SA is 5 games ahead of LA. LA is 4 games ahead of a team that won't make the playoffs.

Doesn't matter if they get in as the 8th seed, no team is going to underestimate them come playoff time. That's an idiotic thing to hope for.

Heat, Bulls and Thunder are the 3 best teams, and are obvious contenders to me. I really don't see any way a team other than the Heat or Bulls comes out of the East.

The Thunder are a little more vulnerable because of the veteran teams in the West.

4. Lakers - Two good big men on offense, Kobe can still close. I could see them making a run if Kobe lets the Gasol/Bynum carry the load early and then takes over down the stretch.
5. Dallas - Dallas still plays good defense and I think Dirk is the best shot maker in the game in crunch time. Like Kobe, I don't think he can carry his team for all 4 quarters anymore, but if they can get to the 4th...
6. San Antonio - I won't write them off, but I don't think they win the West with Tony Parker as the best player.

I don't see any other team outside of those 6 that can win it all.

Last year was a great example of why you can't count out a lot of teams. ****, I picked against Dallas in every round of the playoffs last year, much less thought they could win it all.

Hell, I wouldn't even count out the knicks if they can keep amare off of the court. Look at their record and defensive stats since dantoni left.

I think Memphis could make a run of it if they got healthy for playoffs time.

IT's funny to me that people are still judging teams based on regular season standings. As long as you get to the playoffs, anything goes. It's all about match ups once you get to that point.

quote:

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IT's funny to me that people are still judging teams based on regular season standings.

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No team seeded worse than 6 has EVER won an NBA championship. Ever.

LA is 2.5 games up on the current 6th seed (Dallas).

Do I think LA is a contender? Yes. But barely.

Well, in the other lockout-shortened year, a #8 seed made it to the Finals.

Level 1
1 Bulls
2 Heat
3 Thunder

Level 2
4 Mavs
4 Magic
4 Spurs

Mavs? The team with the 11th best record jn the league?

Once a homer always a homer

Again, lol @ judging regular season records for playoff predictions. Morons.

More often than not, teams with better regular season records are the teams slugging it out in the Conference Finals/NBA finals. Regular season is not everything, and upsets happen, but if you win a higher seed you benefit from home court adv and usually more favorable match ups.

Sometimes you get the worst possible matchup (2011 Spurs, 2007 Mavs) and your screwed. But to say that regular season performance doesn't mean anything is ridiculous.