3 Fringe NBA Playoff Teams That Won't Make It in
The NBA playoffs are looming on the horizon as teams make their final bid for playoff seeding.
Some teams are sitting at the top of their respective divisions waiting for the chaos below them to settle and present them with an opponent. Other teams amid said chaos are entering the critical phase of the season that will ultimately decide their postseason fate.
Some teams will get hot at the right times and make it in, while others will fade down the stretch and miss the playoffs.
What decides the fate of teams on the fringe is a combination of strength of schedule, injuries, momentum and overall depth.
Here are three fringe playoff teams that won’t make it into the 2012 NBA playoffs.
Milwaukee Bucks
1 of 6The Milwaukee Bucks have compiled a 29-31 record, good for the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference.
New York and Philadelphia are currently residing in the two spots above the Bucks, and Milwaukee has a long way to go if it wants to pass them.
Milwaukee has been jolted by the arrival of Monta Ellis via trade. Since coming to Milwaukee, Ellis has scored 17.5 points per game while combining with Brandon Jennings to make a dangerous offensive duo that opponents have struggled to contain.
Why the Bucks Won’t Make It
2 of 6The Bucks are only 6-4 in their last 10 games, and they have a difficult schedule ahead of them. The team simply isn’t as deep as the Knicks or 76ers, who are both starting to gain momentum and possess easier schedules.
The Bucks allow an inordinate amount of points per game, and they won’t be able to win many more shootouts. It was a solid campaign this year, but it’s ending without a postseason appearance.
Utah Jazz
3 of 6The Utah Jazz are currently sitting in the 10th slot of the Western Conference on the outside looking in when it comes to the postseason. They hold a 31-30 record as of now, which simply isn’t good enough for a team in this deep of a conference.
The Jazz have done a good job of recovering from the loss of a superstar and have played well as a team this shortened season. They don’t have any particularly standout players, but they’ve been good enough to be in the postseason conversation.
Why the Jazz Won’t Make It
4 of 6The Jazz have a tough remaining schedule and have been on a skid as of late. In their last 10 games, they have a measly 4-6 record; that doesn’t look to be improving much with upcoming matchups against tough teams remaining.
Also, it’s hard to imagine that Memphis, Dallas and Houston will suddenly cool off. The Jazz have done an admirable job of putting together a competitive team this year, but it won’t end with them making a run to the playoffs.
Phoenix Suns
5 of 6The Suns are currently making a late-season push for the postseason, but it may be too little, too late at this point. They are ninth in the Western Conference with a 31-29 record. It’s great to have a record above .500, but that might not be enough in a deep conference.
The Suns are, of course, led by the wily veteran Steve Nash. Center Marcin Gortat has been a nice surprise in a starting role, and there are some solid shooters surrounding him on the outside.
Why the Suns Won’t Make It
6 of 6The Suns simply aren’t deep enough to make a run at the postseason. Marcin Gortat is the team’s leading scorer, and he’s not a great go-to option in crunch time at this point.
Steve Nash is the wild card here. He can light up the opposition while leading the team to the postseason, but that’s a long shot with teams keying in on him. Counting on other players like Gortat and Jared Dudley to win games in the clutch isn’t going to cut it.
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