NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

hey guys, is there a new rule in the NBA where the teams leading their respective divsions will get the top 3 spots in their respective conference?

when i saw the standings at NBA.com Philly is at the number 3 spot in the eastern conference; however their winning percentage is actually saying that they should be at the number 8 spot or shouldn't be there at all. here, look at the standings...

http://www.nba.com/standings/team_record_comparison/conferenceNew_Std_Cnf.html

can someone please explain this to me? thanks [/url]

yeh the leaders of each division fill out the top 3 spots of the conference.
And hence philly is in the weak weak weak atlantic division they are the number 3 team despite having a poor record.

that's the best news the #6 seed can hear, they will play a team that shouldn't be in the playoffs at all....that could be Orlando, Washington in the 6th seed.

Very good news, means they might play the Knicks. Damn would that be easy the way they are playing at the moment.

The sad thing is that the 6th seed will very likely be beating the #3 seed, I was actually talking to my brother about this a few days ago.

I'm assuming the playoffs will be like this:

1) Miami Heat
2) Detroit Pistons
3) Atlantic Winner
4) Cleveland Cavaliers
5) Orlando Magic [they should pass the Wizards now because of the injury]
6) Washington Wizards
7) Indiana Pacers
8) Chicago Bulls

Indiana and Detroit first round would be funny.

The Pacers'll probably pass the Wizards too.

So it could be the Pacers vs. the Knicks, Celtics, or 76ers.

Bad news for any of those three teams if it goes down like that.

The new playoff format sucks. It takes away the competition. You have a below .500 team with Philadelphia that has the 3rd seed who's going to lose to the 6th seed.

The new playoff format sucks. It takes away the competition. You have a below .500 team with Philadelphia that has the 3rd seed who's going to lose to the 6th seed.

Its not the format that sucks...its the East that sucks. If the east had better teams the problem would be solved.

as long as the 2 best teams actually meet up

This format doesn't give that deserve to go in the playoffs a chance. If you have the Knicks with a 30-52 record and that's the best one in the Atlantic division, they would still make it.

Yea that rule is bullshit

This format doesn't give that deserve to go in the playoffs a chance. If you have the Knicks with a 30-52 record and that's the best one in the Atlantic division, they would still make it.

Ok, well what about all the west teams that dont make the playoffs even tho their record is better than the east teams that do make the playoffs? No matter what the rule is gonna have to leave out some teams.

its not a different rule this year, its always been this way.

the only difference is there are 3 divisions instead of 2.

last year the pacers and the pistons had to 2 best records in the east.

the pacers got the one seed because and the nets got the 2 seed because the nets won their division.

There really is no top team in the atlantic division as 3 outta the 5 teams (Boston, phili & New York) all have the same record of 17wins 20losses. Its a joke really cause anyone of those 3 teams can walk right into the playoffs in the 3rd position. SO even though the division is very weak! it is highly competitive with this rule ya'know!?!

only in the Atlantic.....theres no way anyof those teams should get a #3 seed....fortunately, they'll get knocked out

hey this is good news for Pistons if they get #2 seed.....assuming Indy end up with #5 spot

Scenario:
1. Miami
2. Detroit
3. Knicks (assume)
4. Cleveland
5. Indiana
6. Orlando
7. Washington
8. Boston

Detroit should beat Washington, and then they play winner of Orlando vs Knicks...too easy Miami would have to rumble with Cleveland or Indy

I dont think Detroit will even make it past a healthy washington.

A fully healthy Washington will be a real tough matchup for Detroit because that includes:

G - Arenas | Blake
G - Hughes | Dixon
F - Jamison | Hayes
F - Kwame | Etan Thomas
C - Haywood | Ruffin

The Pistons won't be able to prey on the Wizards froncourt like they would agaisnt other teams, and they don't have any advantage in terms of depth either.

People are underestimating Arenas, Hughes, and Jamison.

Very much so
They are highly "under-rated"

If it ends up being Knicks-Magic in the 1st round, then I'm happy.
Knicks definately have a chance, although I do agree on the Atlantic Division (and the whole East) being weak.

Who the hell is going to beat San Antonio?

seattle owns san antonio up to this point, maybe they might get'em in the playoffs too

The Clippers could beat San Antonio

No not really, but they lost by 1 last night, I cried, Brand and Duncan basically shut each other down offensively in the game.

The Clippers could beat San Antonio

No not really, but they lost by 1 last night, I cried, Brand and Duncan basically shut each other down offensively in the game.

Chris Kaman was the offensive force that kept the clippers in it. I NEVER thought I would ever say that.

Kaman scored 21 twice vs the Kings, in the 2 consecitive games the Clippers had with them, and had 14 and 11 rebounds. Going into yesterday's game, he was averaging 21 points and 13 rebounds the past 3 games.

His offense has really improved, and he compliments Brand so much more than Wilcox.