[Izulde]

8 games left and we've got a four game lead for the #1 seed. I'd say we're pretty safe as long as we don't implode.

No such implosion against the Timberwolves, whom we dominate 124-73. Filip Svorada scores 28, David Anyan pops in 20 points, Jim Johnson nabs 10 points and 11 rebounds and Terrence Howard scores 11 off the bench.

Two nights later, we have a chance to make sure the Supersonics stay buried. Unfortunately, they know they're fighting for their playoff lives and rally to beat us 107-103. Ugh! Ronnie Fry (20 points), Jim Johnson (17 points, 15 rebounds), Filip Svorada (15 points, 13 assists) and Terrence Howard (17 points) try to get us the win but fail to do so.

In that light, I'm not as upset about our 110-105 road loss to the Traiblazers as I would be, because I really don't want to face Seattle. William Tackett was fantastic with 28 points and 11 assists, Ronnie Fry scores 27, [b]Terrence Howard/b] continues to be steady with 14 points and 12 rebounds as he's made the starter for this game. Jim Johnson scores 13 off the bench and Justin Cherry has 10 assists as a reserve.

It's worrying any time you drop two games in a row against possible playoff opponents, but we snap out of it with a 120-106 win over the Lakers. Filip Svorada leads the charge with 22 points and 12 assists, William Tackett scores 20, David Anyan and Jim Johnson double for 18 points, 10 rebounds and 19 points, 12 rebounds respectively and Terrence Howard is a beast off the bench with 20 points.

A split road back-to-back. We hammer the Lakers 124-98 as Filip Svorada narrowly misses a triple-double with 27 points, 16 assists and 8 rebounds. Ronnie Fry and David Anyan combine for 22 and 21 points and Jim Johnson hauls in 17 points and 16 rebounds. 37-23 is the score after the first and we can't completely close the game, losing 104-94 in Phoenix. Not even with Filip Svorada's 21 points and 10 assists, David Anyan's 25 points or Jim Johnson's 11 points and 13 rebounds.

That loss against the Suns really hurts. Had we won, we would've clinched the #1 seed. But as it stands, with two games left, Phoenix is two games behind us, so we need to make sure we take care of business and beat the Jazz next to render our regular season finale against Phoenix moot. Naturally we go and play like crap, losing 104-86 with Terrence Howard's 12 bench points only statistically significant showing. And of course, the Suns win, meaning we have to beat them to guarantee a #1 seed.

...Ridiculous. We go 3-5 over the last 8 games and lose to every damned decent team. 102-82 to the Suns here as we shoot 35.9% and screw whatever highlights there were. We don't deserve them.

West Conference Seedings
1. Phoenix Suns (56-26)
2. Sacramento Kings (56-26)
3. Dallas Mavericks (51-31)
4. Denver Nuggets (50-32)
5. Memphis Grizzlies (50-32)
6. Utah Jazz (48-38)
7. Seattle Supersonics (47-35)
8. San Antonio Spurs (47-35)

Out: Portland Trailblazers (43-38)

East Conference Seedings
1. Indiana Pacers (55-27)
2. Detroit Pistons (48-34)
3. Atlanta Hawks (46-36)
4. Boston Celtics (45-37)
5. Chicago Bulls (48-34)
6. Toronto Raptors (44-38)
7. Washington Wizards (39-43)
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (38-44)

The Bucks, also 38-44, lost the tiebreaker.

Leaders

Points
1. Sonny Boxler (POR) - 30.1
2. Filip Mikulic (HOU) - 28.8
3. Damian Thomas (SA) - 27.3 (at 21 years old!)

Assists
1. Ameirin Qipani (SA) - 13.5
2. Dondrell Wilder (DEN) - 11.6
3. Waldemar Althusser (ATL) - 11.3

Rebounds
1. Dontay Williamson (DEN) - 14.5
2. Oswaldo Apolonario (ATL) - 12.8
3. Scott Palmer (UTA) - 12.3

Blocks
1. Sonny Boxler (POR) - 4.0
2. Dontay Williamson (DEN) - 3.5
3. Martin Beerbohm (NO) - 3.4

Steals
T1. Jack McKnight (LAC) - 2.1
T1. Russell Sims (SEA) - 2.1
T3. Curtis Wilkerson (ATL) - 2.0
T3. David Johnson (IND) - 2.0
T3. Brian Brown (GS) - 2.0

Rookies

Points
1. Dennis Edwards (PHI) - 14.5
2. Tony Bryson (DEN) - 10.6
3. Stephen Wilson (ORL) - 10.0

Assists
1. Kaluj Kazlauskas (POR) - 4.8
2. Rodney Chappel (MIA) - 3.3
3. Kenyatta Bennett (DAL) - 2.1

Rebounds
1. Tony Bryson (DEN) - 6.8
2. Dennis Edwards (PHI) - 6.3
3. Benjamin Williams (HOU) - 6.1

Blocks
1. Tony Bryson (DEN) - 2.0
T2. Benjamin Williams (HOU) - 0.9
T2. Dennis Edwards (PHI) - 0.9
T2. Tommy Kent (DEN) - 0.9

Steals
1. Stephen Wilson (ORL) - 1.1
T2. Tommy Kent (DEN) - 0.8
T2. Dennis Edwards (PHI) - 0.8

Heh. Play like crap, draw the matchup that's most dangerous for us. We may be a one and done team.