PISTONS GRAB EASTERN CONFERENCE
(Image taken from NBA.com)
The Detroit Pistons have succsessfully completed their march to the the number 1 spot in the Eastern Conference with a 62-15 record. The acheivement was clinched with wins at home to the Hornets(101-93) and in Miami(95-82). Whatever happens from here on in, Flip Saunders crew have garunteed home court advantage all the way through to the NBA finals in in terms of consistency over the season I certainly can't argue with that.
Going down a level slightly, the New Jersey Nets have wrapped up the Atlantic division with a 47-29 record. Vince Carter's been the man on form over there in recent wins at home to the Heat(90-78), the Hawks (96-94), the Bobcats(113-102)and finally in Milwaukee(95-83). Another playoffs first round homecourt advantage spot wrapped up.
The other main movers in the East are the Bulls who've sneaked into the final playoff position despite a losing record at 35-41. Ben Gordon(born in London)and Andre Nociioni led their team to ecent home wins over the Celtics(100-94) and Pacers(102-96) before picking up a third win in Philadelphia(99-92). Ironically the Sixers are the side who they took the eighth spot from.
So the first round playoff standings as things stand in the Eastern Conference look like this: The Pistons will face the Bulls, the Heat(number 2) will face the Pacers(7), the Nets will face the Bucks(6) and the Cavs(4) will face the Wizards(5).
As far as the chasing pack are concerned well of course you now have the Sixers looking to get their playoff spot back before time runs out and they did go on to get a degree of payback in Chicago(89-75). The Magic are also making a late surge with a four game winning streak of their own. At the bottom, well the Hawks are out of the picture with a 84-83 loss in Minnisota and a 24-52 record, as are the Raptors on a eight game losing streak and 26-51.
Out West, two further sides have wrapped up playoff spots. The first are the Clippers with Elton Brand being the main player in a home win over the Nuggets(111-109) followed up by an amazing win in Phoenix(119-105). This has left them with a 44-32 record which no one outside the top eight is going to beat though the fourth placed Mavs are so far ahead that there is no way the NBA's shock package will get home court advantage in the post season.
The other side are the Grizzlies. Despite starting out as the League's cackfest in Vancouver, the franchise's shift to Memphis has resulted in a competitive franchise who can be expected to be regularly in the playoff mix. Their latest succsess was wrapped up by Paul Gasol led home wins over the Hawks(98-87), Warriors(100-75) and Bucks(100-90).
So the Western Conference playoff first round picture currently looks like this: The Spurs(number 1) will face the Lakers(down to 8). The Suns(2) will face the Kings(up to 7), the Nuggets(3) will face the Grizzlies(6) and the Mavs will face the Clippers.
The eight placed Lakes have to watch out for the chasing pack though, particularly the Jazz who've won their last two games in Minnisota(103-95) and at home to the Blazers(110-93) with Mehmet Okur as a consistant rebounder. There isn't much of a pack left though, the Hornets are only side other than the Jazz currently outside the playoff spots that are still in playoff contention. Both are on 37-39 records but everyone else in the West is toast(including the TWolves and the Rockets).
Six games to go
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