SEASON REVIEW
We all know it was a tough season for the Bobcats, but now it is time to recap the NBA season it was for the 2004/05 season. Let's start with how each division ended up.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
NORTHWEST DIVISION
The Northwest was a deep division, like much of the West, with the worst team Utah ending with a .431 clip. However disappointingly, only the Minnesota Timberwolves were able to advance through to the playoffs, securing the 3rd seed courtesy of winning the division.
The team that has to feel the most hard done by is the Denver Nuggets who didn't qualify for the playoffs despite finishing with a 31-27 record, which would have been good enough for a 4th seed in the East. In the off-season the team re-tooled its by adding all-star forward Kenyon Martin. Unfortunately the team lost Voshon Lenard before the season started to injury and he didn't return until April, by which point it was too late to catch the T'wolves.
Portland and Utah just didn't have the team chemistry throughout the season to compete against the elite of the West, and subsequently will not play past April. It is Seattle who should rue the missed opportunity of another season. The Sonics bolted out to a Conference-best 6-1 start to the season behind the stellar play of Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. Whilst Allen and Rashard Lewis continued at All-Star level, they could not support the rest of the team's mediocre performances.
I expect this division to be more competitive in the West next season as the Nuggets and Jazz continue to gel and improve. As for the Blazers and Sonics, I reckon their rosters need to be worked on in the off-season.
PACIFIC DIVISION
Despite a late injury to Peja Stojakovic which could cause problems in the playoffs, the Kings were able to hold off the Lakers to take the division and the No. 2 seed in the 1st Round. The irony is that these two teams will meet in the 1st Round. With the injury to Peja that will keep him out for the series, this pacific matchup should be a scorcher.
Phoenix ended with a 27-31 record which was a pretty good result considering the slow start they got to the season. I am expecting much better things from the Suns in 05/06. The Warriors ended the season a very disappointing 25-33. Considering that they were in the playoff picture around the All-Star break, it is gloomy days for Warriors fans. Expect those days to continue unless something drastic happens in the off-season. Finally the LA Clippers return to their place as the doormats of the West. Nothing more needs to be said about the Lakers' poor cousins.
SOUTHWEST DIVISION
The Southwest division was unbelievable as all five teams in the division qualified for the playoffs. The Memphis Grizzlies hold the No. 1 seed throughout the playoffs as they beat the streaking Spurs on a tiebreaker for the honour. Both teams are legitimate championship contenders, and anything less than a title will be a disappointing result, especially for the Spurs.
The Mavericks once again scorched through the regular season but can they deliver in the playoffs. Only time will tell. The Houston Rockets' dynamic duo of T-Mac and Yao has gone from strength-to-strength and will provide a tough 1st Round matchup for the T'wolves. Finally the Hornets, in their 1st season in the West, managed to hold onto the No. 8 seed and will matchup against division rivals, the Memphis Grizzlies.
The West was strong as per usual. Things weren't so merry out East.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
ATLANTIC DIVISION
Boston was the lone bright spot in an otherwise dismal showing from the Atlantic pretenders. They had a 6-2 record in the division and secured the No. 2 seed in the East. The C's will be joined in the post-season by arch-enemies, the New York Knicks, who only needed a 28-30 record to secure a No. 5 seed.
For Toronto, Philadelphia and New Jersey, there seasons are over and they should stay that way. A shame for them that there is not much available in the draft of in free agency. Ah well, at least with a healthy Jason Kidd for the entire season, the Nets should return to the playoffs next season.
CENTRAL DIVISION
The Central Division was the East's strongest, although that isn't saying much. Two quality teams (Detroit and Cleveland) have moved forward with the No. 1 and 4 seeds respectively, and one young up-and-coming team (Chicago) made a late charge to secure the No. 7 seed and a matchup with the Celtics. All three of these teams appears to have bright futures.
The same can't be said about Milwaukee who finish at the bottom of the Central Division with a 25-33 record, and face the prospect of losing Michael Redd to free agency. I'll give the Pacers the benefit of the doubt this season as they played without O'Neal, S-Jax and Ron Artest until April. By the time they rejoined the team, the season was over. There's always next year boys, as long as you can keep your cool. Listening to me Ronnie?!?
SOUTHEAST DIVISION
I don't even want to discuss this one but I guess we have to. Firstly it's a disgrace that the Heat, with a losing record (28-30), can hold the No. 3 seed in the 1st Round. The only saving grace is that they will meet the overachieving Atlanta Hawks (27-31) in the 1st Round. Shaq carried the Heat and 'Toine carried the Hawks. It is as simple as that.
Orlando Magic scrapped into the No. 8 seed but will be out in 3 games. At least Grant Hill provided the fairy tale story in O-Town that could have easily have been made into a Disney movie. The Wizards plain sucked, and they were the worst team in the league, outside of the expansion Bobcats. Which leads us to the Bobcats, who actually did better than expected with their dodgy roster. At least Emeka Okafor has a bright future though and they can build around him.
Why we had to end on this division, I do not know. That is how the teams stacked up over the 58 game season. Now it's time for the business end of the season.
by The X on Wed Feb 02, 2005 11:25 pm 
