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NBA Thursday: Chicago Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers have battled their way all the way back up into fourth place, which insures them home court advantage for one round in the playoffs. Nipping at their heels are the steadily improving Washington Wizards, in fifth place. If the Wizards pass the Cavaliers they would be given the first round home court advantage, which may be what the Wizards need to beat the Cavs, being they’ve lost to them the last two seasons. James is averaging 30.4 points a game, and over seven assists, so he is clearly doing his part to keep the team ahead of the Wizards, but the closer you get to the end of the season the more important every game means.
Believe it or not, the 29-44 Chicago Bulls, winners of only 11 road games all year, are still not mathematically out of the playoffs. They are only four games behind the Atlanta Hawks, who currently have the eight spot in the conference. In the Western Conference a 29-44 record would be laughed at, but in the East, it’s a record with a decent chance to make the playoffs. Despite the slim chances, the Chicago Bulls were expecting much more out of their team this year. They brought back a team that was supposed to be getting better, but instead sputtered during the start of the season, and haven’t exactly picked up steam throughout the course of it. A trade for Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes, former Cavs’, seemed to spark life in them temporarily, but they are only 4-6 in their last ten.
The Cavaliers should take this game. They know the importance of home court advantage, and I don’t think James will allow them to lose to the Bulls on their home court.
NBA Thursday: Houston Rockets vs. Portland Trailblazers
How tight is the Western Conference? If the Houston Rockets would have defeated the San Antonio Spurs last weekend they would have been in first place of their division. Instead, they dropped all the way to sixth place in the conference. If you recall, the Houston Rockets were in first place just two weeks ago. However, it’s not like they have went on some major slide or anything. The difference between first place and sixth place in the Conference is 1.5 games. Just 1.5 games! How crazy is that. The difference between first in 8th place is just 5.5 games. For standings to be that close this late in the season is basically unheard of. A two game winning streak could put you in first place with home court advantage throughout the playoffs while a streak of bad luck can have you on the outside looking in. For the Rockets to be even in the playoff talk is a bit of a surprise after their all-star center Yao Ming went down with injury more than a month ago, but a slew of rookies, and the shoulders of Tracy McGrady have kept them afloat in the division.
A team that is all but out of the playoff talk is the Portland Trailblazers, who are 7.5 games back with just about 12 games to go. But, the talk of that the Trailblazers are going to be a tough team in the not too distant future. This season alone could have been different if Greg Oden wouldn’t have been injured before the first game of the season. However, Brandon Roy has emerged this season, and looks like he’ll be a top player in the league for years to come.
If the Rockets are indeed showing any signs of slipping, then the Trailblazers could take this game and it wouldn’t be a huge upset. However, I feel that McGrady will find a way for his team to win and to continue being in the mix of things in the West.
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