2008 NBA Playoffs Rankings based on Strength of Wins / Losses

(against the other 2008 playoff teams)
	By Guichard Cadet

NBA Rankings which takes into account the quality of a team's wins & losses -- The SOS (strength of schedule) analysis.


The Playoff Teams Against Other Playoff Teams:

Utah: All the pieces fit, especially at home. Tough first round series, then they face the Lakers.

Detroit: Look for them in the championship games -- it's the only way Flip Saunders keeps his job.

New Orleans: Youth will not be served. Look for them to bow out early.

San Antonio: No Country for Old Men? Age and injuries have caught up to the supporting cast, even though the regular season record didn't show it. West Conference Finals losers.

Denver: Tough team to figure. Very good regular season record, but too many ups & downs, considering they have AI, Melo & Camby (reigning Defensive Player of the Year). First round battle losers.

L.A. Lakers: When Odom is a team's 3rd option, consider it well-balanced. Kobe gets his first MVP award & 4th Championship ring.

Boston: They shored up their bench toward the middle and end of season. I still worry about those losses out West, and to Washington during the season.

Houston: Nice mid-season run, but tough first round series. It's a toss-up, but I go against the Rockets.

Washington: So much offensive weapon, but they will have match-up problems with Detroit when the game gets slowed down. Eastern Conference Finals loser.

Orlando: Lucky to have drawn Toronto and not Philly. They take too many 3-pointers.

Phoenix: I would not be surprised to see them beat the Spurs in the first round, but I'm going with Duncan. If they get by the Spurs...I might redo my picks.

Philadelphia: Battle-tested in the second half of the season, but the Pistons are "generals" in this "war" called the playoffs.

Cleveland: Not sold on their offensive scheme. LeBron accounts for too much of their production. I cannot see them matching the Wizards' firepower.

Dallas: Lucky to go against New Orleans in the first round, but that's as far as they advance without a post-up game.

Atlanta: I cannot think of any team, except Toronto that they could beat in these playoffs. Will be lucky to no get swept.

Toronto: Bosh's late-season injury exposed them as a team with a very fragile psyche & scheme. Drawing Orlando helps them not get embarrassed by a sweep.

	East	West
1st Round	Boston (5)	Lakers (6)
	Detroit (5)	Dallas (6)
	Orlando (6)	Utah (7)
	Washington (6)	San Antonio (6)
2nd Round	Detroit (5)	Lakers (5)
	Washington (7)	San Antonio (6)
Conference	Detroit (6)	Lakers (7)
Championship	Lakers (6)

Rank	Teams	Total Strength
1	Utah	49.22
2	Detroit	48.68
3	New Orleans	48.29
4	San Antonio	46.65
5	Denver	45.69
6	L.A. Lakers	45.63
7	Boston	44.93
8	Houston	44.14
9	Washington	43.92
10	Orlando	43.55
11	Phoenix	42.72
12	Philadelphia	42.56
13	Cleveland	41.74
14	Dallas	41.03
15	Atlanta	39.04
16	Toronto	38.41