RealGM

Lest look at all possible scenarios:

Options wit Philadelphia losing to Boston and at Cleveland


1) 6.Detroit 41:41/ 7.Chicago 41:41 /8.Philadelphia 40:42
- Philly loses to Boston and at Cleveland 40:42
- Detroit wins home Chicago,wins away at Miami(Miami resting players) 41:41
- Chicago loses at Detroit and then wining home Toronto 41:41


2) 6.Detroit 41:41/ 7.Philadelphia 40:42 /8.Chicago 40:42
- Philly loses to Boston and at Cleveland 40:42
- Detroit wins home Chicago,wins away at Miami(Miami resting players) 41:41
- Chicago loses at Detroit and then losing home Toronto 40:42


3) 6.Chicago 42:40(41:41)/ 7.Philadelphia 40:42 /8.Detroit 40:42(39:43)
- Philly loses to Boston and at Cleveland 40:42
- Detroit loses home Chicago,wins or loses away at Miami 40:42(39:43)
- Chicago wins at Detroit and then wins or loses home Toronto 42:40(41:41)


4) 6.Philadelphia 40:42/ 7.Chicago 40:42 /8.Detroit 40:42
- Philly loses to Boston and at Cleveland 40:42
- Detroit wins home Chicago,loses away at Miami 40:42
- Chicago loses at Detroit and then loses home Toronto 40:42


5) 6.Chicago 41:41/ 7.Philadelphia 40:42 /8.Detroit 40:42
- Philly loses to Boston and at Cleveland 40:42
- Detroit wins home Chicago,loses away at Miami 40:42
- Chicago loses at Detroit and then wins home Toronto 41:41

Philadelphia wining Boston and losing at Cleveland
OR losing to Boston and wining at Cleveland


2) 6.Philadelphia 41:41/ 7.Detroit 40:42(41:41) /8.Chicago 40:42
- Philly WINS Boston and loses at Cleveland 41:41
- Detroit wins home Chicago,loses or wins away at Miami 40:42(41:41)
- Chicago loses at Detroit and then losing home Toronto 40:42

If Detroit in this option wins in Miami 41:41 they would still be 7th, as long as Chicago loses at home to Toronto 40:42.
If Detroit in this option wins in Miami 41:41 and Chicago wins at home Toronto 41:41 all 3 teams would have 41:41 and the order would be the same as with 40:42 record (6.Phi / 7.Chi / 8.Det).

So the only options in which Detroit finishes 7th is:

1)Philadelphia WIN 1 out of 2
2)Detroit WIN Chicago,WIN or LOSS at Miami
3)Chicago LOSS to Toronto

Philadelphia wining Boston and wining at Cleveland

2 options:

1)Philadelphia WIN Boston,WIN at Cleveland 42:40
2)Detroit WIN Chicago, WIN or LOSS Miami 40:42(41:41)
3)Chicago LOSS to Toronto 40:42

AND

1)Philadelphia WIN Boston,WIN at Cleveland 42:40
2)Detroit WIN Chicago,WIN Miami 41:41
3)Chicago WIN Toronto 41:41

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Ufffff...It took me 1 hour to be sure I went through all possible scenarios but this is it.

Im relived now because I think that we are pretty safe to avoid Detroit. Even if we loss in Philly and if Detroit wins Chicago I think Chicago will win last game against Toronto to get 7th spot and play with us.
Ok there is still option Chicago loses on purpose to finish 8th and play Cleveland(if they would prefer them) because on wednesday they would now what win or loss means to them.

if we can't beat THESE Pistons---we don't deserve a Championship.

You want to avoid Detroit ? You guys really believe they're going to be a factor ? Chicago's youthful energy and renewed team is probably the most dangerous out of the 3..

Detroit doesn't even have a PG...Their overall experience is overrated IMO..

MaxwellSmart wrote:if we can't beat THESE Pistons---we don't deserve a Championship.

Yea, but we may need the weakest team we can get for either more rest or because we aren't that great of a team without the Big Ticket.

I think everyone would love to play PHI. Obviously DET is the team to avoid due to their experience...CHI has been playing well at home but they don`t play much defense...I rate DET as by far the best team out of all three, sure we would beat them in the first round but I don`t want to watch RIP Hamilton in another series...

Great analysis, BTW!

MaxwellSmart wrote:if we can't beat THESE Pistons---we don't deserve a Championship.

No kidding...this is a lousy and dysfunctional Detroit team...should be an easy out for a true contender...

I would much rather face DET. Phil and Chicago reminds me too much of last years Atlanta team. I could see Chicago making it a 7 game series. The Cs need to end series fast this time around and I think the Piston would be a fast 4 to 5 game series.

You guys underestimate Detroit...I still think they are the 3rd best team in East...I believe if they face Orlando Detroit will win the series...

klemen4 wrote:You guys underestimate Detroit...I still think they are the 3rd best team in East...I believe if they face Orlando Detroit will win the series...

I agree this could happen but for me it's more an indictment on how phony Orlando is than on how good Detroit is...the drop-off in quality from Boston and Cleveland to the rest of the East is sharp...

Imagine Pistons knock out Cleveland in 1st round. OMG. I then would think PISTONS are for real and still got it.

DieselCeltic wrote:Imagine Pistons knock out Cleveland in 1st round. OMG. I then would think PISTONS are for real and still got it.

People. Cleveland will cruise to the ECF easily, because a) they're damn good, b) they will have home-cookin' refereeing in every game they play, no matter where, c) it's good for business for the NBA...

So dreaming about them being upended in an upset in the first 2 rounds is pie-in-the-sky!

DieselCeltic wrote:Imagine Pistons knock out Cleveland in 1st round. OMG. I then would think PISTONS are for real and still got it.

Detroit hasn't been better than Cleveland since 2005-06. Cleveland was 2 last second shots away from sweeping Detroit the last time they met in the playoffs. And that was when Detroit was actually good.

MyInsatiableOne wrote:

DieselCeltic wrote:People. Cleveland will cruise to the ECF easily, because a) they're damn good, b) they will have home-cookin' refereeing in every game they play, no matter where, c) it's good for business for the NBA...

LBJ is going to get every call imaginable. I wouldn't be surprised to see him shooting 20 FTs a game because you know the refs are under orders from Stern to make it a Cavs/Lakers Finals.

^Absolutely. I usually, while thinking the reffing sucks, don't necessarily believe there is an outright conspiracy, but with LeBron I 100% absolutely do think so...

People, if the league can help it he is going to cakewalk to the Finals...we need to be there to stand in his way...

What we need is mang to come and rally the troops heading into the playoffs!

Well Detroit just choked away the game to the Bulls so its down to philly or chicago.