Re: Divisional standings

[Jamey Rallis <rallis@vgi.com>]

1. Miami -- point, center, and coach.  Most important 3 elements in NBA.
2. NY -- experience, center.  Injuries keep them from #1.
3. Orlando -- lack of talent is wearing Penny down.  Big slide at EOS.
4. Philly -- talent and coach is enough to squeak by below teams, barely.
5. Boston -- see philly
6. Washington -- all talent, no heart.  I think they like to lose.
7. NJ -- Imploding team, more fights between teammates than with opponents

3-6 will be separated by less than 5 games total.  That means a huge
logjam that will go down to the last week.  But Boston and Philly's poor
starts will allow Orlando to hold on (even with the big slide at the end
because Penny is worn out and injured).  Washington will start bad and get
worse as the frustration sets in.  They won't have the cushion to stay
ahead of Philly and Boston when they both make their moves in the spring 
as they get used to their coaches gameplan and conditioning program.  NJ
players will refuse to shake hands with their OWN teammates.

Sadly, it's possible that 5 of these teams will be sub .500, with Orlando
being just a few games under at mid-upper 30's in wins.  That leaves 4-6
with wins in the low to mid 30's.

- -Jamey