If Detriot and Boston were in the Western Conference

[Awoooga]

Where would they finish?

I think it goes

1) Lakers
2) Pistons
3) Spurs
4) Suns
5) Celtics
6) Mavericks
7) Rockets
Hornets

[Bucky O'Hare]

Boston would be top-3, Detroit would be somewhere between 5-8.

[Patterns]

1.Celtics
2.Lakers
3.Pistons
4.Spurs
5.Mavericks
6.Rockets
7.Hornets
8.Suns

[Awoooga]

Boston is overrated, I think they get knocked in the 2nd round if they have to play Cleveland.

[JES12]

By the end of the regular season?

Boston still #1

1) Celtics
2) Fakers
3-8 in no particular order (Spurs, Suns, Mavs, Pistons, Hornets, Jazz)

[JES12]

Boston is overrated, I think they get knocked in the 2nd round if they have to play Cleveland.

I think the biggest question mark with Boston was the PG and Rondo has surprised me completely. Posey and Perkins have also surprised me.

I think they will end with the best record but lose to Detroit in the playoffs.

[Bucky O'Hare]

The Piston's are 14-7 (.667) vs the West compared to 28-8 vs the East. Their forte is beating up on bad teams, and choking in the playoffs. I can't see that cutting it in the wild, wild West.

[sca]

The Piston's are 14-7 (.667) vs the West compared to 28-8 vs the East. Their forte is beating up on bad teams, and choking in the playoffs. I can't see that cutting it in the wild, wild West.

0.667 is as good as 6th seed in the west and when you consider the fact they will play some eastern teams too, that means they would get a better seed.

[andyhop]

The Piston's are 14-7 (.667) vs the West compared to 28-8 vs the East. Their forte is beating up on bad teams, and choking in the playoffs. I can't see that cutting it in the wild, wild West.

Only 2 teams in the West the Lakers and Dallas have better winning percentages against Western teams than the Pistons so I would imagine they would cope.

[Ortho Stice]

1. Celtics
2. Pistons
3. Lakers
4. Spurs
5. Mavs
6. Hornets
7. Jazz
8. Warriors

Celtics and Pistons have been the best teams this year and would finish one and two; Celtics were 16-0 vs. the "superior" conference until a minor slip-up. Had to drop the Suns out since Kerr sabotaged them. I don't know what the equivalent of the Shaq trade would be for another team. Maybe if the Spurs traded Manu for Scottie Pippen?

[rumdiary]

1. Lakers (scary good after robbing Memphis)
2. Spurs
3. Celtics
4. Hornets
5. Pistons
6. Jazz
7. Suns (I don't think the Shaq trade was so great. Especially after losing by 30 to Detroit, or was it 40?)
8. Rockets/Warriors

[e in boulder]

Boston is overrated, I think they get knocked in the 2nd round if they have to play Cleveland.

You and Bill Simmons. I bet you would of picked Emeka Okafor over Dwight Howard too? Or Pats minus 12.5 against the Giants in the Super Bowl?

Common...These new acquisitions for the Cavs were yesterdays trash for 2 of the worst teams in the league this year. The idea that Wally Herbs, Delonte West, and Big Been are going to beat a 60 win team, in a 7 game series no less, is ridiculous.

Quit drinking the kool-aid, these sportswriters and national pundits have too much sucking up on their agenda to filter through a decent opinion. Guys like Jalen Rose and Mike Wilbon are just looking for invites to LeBron's next All-Star Weekend party.

[Hunter]

I think the Pistons & Celts would just add to the congestion. You'd wind up with about 8 teams in that 53-58 win range and how you wanna order them is about anybodies guess. Hell, I could see it be so tightly packed you wind up with 6 teams all in that 55-57 win range.

IF I had to guess I'd say the Celts would still be 1st or 2nd. Not neccesarily because they are so much better than all those other teams, but because they've been playing with a greater intensity. Teams like Dallas, SA & Detroit that have been through this enough times sorta pace themselves then gear up the last 3rd of the season and then kick it up a notch in the post-season. I tend to think Boston might not have that extra gear they go to because they are already in it and have been since the start of the season.

I actually think that is part of why so few #1 teams have been able to win it all over the past decade - because when the real season starts and everybody matches their intensity that edge they've played with all season is negated.

As for Detroit, I'd guess 4 or 5 seed. Maybe 6, w/ a possible first round upset before imploding in the 2nd round.

The playoffs are as much a battle of attrition as anything. Whoever is healthiest may certainly have the edge. Although it's also about matchups. With things as close as they are the "best" team may not advance with a bad draw or a bit of bad luck. It'll be real interesting to see what actually happens.

Right now I like the Lakers, but we still need to see how exactly Bynum is going to fit in and how he'll adjust to having another guy down low with him. And Pau will have to adjust to another big body taking up space down low as well. And you can never write off the champs. For some reason everybody is sleeping on the Spurs, but Mighty Mouse and especially KT were great pickups.

[BadWolf]

I think that western teams play with bigger intensity then Pistons and Celtics. Right now, well, at least sice New Year, Celtics and Pistons really don't care whether they win or lose, ok a little exaggeration but you get the point. Western teams play every damn game like it's a life or death situation, every win counts, a few wins could mean no playoffs this year, a win could mean no home court. Which only gives more credit to Boston (still 18-3 vs west) and Detroit (14-7). If only these two teams had to take every game seriously.

[ropjhk]

Let's look at their records vs. the West for an indication

Boston: 18-3 vs. West
Detroit: 14-7 vs. West

Compare with other Western teams:
Lakers: 22-8 vs. West
Spurs: 21-13 vs. West
Utah: 21-13 vs. West
Hornets: 26-13

Only the Lakers have a better winning percentage vs. the West than Detroit, and nobody beats Boston in that category.

From that, my guess:
Boston
LA
Detroit
SA
rest of current West standings

[Magz50]

1. Lakers
2. Spurs
3. Detroit
4. Houston
5. Mavs
6. Boston
7. NO
8. Phoenix

[AWalkerREMIX]

1. Lakers
2. Spurs
3. Detroit
4. Houston
5. Mavs
6. Boston
7. NO
8. Phoenix

That makes sense. Boston beats the Lakers twice, the Spurs without Garnett, they split with Detroit, beat Houston, and beat Dallas without Garnett....OBVIOUSLY they would be behind all of those teams.

[Last Guardian]

Pistons would be #1. They'd destroy the West.

[Dtown84]

Throwing out the divisions for a moment, and just taking current records so no need to be offended Rocket fans

1) Celtics (18-3 against the west, which is the best winning %)
2) Lakers
3) Detroit (Fourth best winning percentage against west, but fair much better against the east than Dallas. 5-1 against the top 4 records out west)
4) San Antonio
5) Phoenix
6) New Orleans
7) Dallas
8 ) Utah

Would make for a very interesting first round.

[LAKESHOW]

these are 2 of the very best in the league. not just the eastern conference. problem is, the other 6 are scrubs in that conference.