Casual Scoreboard Watching Friday: Evaluating Worst Record Odds

Happy Friday, everybody! While this week has been quite the week for the Philadelphia Eagles, the NBA has still been going on this week and games with Sixers draft pick stakes have been ongoing. So let's get into it, shall we? What are the draft pick updates looking like now, and how do the Sixers picks stack up now?

Instead of running through it team-by-team like I have the past two weeks, I'm going to try something a little different this week and instead take it pick-by-pick and discuss who is doing what and what needs to happen in the coming weeks for the Sixers to get as many picks as possible this year, something they probably want given the depth of this class and the negative early reviews given to the 2016 class. And as always, you can check out TANKATHON for consistently updated standings and as always check out Derek Bodner's daily recaps and analysis at nba.derekbodner.com

Draft Picks In Review

Philadelphia 76ers:  The Sixers currently have the second worst record in the league, although that is only because they have one more loss than the Timberwolves whom are equal with the Sixers on wins. Based off the advanced calculations from our friends at numberFire, as of early Thursday evening the Sixers have a 25.45% of ending the season with the worst record. Comparatively speaking, the Knicks have a 67.90% chance of ending the season with the worst record, the Timberwolves have a 24.55% chance of ending the season with the worst record, and the Lakers have a 0.45% chance of ending with the worst record.

As far as the Sixers' pick goes, if the season ended today they would have a 19.9% of landing the 1st overall pick in the 2015 draft. The Sixers right now need to see  some winning from the Knicks, T-Wolves, and Lakers in order to better their pick. The Magic are remain five losses better than the Sixers so I still say let's root for them to do some tanking especially because it will help with the Lakers pick as we'll get to later. The Magic are not catching the Sixers in losses.

Miami Heat:  After the trade deadline, Levin identified the Pistons as a team in possible contention for a playoff spot. Since then SVG's men have done some serious tanking and are for all intents and purposes out of the playoff chase after losing eight in a row and counting. The Nets too have gone on a bit of a tanking binge, losing their last  five games and they are in danger of dropping out of it as well. The Pacers, meanwhile, have passed Miami and let them go with a smile. That leaves the Celtics, Hornets, and the Jazz as teams hovering around both the playoffs and the #11 line. You can pick your team here depending on who you like, but idealistically two of those teams pass the Heat and the other falters.

If the season ended today, this pick would convey to the Sixers at 15th overall. It's protected 1-10, and we want better.

Oklahoma City Thunder:  I still maintain that the Bucks and Wizards are going to become a non-factor here once this is over, but the bigger story might be the Pelicans edging out the Thunder for the last playoff spot in the west. Right now the Pellies are a half game ahead of the Thunder for the eighth seed, and if the Thunder are a lottery team the pick will not convey to the Sixers. It's sad to root against a team as likable as the Pellies, but that's where we are at right now as long as the Bucks and Wizards do not suddenly get hot.

If the season ended today, this pick would not convey to the Sixers. The Thunder would be a lottery team, and the Thunder do need to make the playoffs for this pick to have any chance of conveying to the Sixers.

Los Angeles Lakers:  The Lakers are 4-6 in their last 10 games! 4-6! That's a .400 winning record! They can do this! They can do this! Maybe. They are one loss worse than the Magic, and five losses worse than the Kings. While catching the Kings may seem a bit unrealistic, the Lakers have some winnable games on their schedule, although they are just hours removed from losing to the Knicks. More tanking from the Nuggets, Pistons, Magic, and Kings would be awesome.

If the season ended today, this pick would have a 17.2% chance of conveying to the Sixers, but that means teams jumping and that could come at the expense of the Sixers' pick. One or two teams passing the Lakers would do wonders to alleviating that worry, and it would increase the chances the Sixers see this pick this year.

Coming Attractions

Tonight's Games
Chicago Bulls vs. Charlotte Hornets 7:00 (League Pass)
Sacramento Kings vs. 76ERS 7:00 (CSN)
Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics 7:30 (League Pass)
HEAT vs. Toronto Raptors 7:30 (League Pass)
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. THUNDER 8:00 (League Pass)
Golden State Warriors vs. Denver Nuggets 9:00 (League Pass)

Saturday's Games
Boston Celtics vs. Indiana Pacers 7:00 (NBA TV)
Sacramento Kings vs. Washington Wizards 7:00 (League Pass)
Brooklyn Nets vs. SIXERS 7:30 (League Pass)
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Memphis Grizzlies 8:00 (League Pass)
New York Knicks vs. Golden State Warriors 10:30 (League Pass)

Sunday's Games
Chicago Bulls vs. THUNDER 1:00 (ABC)
Denver Nuggets vs. New Orleans Pelicans 6:00 (League Pass)
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Orlando Magic 6:00 (NBA TV)
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. San Antonio Spurs 7:00 (League Pass)
New York Knicks vs. Phoenix Suns 9:00 (League Pass)
Atlanta Hawks vs. LAKERS 9:30 (League Pass)

Monday's Games
Toronto Raptors vs. Indiana Pacers 7:00 (League Pass)
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Washington Wizards 7:00 (League Pass)
SIXERS vs. Boston Celtics 7:30 (CSN)
Denver Nuggets vs. Memphis Grizzlies 8:00 (League Pass)
Brooklyn Nets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves 8:00 (League Pass)
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. HEAT 8:00 (ESPN)
THUNDER vs. Dallas Mavericks 8:30 (League Pass)
Charlotte Hornets vs. Utah Jazz 9:00 (League Pass)
Atlanta Hawks vs. Sacramento Kings 10:00 (Legaue Pass)

Tuesday's Games
San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks 7:30 (League Pass)
Orlando Magic vs. Houston Rockets 8:00 (League Pass)
Milwaukee Bucks vs. New Orleans Pelicans 8:00 (League Pass)
Charlotte Hornets vs. Los Angeles Clippers 10:30 (League Pass)

Wednesday's Games
Detroit Pistons vs. SIXERS 7:00 (CSN)
Portland Trail Blazers vs. HEAT 7:30 (League Pass)
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Toronto Raptors 7:30 (League Pass)
Indiana Pacers vs. Chicago Bulls 8:00 (League Pass)
San Antonio Spurs vs. Milwaukee Bucks 8:00 (League Pass)
Boston Celtics vs. THUNDER 8:00 (League Pass)
Orlando Magic vs. Dallas Mavericks 8:00 (ESPN)
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Sacramento Kings 10:00 (League Pass)
Washington Wizards vs. Utah Jazz 10:30 (League Pass)

Thursday's Games
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New York Knicks 7:30 (League Pass)
Denver Nuggets vs. Houston Rockets 8:00 (League Pass)
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Phoenix Suns 10:00 (League Pass)
Utah Jazz vs. LAKERS 10:30 (League Pass)