CAVS, LAKERS, LEAD THE WAY

 

Well, it has been a long time since the Allstar Game so I suppose I'd better give a summary on how the back end of the NBA season's getting on. Well, the regular season is still going but the focus is already on who will make the playoffs. Already some of the poorer teams can see the dead end that marks their season's finish...they're just playing for pride and waiting to run into the wall. Further up the league and playoff spots have already been claimed and now the fight is on for homecourt advantage. Even further up, well division titles have been claimed in some case and the only thing left to fight for is the number 1 spot in each conference.

In the East, the holders of that number 1 spot are the Cavs who now hold a 57-16 record despite having lost their last game and have snapped up the Central Division title for the second year in a row after winning 14 games since Allstar Weekend. Behind them, number 2 in the East are the Magic who are facing a tough fight for the Southeast division title but have secured a playoff spot off the back of a 51-22 record with their latest win being a 106-97 beating of the TWolves. Then comes number 3 in the East, the Celtics, who've secured the Atlantic division for the third year in a row off the back of 47-25 record and are on a two game winning streak.

Further down, well other than the division leaders, the best of the rest Eastside are certainly the Hawks who've turned into a very solid outfit and not only have secured a playoff spot off the back of a 46-26 record but are on course for having homecourt advantage in the season. Number 5 are the Bucks who are running with a 39-22 record. Number 6 are the Heat who hold a 39-34 record and are on a four game winning streak. Number 7 are the Bobcats of all teams who have to be one of the league's surprise packages. A 38-34 record has them on course for a playoff spot for the first time since the franchise was started up.

Completing the playoff picture in the East at number 8 spot are the Raptors, who despite holding a 35-36 record and on a two game losing streak and having only won six games since Allstar weekend are still one of the better teams in the conference. The big problem in the East though is simply lack of depth right now. Only four spots playoff spots are still up for grabs and that number of teams have already had to white flag. Iversen's comeback couldn't save the Sixers who are on a 26-47 record. "Detrrioooiiit basketballlll" has seemingly sent their own players to sleep(23-49). The Wizards season was FUBARed ever since Gilbert Arenas decided to put on a gun show(21-51) and the Nets have become this season's definition of useless(9-64).

So if the playoffs started today, the Eastern conference picture would look like this: The Cavs would face the Raptors. The Magic would face the Bobcats. The Celtics would face the Heat(now that would be an interesting rumble) and the Hawks would face the Bucks.

Out West, well the king of that particular castle are clearly the Lakers. Even they are still fighting for the Pacific division title but they are still the only team in the West that has secured a playoff spot, off the back of a 54-19 record and having won 13 games since the Allstar break, the last of those being a 109-101 victory in Houston. Number 2 in the West are the Nuggets on a 48-25 record and they also won their last game, 97-96 in Toronto. Number 3 are the Mavs and in a prime example of how tight the West is right now, they're also on 48-25 and have also won their last game but the Nuggets hold the tiebreaker due a better division record this season.

Further down, well other than the division leaders, the best team Westside are the Jazz. No I don't think this bunch have the class of the Malone-Stockton side but they certainly have their uses and hold a 48-26 record and so are the other team on course for homecourt advantage in the playoffs. Number 5 in the West are the Suns who hold a 46-26 record and a six game winning streak. The Thunder are the main surprise package in the West(but then again they do have Kevin Durant) and they hold the number 6 spot and a 44-27 record. The Spurs aren't exactly having a vintage season but they are still on course for a playoff spot at least - number 7 on a 43-28 record.

Completing the playoff picture in the West are the Blazers. Well they've been plagued by injuries throughout the season but somehow they're still kicking, holding a 44-29 record that takes the mick out of a lot of Eastern teams and on a two game winning streak. The thing with the West is, there is depth there and anything can still happen in the back end of that season. Seven playoff spots are up for grabs yet still, there are teams that just don't have it. The Hornets have already booked their summer holidays off the back of a 34-40 record. The Clippers have had their uses but have only come up with 27-45. The Kings(24-49), Warriors(20-52) and TWolves(14-59).

So if the playoffs started today, the Eastern conference picture would look like this: The Lakers would face the Blazers. The Nuggets would face the Spurs(very interesting). The Mavs would face the Thunder. The Jazz would face the Suns.

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