BULLS, SPURS NUMBER 1
The fact is, the Allstar game is pretty late in the season anyway, so by the time that was done the focus was very much on settling playoff spots rather than jostling for position within the divisions. A couple of months down the line and finally the regular season is over and we can start talking about the playoffs. For starters though, now that everyone's fate is decided the question has to be, where has everyone wound up? Thee way things have played out has certainly been a surprise so it's time for one last look at the 2010/11 NBA regular season to look over who's in the playoffs, who's taken the division titles and most importantly who are the number 1 seeds.
In the East...well with my jaw on the floor I have to say congratulations to the Bulls who've not only claimed the Central Division title for the first time since '98 but with a 62-20 record and finishing on a nine game winning streak they have claimed the number 1 seed in the East. For Luol(ending the season with an everage 17.4 ppg) and crew this is absolutely awesome - they've pulled off the best season for the franchise since the Jordan and Pippen era. Head over heart I suspect that that legendary team from the 90s would blow the current side out of the water and there have been plenty of teams over the years who excelled in the regular season only to fall to bits in the playoffs but right now, let them party.
At the next level down, the Heat have claimed the Southeast Division title for the first time since '07(when Shaq was the main man) and the number 2 seed in the East with a 58-24 record and LeBron James(who else) running the show on 26.7 ppg. The Atlantic Division was claimed by the Celtics for the fourth season in a row with a 56-26 record with the men in green also picking up the number 3 seed in the East. They finished the regular season with a 112-102 win over the Knicks and their main main man was Paul Pierce on 18.9 ppg. Well those two teams were always going to be there or thereabouts, and while they missed out on the number 1 spot you surely can't wrote the Heat off!
Completing the playoff picture, the Magic claim the number 4 seed with a 52-30 record and with home court advantage in the first round, they'll certainly cause the top three a few headaches. The Hawks claim the number 5 seed with a 44-38 record having taken a five game losing streak hammering in the back end of the regular season. The Knicks claim the 6th seed with a 42-40 record, good to see them back in the playoffs after so long. The Sixers claim the 7th seed off the back of a 41-41 record - the fast that they did so doesn't make the East look too hot. And the conference is further embarrassed by the Pacers scrapping into the number 8 seed off the back of a 37-45 record.
Out West, well congratulations to the Spurs who've not only claimed the Southwest Division title for the first time since '09 but they also grabbed the number 1 seed in the West with a 61-21 record despite losing their last two games of the season. It's been an interesting regular season for the Spurs with their biggest name not exactly having a vintage season and Tony Parker being the one to run their show with 17.5 ppg. Not that Gregg Popovitch will be complaining. The question now has to be what can they do in the playoffs - back in the mid 90s the David Robinson led Spurs team made a habit of excelling in the regular season and choking in the playoffs.
At the next level down, the Lakers have claimed the Pacific Division title for the fourth year in a row along with the number 2 spot in the West with a 57-25 record and ending the regular season with a two game winning streak. Their main main has inevitably been Kobe Bryant on 25.3 ppg. The Mavs have snapped up the number 3 spot in the West also with a 57-25 record but the Lakers as a division winner pull rank on them. The Thunder then claim the Northwest Division title for the first time in their current incarnation! The last time the old Seattle Supersonics claimed that title was back in '05. The Thunder finish with a 55-27 record, Kevin Durant inevitably their main man on 27.7 ppg.
Completing the playoff picture, the Nuggets grab the number 5th seed on a 50-32 record, managing to survive reasonably well despite losing Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks. The Blazers grab the number 6 seed with a 48-34 record to complete another of their solid regular seasons. The Hornets claim the number 7 seed off the back of a 46-36 record despite losing their last three games and you do have to wonder how long they'll last. The Grizzlies claim the number 8 spot also on a 46-36 record and having also finished the regular season on a losing streak. Never they nor the Hornets have won a division and their regular season record is tied at 2-2 but the Hornets have a 9-7 record against Southwest Division opponents compared to the Grizzlies 8-8.