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I'm having a brain fart. Will someone please explain how seeding for the NBA playoffs works? There was talk that if the Cavs lost to the Bulls last week, we would swap spots and be in the 5 instead of the 2. We won, have the tie breaker (if we end with the same record), and are still in the two spot.

BUT, why is Chicago in the 5 spot anyway? They have the third highest record in the East as of today.

1. Detroit 48-27
2. Cleveland 45-30, 3 games back
3. Toronto 42-33, 6 games back
4. Miami 40-34, 7 1/2 games back
5. Chicago 45-31, 3 1/2 games back
6. Washington
7. New Jersey
8. Orlando

Someone help! THANKS!

For the NBA playoffs the three division winners in each conference automatically finish in the top 4. There is the opportunity for one second place team to finish above the four seed thanks to a much needed rule change. In this year the Pistons have the best overall record and are first. The Cavs have the second best record, and the other two division leaders are 3 and 4. Last year the Cavs were in the same situation but got the 4 seed instead of the two b/c the rules were that division winners were automatically 1,2,3. Chicago is the second best team not winning a division so they are in 5th but if they wind up with a better record than Cleveland, they'll move to second since the other two division winners will not finish with a better record than either the Cavs or the Bulls. A 2 seed would be huge not only for home court, but b/c we would avoid the Pistons until the Conference Finals. We might play Orlando first and then the winner of Toronto/Washington if we're lucky.

GOT IT! Thanks. I didn't know about the rule where a second place team could jump ahead of division leaders. I couldn't figure out, if the Cavs were in 2nd because of their record, why were the Bulls way back.

Man, in light of this, I almost wish the Pistons would have beaten the Bulls yesterday. I don't know if we'll catch the Pistons, but I don't want to face the Heat in the first round (with D Wade) coming back. We need some separation from Chicago. UGH!

I actually don't want us to win the division. That Pistons loss last night hurt our cause. If we somehow miraculously caught Detroit, we'd get stuck playing Miami in the second round which would not be fun. As a 2 seed, we'll play a bad Orlando team and then the winner of Toronto/Miami which shouldn't be too much of a problem either. We've got a tough back to back followed by a game at Detroit left so we'll need to step up if we want to hold off Chicago. Finishing 5th is a guaranteed first round exit b/c no one wants to go into Miami.

Time for your first championship Lebron....

The time is NOW!!!!

With Arenas out for the year, the Wiz may fall into that 7 seed - if we stay at 2, I'd love that matchup against them without Arenas and Caron Butler. Dare I say cake walk.

i realistically think the cavs have what it takes to win the east...

but as far as winning the whole thing, i don't know if they can come out on the better end of a 7 game series against dallas, they could give them a series, but game 7 would be in dallas, and i don't think they could pull that off...

now if san antonio somehow got to the finals, i think our chances would be great, because of the matchups, and because the cavaliers would be hungrier than the spurs, who have all kinds of rings...

but looking at dallas, nobody is hungrier than those guys...

Not if we have to go through Miaim and Detroit, as it looks NOW. Choke artists.

IF they end up with Miami in the opening round, I'm afraid the Cavs are "one & done".

Looking closer at it, Miami's schedule is fairly easy. I can see them jumping Toronto, giving Toronto the 4th seed and Miami the 3rd.

Toronto is no cupcake either. If the 2 seed plays the Wiz, I will be extremely with our losses to the Celtics, Bobcats and Knicks, as if I'm not already.