Re: Playoff opponent

[Eggcentric@xxxxxxx]

< ok, Playoffs around the corner. Who do we want to/not want to play? >
-Steve B. 

Matchup-wise, I have a feeling we might have the most difficulty 
with New Jersey and Philly in the playoffs. 

Detroit, who may well end up as Eastern Division Champions,  is still 
a mystery to me.  Like a cheap Timex, they somehow just keep ticking. 
They rank 24th in salary but 4th in overall record at 47-26, establishing 
Rick Carlisle as a strong candidate for Coach of the Year.  

QUESTION: HOW MANY ADDITIONAL VICTORIES PER SEASON IS A GOOD 
COACH WORTH?

On paper, it would seem we could defeat Detroit in a 7-game series, 
yet we are 1-2 against them this season including a humiliating 118-66 
blowout. And while we have been embracing the agony of defeat rather
than the thrill of victory, they have been embracing just the opposite.

Position-by-position comparisons - top six Eastern Division teams 

    NJ_________IND_______NO________CELTS______PHILLY_____DETROIT

PF  Martin (3)......ObNeal(1).....Brown (6)......Walker (4).....Van 
Horn(5)..Wallace (2)
SF  Jefferson (2)..Artest (3)....Mashburn (1).Williams (4)..McKie 
(5)......Curry (6)
C   Motumbo(1)...Miller (2)....Magliore (3)...Battie (4).......Coleman 
(6)..Robinson (5)
PG  Kidd (1)..........Tinsley (5)..Davis (2).........Bremer (6)....Snow 
(4).......Billups (3)
SG  Kittles (6)......Miller (5)....Wesley (4)......Pierce (1)......Iverson 
(1)...Hamilton (3)  
    
      Harris .............Harrington....Lynch ..............Delk 
...............Thomas ..........Williamson
      Collins .............Strickland.....Alexander........McCarty 
.........Hill ................Barry
      Williams .........Mercer .........Traylor ...........Blount 
............Buckner ........Okur
      Rogers .............Bender ..........Anderson .........Long 
...............Skinner .........Atkins

Egg