Re: Crystal Ball of Playoffs.

[wfcooper@tiac.com (Bill Cooper)]

On Sun, 13 Apr 1997 22:32:21 -0400 (EDT), Fung Yee Danny Lin wrote:


>Say, what do y'all think of the playoffs this year?
>
>Here's my outlook:
>
>EAST                      WEST
>1.Chicago                 1.Utah
>2.Miami                   2.LAL
>3.NY                      3.Houston
>4.Atlanta                 4.Seattle
>5.Charlotte               5.Portland
>6.Detroit                 6.Minnesota
>7.Orlando                 7.Phoenix
>8.Washington              8.LAC

Actually I think that you should hold your powder till the actual
seeding is determined.  This morning Atlanta and NY are tied for the
3rd spot in the East (and the Hawks have played much better than the
Knicks since the All Star break).  LA, Houston and Seattle are in a
three way tie for the second best record in the West (though Houston
can't get the second seed).  Also Phoenix has pulled ahead of
Minnesota for the 6th spot in the West (has anyone noticed, that for
all the attention that McHale and the TWolves have been getting that
the team is under .500 and would probably have the same record as
Milwaukee if they played in the much tougher Eastern Conference).

Of  course, like everyone else in the known universe, I think the
Bulls (or the Red Oxen as I understand they're known in China) will
inevitably ascend to the Championship.  The real question is who they
will beat.  I was watching a bit of the Jazz-Lakers game on NBC
yesterday and they had some interesting graphics contrasting the
rather extreme difference in the Jazz performance home and away in the
playoffs, so the home court advantage might help Malone, Stockton &
Co. out.  conversely, the Rockets are justly famous for they're
ability to win on the road in the playoffs.

AS an aside, did yo realize that if the Bulls win the championship
this year that will give them 20 consecutive playoff series victories,
if you exclude the 2 years that MJ was humiliating himself on the
diamond.  The current record for consecutive playoff series victories
id held by the 1959-1966 Celtics at 18.  For the first time in decades
the question of which is the greatest team in NBA history
(multi-season) is going to come into play.

Bill Cooper
wfcooper@tiac.com