NBA Update – Streaking no more, top spot secure
EASTERN CONFERENCE – MIAMI Heat went on a magical run of 27 games unbeaten spanning almost two full months but they were halted by the Chicago Bulls in their quest to break the NBA’s all-time record of 33.
While the encounter ended 101-97 in favour of the Bulls, the major headline was the complaint made by reigning MVP LeBron James about the physical battering he endured throughout the game, leaving the NBA nation somewhat divided in commentary on the matter.
Despite the loss, the Heat still managed to secure the top spot in the league with their 55-17 record to close the week, 11 games ahead of their closest rival the Indiana Pacers (47-27) with less than 10 games to go.
There are only two places left in the race for a play-off spot with the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks in prime position to secure them.
The Philadelphia 76ers, who are the only other team with a realistic chance, managed to close the week on a three-game winning streak that may just keep them in contention for a little while longer, but the window of opportunity is closing faster and faster by the day.
Best streak forward?FIRST, it was the Utah Jazz. Then, it was the Los Angeles Lakers. Now it seems to be the Jazz yet again. In the race for the final play-off post in the conference, the Jazz have defied the odds with a four-game winning streak to usurp the eighth spot in the conference ahead of Kobe Bryant and company.
WESTERN CONFERENCE –
While both teams closed the week on a 38-36 record, the Jazz hold the advantage because they clinched the tiebreaker thus the Lakers will have to answer with a streak of their own, while hoping that the Jazz stutter along the way in the quest to upstage them.
While not confirmed, the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets are poised to clinch sixth and seventh in the conference respectively, and though this may seem irrelevant to some, the avid NBA nation supporters wait with bated breath for the possible first-round play-off match-up that would have James Harden facing the team that cast him aside in the second-placed Oklahoma City Thunder.
As it stands, another interesting match-up in the making will be the Memphis Grizzlies against the Los Angeles Clippers in a rematch of last year’s first-round draw.
