Which NBA team is in the most trouble right now?

[joeybee12]

I'd go with a tie...the Bulls and Houston...no way are they going to come back...OKC and the Pacers are in serious trouble, but I still like their chances (especially OKC) to pull out this series. What say you?

[RockaFowler]

1. Pacers are in a bad way right now

They look lethargic up and down the court
Hibbert can't get out of his own way
Stephenson is their best player right now - not a good thing
Paul George and George Hill look lost out there

I think trading Granger was the start of all of their problems - that and Bynum!!

[joeybee12]

2. Someone at the gym said they couldn't win a game anymore...

Seems like he was right...

Of course, I should have said the Celtics are in the worse shape right now, if I didn't include just the playoffs! They're going to stink it up for at least a few more years!!!!

[aaaaaa5a]

3. Pacers

This is a number one seed going against an eight seed that made the playoffs with a losing record.

The GM of the Hawks even admitted it was better for his team to NOT make the playoffs a few short weeks ago. Now this same team is on the verge of knocking out the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Pacers are in the process of one of the biggest collapses in NBA history. I hope they can turn it around. Game 4 is a must win for Indianapolis.

[joeybee12]

4. Do you know off-hand if a #8 has ever taken out a #1?

Thanks.

[JonLP24]

5. 2 times

first is Denver over Seattle in the 90's.

The Knicks won the Eastern Conference as a #8 seed. They defeated Miami, Atlanta, and Indiana on their way.

[joeybee12]

6. Thanks...I knew you were lurking out there somewhere!

[aaaaaa5a]

7. I think both of those cases were different

In the first case the series went 7 games. It was very competitive.

In the second case that was during the NBA lockout year of 1999. The regular season was shortened by 32 games. The Knicks were not a regular lowly 8th seed entering the playoffs. Many thought the Knicks could have a deep playoff run entering the 99 postseason. The second example needs an asterisk.


This is completely different. The Hawks have dominated. I don't think there has ever been a case where an 8 seed (and a bad 8 seed at that) has so masterfully beaten down a 1 seed through 3 games. The teams have played 12 quarters. The Hawks were the better team in 11 of them. I have never seen a top seed down double digits to an 8 seed in a game 1 at home! Amazing. The Pacers are in the most of an epic collapse. This team had the best record in the NBA for most of the year.

If you want a good comparison, to me the greatest playoff upset in my lifetime was 1984. The Sixers lost to the Nets in the first round. The Philadelphia 76ers were the defending champs. They had been to the NBA finals in 3 of the last 4 years. The 1983 team might be the greatest team of all time. In 1984 as defending champs they had the second best record in the conference. But then lost in the first round. It was a weird series. The road team won every game.

[RockaFowler]

9. 76ers beat the Bulls 2 years ago

That was when Rose got hurt going to the rim

[Iggo]

8. As of this morning, it looks like the answer is...

[ProfessorGAC]

10. My Bulls Are Done

They're lucky they didn't get swept. They can't play with the perimeter players of Washington.

[KamaAina]

11. Obviously, the Clippers

and I'm not even talking about the series.

[joeybee12]

12. That's a great photo...

Yeah, off the court they're in big doo-doo...on the court, I may think the Spurs right now...