Through eleven weeks, we’ve been able to get a grasp of beginning grasp of what our teams are all about. Would it surprise you to learn that the Eastern Conference has the higher overall winning percentage at 0.512 — meaning the West has 0.488? That’s the opposite of the actual NBA and strangely, our top five teams are NYK, CHI, MIN, DET, and WAS, which are all pretty much some of the worst teams in the real league. [ Preseason Previews | Where Are the Superstars? ]
Ah, but that’s why we’re different! Let’s take a quick look at which divisions have been the toughest so far.
East - Central, 0.533
Headlined by the 69-29-1 CHI team (as predicted), the Central has four 50+ win teams between CHI and DET, IND, and CLE. The first three are already in playoff position and CLE is only a few games behind and playing above 0.500 ball as well. The only lagger here is MIL, who is the last place team in RDA and basically trying to lose. Imagine if MIL was trying harder, then this would truly be the powerhouse division!
East - Atlantic, 0.525
The Atlantic also boasts three current playoff teams, with the league leading 74-24-1 NYK squad leading the way while BKN and PHI are both at 50+ wins -- both teams were predicted to be bad. With those three headlining the division, TOR and BOS are about ten games behind, with their postseason hopes floating away. Will either of them push for a postseason berth, and will NYK remain top of the charts?
West - Northwest, 0.518
There are also two divisions in the Western Conference who boast three current playoff teams, but only one West division is playing a combined 0.500+ ball. MIN is leading all teams in the West behind a 69-30 record and while they have quite a lead above UTA, the gap isn’t insurmountable. Between MIN, UTA, and POR, the Northwest should place three teams into the postseason, with only the rebuilding OKC and flailing DEN (predicted to be first) settling into the bottom of the division.
West - Southwest, 0.483
There’s technically three postseason teams here too, but one of them is HOU, which is only playing 0.480 ball and would be the only non-winning playoff team if the season ended today. Big ball MEM is leading the division here — and is fifth in the Western Conference — and they should cruise to a Southwest title. However, NOP (the preseason favorite), HOU and DAL are all in the hunt for the last few playoff spots, while SAS has thrown in the towel on the season and is just playing the season out.
East - Southeast, 0.479
New owner Joe of inherited a pretty good team, and CHA is playing right around 0.500+ ball, with their nose right ahead of ORL for a playoff spot. So far WAS looks like the class of the division and they have a shot at moving all the way up to second best team in the East. While CHA and ORL battle it out for second place, ATL and MIA are both far behind and probably should look toward development.
West - Pacific, 0.461
And here we have it, this traditionally powerhouse NBA division is deep in last place in Razzball Dynasty. In a twist, real life Warriors are getting trampled but RDA’s GSW franchise is ranked second in the Western Conference and battling it out with LAL for the Pacific crown. Only two games separate GSW and LAL — the closest #1 and #2 division chase around — so this should be an exciting second half.
What won’t be as exciting is anyone having to watch LAC, SAC, and PHX (second-to-last in the league at 29-69-4) hang out in the shallow end of the pool with the kiddies. All three of those teams have less than for wins so far and probably wish there was a Toilet Bowl to play for.
One last stat: Of the sixteen projected playoff teams from each conference, the eight East teams are a combined 0.614 while the eight West teams are at 0.595.
Ah, but that’s why we’re different! Let’s take a quick look at which divisions have been the toughest so far.
East - Central, 0.533
Headlined by the 69-29-1 CHI team (as predicted), the Central has four 50+ win teams between CHI and DET, IND, and CLE. The first three are already in playoff position and CLE is only a few games behind and playing above 0.500 ball as well. The only lagger here is MIL, who is the last place team in RDA and basically trying to lose. Imagine if MIL was trying harder, then this would truly be the powerhouse division!
East - Atlantic, 0.525
The Atlantic also boasts three current playoff teams, with the league leading 74-24-1 NYK squad leading the way while BKN and PHI are both at 50+ wins -- both teams were predicted to be bad. With those three headlining the division, TOR and BOS are about ten games behind, with their postseason hopes floating away. Will either of them push for a postseason berth, and will NYK remain top of the charts?
West - Northwest, 0.518There are also two divisions in the Western Conference who boast three current playoff teams, but only one West division is playing a combined 0.500+ ball. MIN is leading all teams in the West behind a 69-30 record and while they have quite a lead above UTA, the gap isn’t insurmountable. Between MIN, UTA, and POR, the Northwest should place three teams into the postseason, with only the rebuilding OKC and flailing DEN (predicted to be first) settling into the bottom of the division.
West - Southwest, 0.483
There’s technically three postseason teams here too, but one of them is HOU, which is only playing 0.480 ball and would be the only non-winning playoff team if the season ended today. Big ball MEM is leading the division here — and is fifth in the Western Conference — and they should cruise to a Southwest title. However, NOP (the preseason favorite), HOU and DAL are all in the hunt for the last few playoff spots, while SAS has thrown in the towel on the season and is just playing the season out.
East - Southeast, 0.479
New owner Joe of inherited a pretty good team, and CHA is playing right around 0.500+ ball, with their nose right ahead of ORL for a playoff spot. So far WAS looks like the class of the division and they have a shot at moving all the way up to second best team in the East. While CHA and ORL battle it out for second place, ATL and MIA are both far behind and probably should look toward development.
West - Pacific, 0.461
And here we have it, this traditionally powerhouse NBA division is deep in last place in Razzball Dynasty. In a twist, real life Warriors are getting trampled but RDA’s GSW franchise is ranked second in the Western Conference and battling it out with LAL for the Pacific crown. Only two games separate GSW and LAL — the closest #1 and #2 division chase around — so this should be an exciting second half.
What won’t be as exciting is anyone having to watch LAC, SAC, and PHX (second-to-last in the league at 29-69-4) hang out in the shallow end of the pool with the kiddies. All three of those teams have less than for wins so far and probably wish there was a Toilet Bowl to play for.
One last stat: Of the sixteen projected playoff teams from each conference, the eight East teams are a combined 0.614 while the eight West teams are at 0.595.
