NBA Threeview

REVIEW

East

1. Orlando travels to New York to hand the Knicks their fourth straight loss, 111-99.

2. Philadelphia beats Atlanta, 105-100, and stands 2.5 games behind the Hawks for the 5th seed.

3. Memphis defeats Boston in the Garden, 90-87, pushing the Celtics a game behind Chicago for the top spot.


West

1. Denver outlasts visiting San Antonio, 115-112, while extending its record at home in the Mile High city to 29-7.

2. Oklahoma City handles business at home with a 106-94 victory versus reeling Utah, solidifying its first-round home-court advantage while gaining a half-game on idle Dallas for the 3rd seed.

3. Memphis travels to Boston and surprises the Celtics, 90-87, while extending its winning streak to three and solidifying their hold on the 8th seed.



PREVIEW

1. Dallas, needing a victory to stay within Los Angeles for the 2nd seed out west, hosts Minnesota.

2. Utah, hoping to stay alive for a playoff berth, hosts New Orleans, which needs a victory of its own to maintain its tenuous hold on the 7th seed.


VIEW

1. Boston suffered a big loss at home against Memphis. The Celts are stumbling at the wrong time and have yet to prove that trading Kendrick Perkins for Jeff Green was a good move-unless you’re a Thunder fan. Home-court advantage is not the most important factor for Boston’s success, but their superiority in the conference does not seem to be the case anymore. The mental edge may be dissipating as the postseason looms.

2. Oklahoma City is forming the necessary bonds after acquiring two big bodies in exchange for its third-wheel. The Thunder are destined for a second-round match-up against San Antonio, which could be the defining series that catapults this young squad past the Lakers or Mavericks to this year’s Finals.

3. Philadelphia is quietly climbing the standings. Coach Doug Collins has his squad playing as a team and will prove to be a tough out for whomever they face in the first-round.