how are the spurs 3rd already?

[stretch]

i thought if Portland wins tonight, they would still finish ahead of them? they would have the same record, but portland won the season series 3-1. im a tad confused... either way, im glad we are going to see a Mavs vs. Spurs series.

[Kori Ellis]

This is the tie breaker rules:

Two-Team Tiebreaker
1. Division winner (this criterion is applied regardless of whether the tied teams are in the same division)
2. Better record in head-to-head games
3. Higher winning percentage within division (if teams are in the same division)
4. Higher winning percentage in conference games
5. Higher winning percentage against playoff teams in own conference
6. Higher winning percentage against playoff teams in opposite conference
7. Higher point differential between points scored and points allowed

Spurs have the three seed locked.

[CubanMustGo]

First tie-breaker in head to head among top four teams is whether or not one team is a division winner. There's all kinds of threads about it already.

[Dingle Barry]

This is the tie breaker rules:

Two-Team Tiebreaker
1. Division winner (this criterion is applied regardless of whether the tied teams are in the same division)
2. Better record in head-to-head games
3. Higher winning percentage within division (if teams are in the same division)
4. Higher winning percentage in conference games
5. Higher winning percentage against playoff teams in own conference
6. Higher winning percentage against playoff teams in opposite conference
7. Higher point differential between points scored and points allowed

Spurs have the three seed locked.

Kori, i know that is what ESPN says, but where are they getting that from?

According to the NBA:http://www.nba.com/statistics/playoff_picture.html#tbb
Ties for playoff positions (including division winners) will be broken utilizing the criteria set forth in subparagraph a. below (in the case of ties involving two teams) and subparagraph

a. Two Teams Tied
(1) Better winning percentage in games against each other.
(2) Better winning percentage against teams in own division (only if tied teams are in same division).
(3) Better winning percentage against teams in own conference.
(4) Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in own conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position).
(5) Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in opposite conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position).
(6) Better net result of total points scored less total points allowed against all opponents (“point differential”).

[team-work]

Spurs have the three seed locked.

After an injury-plagued & ultra-compe ive regular season, it's nice to see the Spurs ending up with the 3rd seed.

I've watching less on the Spurs recently since the birth of my son on 30th March. I'm sure the Spurs will play as hard as they can in the playoffs, just like in the past. Go Spurs go!

[stretch]

This is the tie breaker rules:

Two-Team Tiebreaker
1. Division winner (this criterion is applied regardless of whether the tied teams are in the same division)
2. Better record in head-to-head games
3. Higher winning percentage within division (if teams are in the same division)
4. Higher winning percentage in conference games
5. Higher winning percentage against playoff teams in own conference
6. Higher winning percentage against playoff teams in opposite conference
7. Higher point differential between points scored and points allowed

Spurs have the three seed locked.

Ah, gotcha. Thanks.

[Thomas82]

i thought if Portland wins tonight, they would still finish ahead of them? they would have the same record, but portland won the season series 3-1. im a tad confused... either way, im glad we are going to see a Mavs vs. Spurs series.

We just won our division, plus our conference record is better than Portland's. Oh yeah, division winners automatically get the top 3 seeds, and the non-division winner with the best record gets the 4th seed.

[Kori Ellis]

Kori, i know that is what ESPN says, but where are they getting that from?

The rule changed this year, I believe. I don't know why it's not noted on that NBA.com breakdown.

[Kori Ellis]

We just won our division, plus our conference record is better than Portland's. Oh yeah, division winners automatically get the top 3 seeds, and the non-division winner with the best record gets the 4th seed.

No, division winners don't automatically get the top 3 seeds (that was changed a few years ago). But it's the first tie-breaker if there's a tie.

[duncan228]

I've watching less on the Spurs recently since the birth of my son on 30th March.

Congrats! Hope mommy and baby team-work are doing well.

[Biggems]

We just won our division, plus our conference record is better than Portland's. Oh yeah, division winners automatically get the top 3 seeds, and the non-division winner with the best record gets the 4th seed.

wrong.........and i was wrong too.

if a 2nd place team has a better record than a division winner, the 2nd place team will have the 3 seed. if the 2nd place team has a better record than 2 division winners, the second place team will have the 2 seed.

if the 2nd place team ties with the division winner, the division winner gets the higher seed.....cause division champion trumps head to head and conference record.

[Rapper]

But why the Rockets were ahead of the blazers in the standings of yesterday?? The Rockets were in the 3 place and the Blazers were in the 4 place

both of them had the same record yesterday..53-28

[team-work]

Congrats! Hope mommy and baby team-work are doing well.

Thanks. They're fine so far. I wonder if he will be a basketball or Spurs fan in future. But I will certain tell him about my favorite team & this forum.

[fyatuk]

The rule changed this year, I believe. I don't know why it's not noted on that NBA.com breakdown.

NBA.com does no update the rules section very often. I've found rules that were 3-4 years out of date on there.

It's weird, since you'd think they'd be the first to be updated, but there it is.

[ElNono]

But why the Rockets were ahead of the blazers in the standings of yesterday?? The Rockets were in the 3 place and the Blazers were in the 4 place

both of them had the same record yesterday..53-28

Because the Rockets were the SW division leaders and Portland were not. Plus the Rockets own the head to head tiebreaker also.