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Atlanta - 15 games back, in 7th place in the East
Indiana - 16.5
New Jersey - 17
Milwaukee - 17.5
Chicago - 17.5
Charlotte - 18
Philadelphia - 18.5
New York - 20.5

Adding to the intrigue is the fact that New York, at 5-5, has the best record over the past 10 games.

What makes this so interesting is that its basically playing for the right to get killed by Boston or Detroit in the first round. And yet, depending on which team you are talking about, it would be a tremendous achievement.

But what I think is interesting about this grouping is that it has the potential to define the East for several years. If Chicago can come out of this group, that may be enough to salvage what looks to be a completely lost season. If New York can make it, it may save Isiah's job.

More interesting would be to see Atlanta finish the season strong and establish themselves among the rising teams in the league. They certainly have been trying long enough.

The only teams from that list that I'd trust to make a concerted push for the playoffs are Atlanta, Chicago, and Charlotte. The rest haven't shown me anything at all at any point to convince me they can string together the wins to achieve/maintain playoff positioning.

I'd love to see the Bulls get the #7 seed and knock off the pistons,, who they are 3-0 against this season. As for the 8th, I'd like to see Atlanta or Charlotte sneak in.

did you not watch 76ers beatdown the bobcats?

Atlanta hasn't been to the playoffs for so long that even if they made it as an 8th seed, it would be an achievement. (Plus they don't even have a lottery pick this year, so making the playoffs is very important)


As for the other teams, well there isn't a team that's capable of winning 5-6 straight games that would put them ahead of the others. All these teams are horrid, and I would be surprised if any of them can get to .500

If Chicago makes 7th or 8th in the conference, I can see them taking either Boston or Detroit to six games...an upset is almost out of the question, but that team has enough talent that, if motivated (and Ben Wallace suddenly rediscovers his athleticism when playing the Pistons), they aren't a complete pushover.

New Jersey is tough to gauge; they have an ugly month of March upcoming, but if they revert to their form of previous years, a winning streak against good opposition isn't out of the question.

Those would be the two teams that I'd favour for the final two spots, with Indy a close third; Atlanta and Charlotte are too green, Milwaukee too flawed and turbulent, and Philly/New York simply aren't good enough to leapfrog that many teams.

Here is Hollinger's take on who will make it.

Washington: 94.3%
Atlanta: 68.0%
Indiana: 64.6%
Philadelphia: 20.8%
Chicago: 20.4%
Milwaukee: 17.3%
Charlotte: 11.6%

LittleOzzy wrote:Here is Hollinger's take on who will make it.

Washington: 94.3%
Atlanta: 68.0%
Indiana: 64.6%
Philadelphia: 20.8%
Chicago: 20.4%
Milwaukee: 17.3%
Charlotte: 11.6%

New Jersey not on the list ??

mintsa wrote:-= original quote snipped =-




New Jersey not on the list ??

barely... 0.8% for New Jersey

New York: 3.6%

Well, id love to see Atlanta get in with the young guys.

I feel bad for the Knicks with all that star power but no shine. I think new york is just praying for a birth even if they get swept.

LittleOzzy wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



barely... 0.8% for New Jersey

New York: 3.6%

Damn...that low ???

JErsey has gone on 2 huge winning steaks in the 2nd half of the season over the last 2 years. They could have one more in them.

mintsa wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Damn...that low ???

JErsey has gone on 2 huge winning steaks in the 2nd half of the season over the last 2 years. They could have one more in them.

His prediction is based on his rankings which used point differential as one of the factor. Jersey has a horrible point differential, which suggest they are lucky to be only 9 games under .500. When you added two more things, 1) Carter and Kidd isn't playing anywhere close to their level. 2) they have a very tough schedule ahead of them.

I'd like to see Atlanta and Chicago do it.

I think Chicago's struggles are going to be a short-term problem - certainly once they are out from Wallace's contract, things should start turning around. They are still a VERY young team.

And Atlanta has just been on the cusp of making it for several years now - and were it not for some REALLY BAD drafting (Shelden Williams over Brandon Roy, Marvin Williams over Chris Paul), they would already be there.

Hank_Scorpio wrote:Atlanta - 15 games back, in 7th place in the East
Indiana - 16.5
New Jersey - 17
Milwaukee - 17.5
Chicago - 17.5
Charlotte - 18
Philadelphia - 18.5
New York - 20.5

Adding to the intrigue is the fact that New York, at 5-5, has the best record over the past 10 games.

What makes this so interesting is that its basically playing for the right to get killed by Boston or Detroit in the first round. And yet, depending on which team you are talking about, it would be a tremendous achievement.

But what I think is interesting about this grouping is that it has the potential to define the East for several years. If Chicago can come out of this group, that may be enough to salvage what looks to be a completely lost season. If New York can make it, it may save Isiah's job.

More interesting would be to see Atlanta finish the season strong and establish themselves among the rising teams in the league. They certainly have been trying long enough.

Then let's hope they make it. Maybe he'll keep that squad together.

Bulls and Hawks maybe Nets but the rest i'm not sure off.

seanied wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Then let's hope they make it. Maybe he'll keep that squad together.

Don't get your hopes high.. Knicks are seriously f**ked up excuse my language

mintsa wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Damn...that low ???

JErsey has gone on 2 huge winning steaks in the 2nd half of the season over the last 2 years. They could have one more in them.

think i heard their schedule is going to be brutal.

My ideal Eastern Conference playoff rankings would be "
1. Boston
2. Detroit
3. Toronto
4. Washington (southwest winner)
5. Cleveland
6. Orlando
7. Chicago
8. Charlotte

Boston vs. Charlotte : Bobcats should have won both games, but are 1-1 against them this year. It would be alot like the Golden State vs Dallas 1st round match up last year. Best record, versus exciting team that hasn't been in the playoffs for awhile. Not saying Charlotte would win, but it would be much better than watching Boston roll some team in 4.

Detroit vs Chicago : Chicago is 3-0 against them this year and I think it could be a fun series.

Toronto vs. Orlando : If we could get homecourt and play a team much like ourselves last year in that it would be their first playoff experience for them as a team, and we'd have a years experience. It would also mean avoiding Boston another round, and a Detroit-Toronto playoff would be interesting. I doubt we'd win, but the proximity of the cities would add to the atmosphere.

Washington vs Cleveland : I really don't want to face Cleveland in the playoffs. It would be waaay too much of Lebron at the free throw line in the fourth quarter. Let the Wiz deal with them.


Overall still not as exciting as west coast match ups, but intriguing nonetheless.

LightingTheRafer wrote:My ideal Eastern Conference playoff rankings would be "
1. Boston
2. Detroit
3. Toronto
4. Washington (southwest winner)
5. Cleveland
6. Orlando
7. Chicago
8. Charlotte

Boston vs. Charlotte : Bobcats should have won both games, but are 1-1 against them this year. It would be alot like the Golden State vs Dallas 1st round match up last year. Best record, versus exciting team that hasn't been in the playoffs for awhile. Not saying Charlotte would win, but it would be much better than watching Boston roll some team in 4.

Detroit vs Chicago : Chicago is 3-0 against them this year and I think it could be a fun series.

Toronto vs. Orlando : If we could get homecourt and play a team much like ourselves last year in that it would be their first playoff experience for them as a team, and we'd have a years experience. It would also mean avoiding Boston another round, and a Detroit-Toronto playoff would be interesting. I doubt we'd win, but the proximity of the cities would add to the atmosphere.

Washington vs Cleveland : I really don't want to face Cleveland in the playoffs. It would be waaay too much of Lebron at the free throw line in the fourth quarter. Let the Wiz deal with them.


Overall still not as exciting as west coast match ups, but intriguing nonetheless.

Why did you put magic so low?

I agree with Schad. The only two teams I could trust in the last two playoff spots are New Jersey and Chicago. And at least they would give us some entertainment I wouldn't like to see Atlanta, Indiana, Milwaukee, New York,Charlotte or Philly in a playoff matchup with Boston and Detroit. That would be too easy we need teams to make Det. and Bos. work their butts off like Boston(Big 3) vs. New Jersey (Big 3 barring any injuries or trades) and Detroit vs. Chicago (lead Season Series 3-0)