the league, but Stern pointed out, FWIW, that we would lose a couple of rivalry games with the likes of Denver and SA.  There’s always going to be something like this happening.  It happens in the NFL every year.

Speaking of playoff position, we all know that the East has the weaker league overall.  But have you checked out the recent standings?  New Jersey is the last team in and is an amazing 10 games under .500 at 26-36.  If they keep that current pace, and they get in, they’ll have a grand total of 34 wins on the year.  Of course they’ll be first round fodder for the Celtics, but c’mon, 34 wins?  26 wins in the West would put you about 20 games out of the playoffs.  And teams like Chicago, Atlanta, Indiana, Milwaukee, and Charlotte all still have a chance to get in.

Is this why although the West is overall the stronger conference, the East has won its share of championships?  Look who they have to play in the first couple rounds.  Meanwhile, each WC playoff series could go seven games (a financial dream for the NBA).

The Jazz can do a lot tonight to solidify their playoff chances with a win tonight.  They’d also be able to gain a game on either Houston or NO as they beat each other up tonight.

We’ll be without AK it looks like again.  I really though that they would need him against the Suns.  And maybe it wouldn’t have been as close if he were in, who knows?  But the Jazz should still be able to handle the Nuggs tonight.  What’s the over/under on Ts tonight?  3.5?  What about flagrant fouls?  I’d say 1.5.  And even with the physical play we probably won’t see nearly as many fouls called as in last night’s ref crapfest.

Other blogs:

• Biased Fan
• My Utah Jazz
• Frank Layden Admirers
• Pickaxe and Roll