Let's throw in point differential too:
Cleveland: +7.1
Orlando: + 6.4
LA: + 6.0
Utah: + 5.5
Denver: + 5.0
Boston: + 4.5
Atlanta: + 4.5
Dallas: + 2.6
I define le Contenders thusly:
Favorites: LA, Cleveland
Second-Tier: Orlando, Denver, Dallas
Darkhorses: Atlanta, Boston, Utah
These are their records when they play against each other:
Denver: 11-4
Cleveland: 9-6
Orlando: 9-7
Dallas: 8-7
Atlanta: 8-8
LA: 8-9
Utah: 6-11
Boston: 4-11
Last edited by Findog; 03-11-2010 at 12:54 AM.
Let's throw in point differential too:
Cleveland: +7.1
Orlando: + 6.4
LA: + 6.0
Utah: + 5.5
Denver: + 5.0
Boston: + 4.5
Atlanta: + 4.5
Dallas: + 2.6
Offensive Efficiency:
Denver: 109.1
Cleveland: 109.0
Atlanta: 108.6
Orlando: 107.8
Utah: 107.5
Dallas: 106.9
LA: 105.9
Boston: 104.4
Well, Dallas has a different team now. I think they will be fine against the contenders. They matchup really well with Denver now.
Defensive Efficiency:
Boston: 99.3
Orlando: 99.6
LA: 99.8
Cleveland: 100.9
Utah: 102.4
Dallas: 103.1
Atlanta: 104.0
Denver: 104.3
Still it doesn't mean Mavs have a better chance atthan Lakers, nor Nuggets than Mavs. IMHO it doesn't hold much water to make evaluations of all the eastern and western contenders mixed one cluster. Maybe a western team holds overwhelming records against western contenders and lame ones in conference, then probably this team won't be able to stretch far enough to confront the eastern champion if these records successfully apply to playoff games.
No, it's teams that have a chance at winning a le. In all likelihood, that will be the Lakers or Cavs. Should one or both of those teams slip, it will be because of Orlando, Denver or Dallas. And I consider Atlanta, Boston and Utah to be longshots to win, but it's within the realm of possibility. Basically the top eight teams in the league that aren't first-round fodder.
Seems like a simplistic stat unless you underrate potential factors like injuries, back-to-backs, trades, chemistry, etc. However it does help how I feel about Jazz: They're not really a contender especially without HCA. The Jazz are playing well but just got a feeling that it won't carry over to the playoffs since they lack reliable third/fourth options and don't match up that well with the top teams.
One of the things that jumps out at me is that Denver is not an especially strong defensive team based on the stats, but they have plenty of offensive firepower, a good point differential and they've taken care of business against other elite teams.
only le contenders on that list are cleveland, orlando and LA
The other five are darkhorses basically. Or call them elite teams, because there's eight of them.
Hence why I feel they're the second best team in the West.
Orlando isn't winning jack this year.
Good call on Howard and bUtler being lateral, dumb .
Boston still brings the defense, but that team is old and they're going to be worn to the nub when the playoffs roll around.
back to back 2nd round exits = lateral dumb
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Ehhh, no. Barring a catastrophic chain of injuries, the Lakers or Nuggets will come out of the West. Nuggets need KMart to beat the Lakers though, I think. Utah could be the dark horse. In the east is either Cavs or Orlando. Boston is done. Atlanta could be the dark horse there.
IMO anyways.
youve already made one re ed prediction, may wanna cut your losses.
houston rockets 22 win streak and they were never contenders
just like dallas
may wanna cut your losses and save yourself from heartbreak now
If I had to do a power rankings, I'd do it this way:
1. Cleveland
2. LA
3. Orlando
4. Denver
5. Dallas
6. Utah
7. Atlanta
8. Boston
When you're betting against Dallas in the playoffs, you're always playing with house money.
Not if they draw the Spurs.
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