03-01-2006, 09:26 AM
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#1 (permalink)
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Lover Not A Fighter...
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Silk City, Jersey...
Age: 28
Posts: 5,807
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What’s The Most Favorable Playoff Position???...
Quote:
What’s The Most Favorable Playoff Position?
Wednesday, March 1, 2006
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QUESTION
OF THE DAY
Conrad Brunner
Q. I know this is a little pre-emptive but the playoff picture seems to be taking shape. Miami looks like the best team in the Southeast Division, then New Jersey or Philadelphia in the Atlantic, and Detroit looks like it will win the Central. If the playoff picture stayed the same, and since Detroit is so far ahead, it is likely that the Pacers would end up between the 4-6 seeds in the East. My question is, with the recent success against the New Jersey Nets and the way the Pacers match up with Philadelphia, what would be the best seed for the Pacers? (From Omry in Indianapolis)
A. Though a little more than one-third of the season remains, the playoff bracket in the East is indeed taking shape, at least at the top. Detroit will win the Central Division and cruise into the No. 1 seed. Miami has a firm grasp on the Southeast Division and the No. 2 seed. And the Nets have separated themselves from the 76ers, with a three-game lead in the Atlantic and a more favorable remaining schedule.
Cleveland is holding the fourth seed but the Cavs, for the second year in a row, are showing signs of wavering down the stretch. So it's not unrealistic for the Pacers, who trail the Cavs by just two games and are tied in the loss column, to target the No. 4 seed as a best-case scenario because it would bring homecourt advantage in the first round.
But they're hardly alone. Just 1½ games separate the fifth-place Pacers from the eighth-place 76ers, and it's safe to assume that pack will be shuffled a few times before the season ends. At the moment, though, the Pacers, Wizards, Bucks and 76ers are relatively safe in the bottom half of the bracket. Of the teams currently in lottery position, only Chicago is within striking distance of a playoff spot and the Bulls trail the 76ers by three games.
All would prefer to avoid the No. 8 seed and a first-round pairing with the Pistons. And Miami appears to be getting its act together, finally, making the Heat a formidable opening opponent for the No. 7 seed. The difference between the sixth and seventh seed could be fractional in the standings, but it's monumental in terms of the favorability of the matchup.
At No. 6, the Pacers would likely face the Atlantic winners, either the Nets or Sixers. It's not out of the realm of possibility they'd have homecourt advantage in that series, should they finish with the better record. Should they advance, they'd be in Miami's bracket for the second round and would avoid Detroit until the conference finals. There might be a little more glory in finishing fourth or even fifth but, as things stand now, sixth looks like the most attractive position in the lower half of the bracket.
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What’s The Most Favorable Playoff Position???...
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