With every team in the NBA 15-18 games into the shortened season, some very interesting trends have developed, and can be interpreted with just a quick look at the standings. Although my interest in the NBA has become very bleak, I can't say no to numbers, so every once in a while, I'll check the standings. Here were my first few thoughts when I took a look.
- What a difference a couple of big-name changes makes. Cleveland, now in their second year without LeBron, is 6-9. The Hornets, in their first run sans Chris Paul, sit at the bottom of the West with a 3-13 record, scoring 86.4 points per game. Meanwhile, Paul's new team, that other team in Los Angeles, leads the Lakers by one game in the Pacific Division.
- The Pacers and 76ers are a combiend 22-9? When was the last time this happened? Philadelphia leads the league in +/-...something is not right in the NBA.
- There is a four and a half game gap between the 6th and 7th place teams, where three 6-9 teams are tied. (Un)fortunately the Celtics are one of those three teams, and by some virtuous tiebreaker, sit in playoff position.
- The Celtics would be tied for 12th if they were in the West.
Is everyone okay with this? I read an article a while ago that tossed around the idea of taking the top sixteen teams, regardless of conference, and reseeding for the playoffs. If there's ever a time where this gets serious support, it's now. No way should a playoff team allow more points than it scores. Or have a losing record at home. Or be winless against the other conference. (The Celtics fall victim to all three of these perils, allowing 90.4ppg against 89.6 for, with a 4-5 home record, and an 0-4 record against the West, the only team in the league yet to win a game outside its conference.)
While none of this makes sense, if there's anything to be learned from this NBA season, it's that nothing makes sense anymore. Might as well start accepting that sooner rather than later.
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