http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/powerranking The Blazers have the largest margin of victory (+9.81) of any team in the league over the last 1/4 of the season. He also has the Rockets ranked 6th. So, according to Hollinger's system, the 3rd and 6th best teams in the entire league are meeting in the 1st round. BNM
Portland is almost as close to the Lakers, in his ranking score, as Boston is to Portland. Portland has been red hot for the last quarter-season. If it keeps up into the playoffs, they really could get to the Finals.
ESPN showed the best records since the all-star break. I believe that Portland was third-best and Houston was fourth-best. It sucks that we got such a good and hot team that matches up with us so well, but if I were a Rockets fan I think that this is the matchup (outside of against LA, of course) that I'd want the least. They'd crush San Antonio and I think that they'd beat Denver up on the inside while siccing Artest on Carmelo... Ed O.
After so many ending season slumps this sure is refreshing to say the least!! I feel so confuse! I'm not use to this!
Well, of course "best" doesn't really matter. It is the record that matters. And, of course, being in the Wetern Conference, where match ups like this (2 top 10 "best" teams) meeting in the first round happen many years. It sucks for both teams. Really sucks. One of the 6 "best" teams in the entire NBA is guaranteed to go home after only one round diluting the quality of the playoffs. If the conferences were not taken into account for the playoffs and this BCS style seeding system were used the 1st round matchups would be: 1: Cleveland 16: Philly 2: Lakers 15: Chicago 3: Portland 14: New Orleans Funny, this would have been the matchup if N.O. could have made a free throw. 4: Orlando 13: Miami Interesting in-state matchup 5: Boston 12: Atlanta Interesting re-match of a tough series last year 6: Houston 11: Phoenix Suns are in! 11th "best" team out of 16 team playoffs. Shame. 7: Denver 10: Utah Mountain city matchup 8: San Antonio 9: Dallas The battle for Texas
I actually think those match-up would be more entertaining than the ones we actually have for the 1st round. BNM
Or if a team wasnt allowed to make a game winning 3 pointer say ... after the shot clock has expired. (cough, cough .. Spurs)
But don't you know Nate can't coach and his teams always collapse at the end? Where is Mixim when we need him????
