What's so important about the 65-game mark in the NBA season?
History says it's precisely where contenders solidify their path to the postseason and the pretenders -- try as they may to mount an insurmountable comeback and make the NBA playoffs -- fall short time and time again.
Since 2000, no NBA team has overcome a larger than three-game deficit behind the eight seed after the 65-game mark to make the playoffs. This isn't exactly good news for the Blazers, Kings, Wizards, Suns, Pelicans, and Spurs who all sit 3.5 games or more outside the playoff picture as the league looks to restart its season with 22 teams in Orlando at the end of July.
In a typical NBA year, they would be joining the other 44 teams since 2000 who have fallen short of making a late-season playoff push.
Instead, these six outsiders have an opportunity to make history.