Re: prediction

[W <titans@ihug.com.au>]

> 50 wins, 6th place in east.  That means 6 teams will finish with at least
> 50 wins?  has that happened in recent years?  How many teams in the east
> lately have finished over 50 wins?  I have to admit, watching the C's
> finish so badly in recent years, I haven't paid much attention to the
> actual wins of the best teams, only the middle to bottom teams.

I have no idea how many teams have finished with over 50 wins through a whole
season in any conference.
Here is how many teams would have last season had each team played 82 games
and had the same winning percentage

Eastern Conference

Indiana - 54
Miami - 54
Orlando - 54
Atlanta - 51
then Detroit with 48

Western Conference

San Antonio - 61
Utah Jazz - 61
Portland - 57
Lakers - 51
Houston - 51
Then Phoenix with 44

In 1997'98

East - 5 teams (Chicago, Indiana, Miami, Charlotte, Atlanta)
West - 5 teams (Utah, Seattle, Lakers, Phoenix, San Antonio)

In 96'97

East - 6 teams (Chicago, Miami, NYK, Atlanta, Charlotte, Detroit) -- combined
winning percentage of teams under 50 wins  was .401
West - 4 teams (Utah, Seattle, Houston, Lakers)

So the answer is 1996'97