CAVS, MAGIC, CELTICS, LAKERS CLAIM DIVISIONS

 

 

Well the All Star game is now nothing more than a memory. It's now time for teams to think about the big prizes of the season. For some, well the biggest short term proze is a division title but most teams would settle for a spot in this year's NBA playoffs. There's only eight playoff spots per conference and some teams came away from last season dissapointed. So the competition for this run in is going to be a tough one. And yet for the really big guns(including defending champion Celtics) they're not just wanting a postseason they want to set themselves up for a run at the NBA title. So which teams are on track for a satisfactory season.

Well we start in the Central division where the Cavs have risen to not only claimed the division title(their first division title since 1976!) but they also currently have the best record in the Eastern conference on a 58-13 record and a 10 game winning streak. Second in the division are the Bulls, on course for a playoff spot with a 35-38 record and a three game winning streak. That's despite Luol being injured...again, the Brit hasn't played since February. The Pistons are also on course for a playoff spot, third in the sdivision on 34-37. The Bucks and Pacers are still in the mixer on 31-41 and 30-42 respectively but need to get their act together.

Next up in the Southeast division where the Magic have picked up thier second division title in a row. Dwight Howard's crew are on a 53-18 record and a four game winning streak with some Orlando media people talking about a new golden age! However the Magic aren't the only side on form in this part of the league, the Hawks have also secured a playoff spot with a 42-30 record and lie second in the division. The Heat lie third in the division on 38-34 and are certainly on course for a return to the playoffs. The Bobcats are still in the mixer on 31-40 but still have work to do. The Wizards however have had a disasterous season on 17-56 and they are already out of it.

Next we have the Atlantic Division with the Celtics looking to retain their title. Well so far they're on a 54-19 record and that's good enough for them to pick up the Atlantic division title for the second year in a row. However their recent form has been more iffy so retaining their NBA title may be easier said than done. The Sixers are second in the division and also on course for the playoff with a 37-33 record and a three game winning streak. Bringing up the rear but still in the playoff mixer are the Nets on a 30-41 record, the Knicks on a 28-43 record and Raptors on a 26-45 record. Wierdly, the Raptors are the only team out of the last three on a winning streak right now.

Out West and we find that the Lakers have a 57-14 record and a four game winning streak, have claimed the Pacific division title for the second year in a row. Impressive work from a team that's still looking to claim their first title since Shaq left town. The division hadn't really provided much competition for Phil Jackson's crew though, the only other team still in the playoff mixer here are the Suns, second in the division but only on a 40-32 record. The Warriors, Clippers and Kings are only making up the numbers now, their records of 25-47, 18-54 and 15-55 respectively mean that their seasons are write off even with plenty of games to go.

Elsewhere in the Western Conference it's getting a bit messy. The Spurs lead the Southwest division with a 47-24 record and a two game winning streak but though they're on course for the playoffs, nothing's secure as yet. The Rockets, Hornets and Mavs are also on course for the playoff on records of 47-26, 44-26 and 43-28 recpectively with the Grizzlies goners on 17-53. In the Northwest division the Nuggetts are in a similar position to the Spurs, leading the division with a 46-26 record but can't take anything for granted. Also on course for the playoffs are the Blazers(45-27) and the Jazz(44-27). The Thunder and TWolves are out of the picture on 20-51 and 20-52 respectively.

The playoff picture as things stand:

In the East, the Cavs(1) will face the Pistons(8). The Magic(2) will face the Bulls(7). The Celtics(3) will face the Heat(6) and the Hawks(4) will face the Sixers(5)

In the West, the Lakers(1) will face the Mavs(8). The Spurs(2) will face the Jazz(7). The Rockets(3) will face the Blazers(6) and the Nuggets(4) will face the Hornets(5).

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