They did, but Boston wasn’t at their best in that round. I’ll give credit where credit is due, Atlanta played phenomenal at home. But the Celtics were learning to win playoff games on the road.

“If regular season record is so important could you please answer my question? Which division is by far the weakest in the NBA?”

The Pacific Division isn’t as strong as it once was. But I think the Southeast Division is pretty weak too.

“If the playoffs started today the pistons would be the 5 seed in the east, the suns would be the 5 seed in the west. Who wins a 7 game series between those 2 teams?”

Phoenix.

“Miami vs. Dallas?”

Dallas.

“Boston and Cleveland both lost to lower level eastern confernce teams tonight. Is this a testament to the weakness of the eastern conference? or is it indicative of depth and overall strength?”

I think their losses were one game aberrations. I haven’t seen anything to indicate those losses as being part of a larger trend. The last time I remember reading anything about the East vs. West debate, the Eastern Conference’s top teams had played a disproportionate amount of games against the Western Conference’s worst teams. That had helped skew the East’s record against the West.

Let me ask you a few questions:

Which team is a tougher eight seed: Milwaukee or Portland?

Which team is a tougher seven seed: New Jersey or Houston?

didn’t the 8th seeded hawks take the eventual champion celtics to seven games last year in round one?

and if regular season record is so important could you please answer my question? Which division is by far the weakest in the NBA?

if the playoffs started today the pistons would be the 5 seed in the east, the suns would be the 5 seed in the west.

who wins a 7 game series between those 2 teams?

oh really?

well who wins a 7 game series between the current 6 seeds.

Miami vs. Dallas?

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boston and cleveland both lost to lower level eastern confernce teams tonight.

is this a testament to the weakness of the eastern conference? or is it indicitive of depth and overall strength?

The bottom four teams in the East are much better than the bottom four teams in the West. But 1 through 9, the West is still head and shoulders above the East.

If the playoffs started today, New Jersey and Milwaukee would make the postseason in the East. Both of those squads possess sub .500 records.

The East is narrowing the gap, but the path to the Finals is still infinitely more difficult in the West.

I hope you are having a Happy New Year. Just thought I’d stop by and antagonize you a lil’ bit. It’s been a while.

I know you’re people who know people so I was wondering what’s going on with the collective psyche of the NBA media.

Does Stephen A. still believe the L’Eastern conference to be weak? Just curious, because I decided to crunch some numbers and I was hoping you could twist them up for me so that KOBE!! bryant comes off looking like he deserves the Noble peace prize, and an Oscar for his contributions to humanity. He deserves it.

Current Won Loss totals by division.

Atlantic 83 wins – 82 losses = .503

Central 89- 76 = .539

Southeast 84 – 79 = .515

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Pacific 71 wins – 92 losses = .435

Southwest 93- 70 = .570

Northwest 74 – 95 = .438

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Only one division in the NBA houses 3 teams with 10 wins or less as of today. Which division is it?

and which division is the weakest in basketball.

Thank you in advance Hoffman for taking the time to respond to fan comments.

I love you.