SEVEN TEAMS STILL ALIVE
Seven of the league's 10 teams are still in the playoff hunt as we head into the home stretch of Season 38, and not one team has clinched a post-season berth as of yet.
Three of the five teams in the West are still mathematically in the hunt, and four of the five in the East.
The toughest schedules in order of toughest to easiest are rated as follows for the remaining seven contenders.
1) Philadelphia (5-3)--Remaining games against first-place Chicago (7-2) and second-place Charleston (5-3), both of whom beat the Phobia this season. The good thing is that both Philly games are at home. Like last season when they made the final after being picked for last, the Phobia began the season as big underdogs, predicted to finish fourth by both Dave and Tyler in the East.
2)Milwaukee (5-3)--Two home games, one against first-place Oklahoma City (6-2) and the other against lowly Houston (0-8). The good news is that the Greyhounds are getting power forward Puddles Pondhopper back while the Lariats will be without their power forward Reckless Abandon, whom they demonstrated they missed greatly in their recent loss to Dallas.
3) (tie) San Jose (4-4)--Even if they win their final two games, they still might not make it in. The next game, on the road against Dallas, is an eliminator if the Fighting Amigos lose. The final game is against Seattle (1-6), which has the offensive firepower to pull an upset.
3) (tie) Dallas (5-3)--Demons seem to need one win in their two remaining games against San Jose (4-4) and Sacramento (2-6). Right now they hold a two-game tie-breaker lead over San Jose in division wins and an 8-plus point differential in the second tie-breaker.
5)(tie)Oklahoma City (6-2)--The Lariats, like Dallas, need one win to clinch a playoff spot, it would seem. Their remaining games are a tough road game crossover against a strong Milwaukee team (5-3) and a final home game against Seattle (1-6).
5) (tie) Chicago (7-2)--Even with 7 wins and just one game to go, the Gale are not yet assured of a playoff spot. Their remaining contest is against Philadelphia (5-3) on the road. A win would do it, and Chicago pounded the Phobia 95-68 earlier this season. But a loss could still leave the Gale vulnerable to the rest of the East pack.
7) Charleston (5-3)--The Mountaineers have a home game against win-less Houston and a road game against Philadelphia (5-3). On the surface this looks like the easiest road to the playoffs out of all the contenders, but the Houston game might just be a trap game. Charleston has wins against both these teams, but beat Philly at the buzzer.
It's gonna be a madman finish, folks.
