Importance of the Eastern Conference 1 seed in the 2010 NBA Playoffs

[JSD]

I feel it's less significant than it was last year and the year before. This group has been together for a while now and I don't a 3 seed would hurt their chances any.

You don't think facing both Orlando and Cleveland is a disadvantage over just facing one of them? That was the point of my original post, and it's pretty hard to argue.

I'd take a rested and healthy 3rd seed over a tired and beat up 1st seed with this squad. It depends on the variables but I'm optimistic with this team regardless of seed.

[BballTim]

I feel it's less significant than it was last year and the year before. This group has been together for a while now and I don't a 3 seed would hurt their chances any.

You don't think facing both Orlando and Cleveland is a disadvantage over just facing one of them? That was the point of my original post, and it's pretty hard to argue.

  How great is the seperation between Miami and Orlando?

[Evantime34]

As others before me have said it is second priority to having a healthy team.

[Fafnir]

As others before me have said it is second priority to having a healthy team.

Health comes down to luck more than anything. As long as Doc keeps going with his current minutes management all we can do is hope.

[ssspence]

I feel it's less significant than it was last year and the year before. This group has been together for a while now and I don't a 3 seed would hurt their chances any.

You don't think facing both Orlando and Cleveland is a disadvantage over just facing one of them? That was the point of my original post, and it's pretty hard to argue.

  How great is the seperation between Miami and Orlando?

In my eyes it remains pretty substantial. Jermaine O'neal in the clutch? Nah.

[Roy Hobbs]

I feel it's less significant than it was last year and the year before. This group has been together for a while now and I don't a 3 seed would hurt their chances any.

You don't think facing both Orlando and Cleveland is a disadvantage over just facing one of them? That was the point of my original post, and it's pretty hard to argue.

  How great is the seperation between Miami and Orlando?

I think it will be pretty big, once Rashard comes back and they build some chemistry.  Miami is basically a one-man team.  They have some other decent guys, but nobody of the caliber of Dwight Howard's supporting cast.

[BballTim]

I feel it's less significant than it was last year and the year before. This group has been together for a while now and I don't a 3 seed would hurt their chances any.

You don't think facing both Orlando and Cleveland is a disadvantage over just facing one of them? That was the point of my original post, and it's pretty hard to argue.

  How great is the seperation between Miami and Orlando?

I think it will be pretty big, once Rashard comes back and they build some chemistry.  Miami is basically a one-man team.  They have some other decent guys, but nobody of the caliber of Dwight Howard's supporting cast.

  Granted it's only 9 games into the season but right now Orlando's 17th in defensive efficiency, down from 1st last year. I don't know that Rashard will fix that. If they don't turn that around they're not a great threat.

[ssspence]

I feel it's less significant than it was last year and the year before. This group has been together for a while now and I don't a 3 seed would hurt their chances any.

You don't think facing both Orlando and Cleveland is a disadvantage over just facing one of them? That was the point of my original post, and it's pretty hard to argue.

  How great is the seperation between Miami and Orlando?

I think it will be pretty big, once Rashard comes back and they build some chemistry.  Miami is basically a one-man team.  They have some other decent guys, but nobody of the caliber of Dwight Howard's supporting cast.

  Granted it's only 9 games into the season but right now Orlando's 17th in defensive efficiency, down from 1st last year. I don't know that Rashard will fix that. If they don't turn that around they're not a great threat.

Do you really doubt they'll improve? It's November...

[BballTim]

I feel it's less significant than it was last year and the year before. This group has been together for a while now and I don't a 3 seed would hurt their chances any.

You don't think facing both Orlando and Cleveland is a disadvantage over just facing one of them? That was the point of my original post, and it's pretty hard to argue.

  How great is the seperation between Miami and Orlando?

I think it will be pretty big, once Rashard comes back and they build some chemistry.  Miami is basically a one-man team.  They have some other decent guys, but nobody of the caliber of Dwight Howard's supporting cast.

  Granted it's only 9 games into the season but right now Orlando's 17th in defensive efficiency, down from 1st last year. I don't know that Rashard will fix that. If they don't turn that around they're not a great threat.

Do you really doubt they'll improve? It's November...

  I haven't seen them play much but I don't know that they're looking like a top 5 defensive team. It's too early to say they won't improve but I don't know that it's a guarantee that they will.

[Who]

Orlando need to glue Matt Barnes to the bench. He's too poor of a defender to be playing alongside Vince Carter (another defensively challenged wing).

Too much responsibility for Pietrus to handle. He's the only good defender on the wing on the whole roster + he needs to be the squad's sixth man + is the benches only dependable perimeter player.

The Magic are short an above average wing defender.

[JHTruth]

Orlando took a pretty big gamble along with Cleveland in drastically altering their personnel. Barnes is awful and VC is still trying to adjust. I think they are a 3 seed this year with Miami breathing down their neck..

[ssspence]

Orlando need to glue Matt Barnes to the bench. He's too poor of a defender to be playing alongside Vince Carter (another defensively challenged wing).

Too much responsibility for Pietrus to handle. He's the only good defender on the wing on the whole roster + he needs to be the squad's sixth man + is the benches only dependable perimeter player.

The Magic are short an above average wing defender.

Agreed, VC and Pietrus need to step up their defense bigtime.

[Redz]

haven't we clinched this yet?

 

The next 73 games are a mere formality.  Top seed will be ours.