Sizing Up The East Playoff Race: Four Teams For The Final Three Spots

[duncan228]

Sizing Up The East Playoff Race: Four Teams For The Final Three Spots
SportingNews

It wasn’t quite the way things normally happen in the NBA. But last week’s trading deadline saw an odd intertwining of interests—manifesting itself in two trades that were made and one that was not—among four teams poised to fight for the final three East playoff spots over the last two months of the season.

The Bulls sent John Salmons to Milwaukee. The Bobcats pulled Tyrus Thomas from Chicago. The Bulls got Hakim Warrick, Joe Alexander, Flip Murray and Acie Law in the two deals and created an acre of cap space. That’s where the fourth team in the East playoff mix, Miami, comes in. The Heat were unable to get Amare Stoudemire, and should that failure wind up costing them a playoff spot, star guard Dwyane Wade likely won’t be very happy. He is a free agent this summer and could be a target of his hometown Bulls.

That’s a lot of backs being scratched among rivals.

"You hesitate trading within the division and a team like Chicago that is right around the corner from us," Bucks general manager John Hammond said. "Chicago was in a significant position already. They had $13 million in cap room. Did they get more from us? They did, but if it wasn’t with us, they had other opportunities. If they didn’t move (Salmons) to us, I don’t want to speak for them, but they probably would have been able to move him somewhere else. At the end of the day, you have to do what’s best for your organization."

That’s what the Bulls felt they were doing by trading away Thomas, a lottery pick in the 2006 draft, who repeatedly butted heads with coaches in his three-plus years in Chicago. But, now he solidifies Charlotte’s frontcourt. "It’s obvious we’ve been a little shorthanded at the four position," Charlotte coach Larry Brown said. "So this is something we have needed for a long time. … I think the way we are trying to build this team, this is the kind of kid we are looking for, who makes our team better."

The Bobcats may be better, but they still may not be good enough to earn a playoff spot. The assumption might be that Charlotte, which has never made the postseason, needs the playoffs most desperately. Not so. All four franchiseshave significant reasons to view this playoff chase with urgency.


Charlotte Bobcats

Why they need it: In a small market with the franchise seeking a buyer, some sort of morale lift would be a nice change.

Reason to hope: The addition of Thomas helped mask Charlotte’s biggest weakness, and as the front line comes together, the Bobcats will be an imposing defensive team.

Reason to worry: Heading into Wednesday’s game in Utah, Charlotte was just 7-21 on the road and had more remaining road games (13) than the other teams looking for East spots.

Outlook: The Bobcats have the talent to get into the playoffs, but they’ve been streaky. Their road woes are likely to keep them out.


Chicago Bulls

Why they need it: The Bulls have cap space this summer and need to sell themselves as an up-and-comer to free agents.

Reason to hope: They enter the stretch with a slight lead over the other three teams, they play a home-heavy schedule and they were not forced to trade Kirk Hinrich, who has been outstanding as a starter.

Reason to worry: Joakim Noah’s plantar fasciitis will linger, as will distracting rumors about coach Vinny Del Negro’s future. A lack of depth means everyone has logged heavy minutes.

Outlook: Derrick Rose continues to grow into s om, and that’s going guarantee the Bulls find their way into the postseason.


Miami Heat

Why they need it: They don’t want to send Wade into free agency as a lottery team. That would bode ill for their chances of bringing him back.

Reason to hope: They play 10 of their next 12 at home, and when crunch time comes in April, they have no games against playoff teams.

Reason to worry: Wade’s calf injury has already kept him out of three games, and could keep him out of at least two more. They added no depth at the deadline, though they needed it.

Outlook: At times, the Heat look like a team ready to run out of gas. But their remaining schedule is so friendly, they almost have to make the playoffs.


Milwaukee Bucks

Why they need it: They’re a small-market team that has not made the playoffs in four years—the Bucks could use the financial bump of a playoff berth.

Reason to hope: They’d won nine of 12 entering Wednesday, and have shown the ability to play shutdown defense. They also have the tiebreaker edge over the three other teams.

Reason to worry: They start rookie point guard Brandon Jennings, whose numbers have dropped recently, and are hoping Salmons finds his perimeter shot.

Outlook: They must hold up on the road, where they’ve struggled. That No. 8 spot is likely to come down to how Charlotte and Milwaukee perform away from home.

[supervietnamlakers]

im hoped bobcats gets playoffs seed lol. cavs and labron have always lose to them