Central Division

[strangeweather]

I was just looking at the standings, and noticed that all five teams from the Central Division have better records than the rest of the Eastern Conference. With the loss last night, Miami slipped behind Chicago by percentage points.

So what do you think: can they all make the playoffs, or will one or more teams fade?

[Extra Stout]

A minimum of four will make the playoffs.

[Solid D]

It's certainly possible, but more likely 4 of the 5.

The Central Division is the best in the NBA with a .639 winning pct. Not only that, they have the best record of any division within their own Conference.

The Eastern Conference is still behind the curve against Western Conference opponents so far, however. Every Western Conference Division (as a group) has a better record against the Eastern Conference, than even the Central Division does against Western foes. See below...

Records as of 12/08/2005

Division W-L %.....Conf WL %.....Opp. Conf. WL %

Atlantic 33 59 .359.....17 35 .327.....16 24 .400

Central 53 30 .639.....32 10 .762.....21 20 .512

Southeast 32 58 .356.....21 25 .457.....11 33 .250

East Total 118 147 .445.....70 70 .500.....48 77 .384

Northwest 42 48 .467.....20 31 .392.....22 17 .564

Pacific .....53 37 .589......24 24 .500.....29 13 .690

Southwest 54 35 .607.....28 17 .622.....26 18 .591

West Total 149 120 .554.....72 72 .500.....77 48 .616

[ducks]

I will laugh when cavs do not make it again when they go on their usually after allstar break lossing streak

[Solid D]

Cavs have a different coach but they haven't learned defense yet. What's up with that coach Brown? They don't defend inside or out very well. They do shoot a very high % at the line (ranked 2nd), they have the 2nd best scoring avg. and they have the 6th best point per game differential.

Unless there are injuries, I see Cleveland in the post-season this time.

Greg Anthony tallks about how the West has declined and the East is much better this season. Uh....not according to head-to-head records thusfar. I wouldn't say .616 for the West and .384 for the East an indication of improvement for the East as a whole.

Maybe he's just been watching the Central Division games.

[travis2]

If Houston ever pulls its head out of its collective ass, the SW Division will be on top again.

[strangeweather]

Cavs have a different coach but they haven't learned defense yet. What's up with that coach Brown?

They're mostly kids, and they're not used to any kind of functioning defensive system, much less the kind of discipline that Pop would demand. It'll take time, probably a year or two.