The Celtics and Hawks have met nine times in postseason history. Boston has won eight of the nine matchups. But this is the first time these two teams meet in the postseason since 1988.
In the Celtics' previous two trips to the playoffs (2003-04, 2004-05) they have bowed out in the first round.
Since 1984 only three No. 8 seeds have beaten a No. 1 seed in the first round. The most recent upset happened last year when Golden State knocked off Dallas by winning the series 4-2.
The home-court advantage is significant in best-of-seven series. Teams with the advantage have won 272 of 363 (.749) series
Since 1984 a No. 7 seed has beaten a No. 2 seed only four times, with the most recent coming in 1998 when the Knicks beat the Heat 3-2.
This is the first time since the 2004-05 season that the Sixers have been in the playoffs. During that season they lost to the Pistons in the first round in five games.
In the past six trips to the playoffs the Pistons have failed to reach the conference finals only once (in 2002 they lost to the Celtics in five games in the semifinals).
The Pistons hold the fifth best all-time winning percentage at home in the playoffs among NBA teams (.692).
This is the third straight year that the Wizards and Cavs will meet in the first round of the playoffs.
In the playoffs last year LeBron James averaged 24.1 points and 5.9 rebounds.
In the past two years the Cavs lost only one game at home during the opening-round matchup with the Wizards.
Over the past five years the No. 4 seed has lost only two opening-round series (Miami in 2007 and Chicago in 2005).
This is the second straight year the Magic are in the playoffs. Last year they lost in the first round to the Pistons in four games.
This is the second straight year the Raptors are in the playoffs. Last year they lost in the first round to the Nets as the No. 3 seed.
In that series Chris Bosh averaged 17.5 points and 9 rebounds to lead the Raptors.
In the past five seasons a No. 3 seed has lost four opening-round series (Raptors in 2007, Nuggets in 2006, Celtics in 2005 and Pacers in 2003).
The Lakers and Nuggets have met three times in postseason history. Denver has never beaten L.A. in the postseason and was swept by the Lakers during the 2007-08 regular season.
In the 2006 NBA playoffs, 16 games were decided by two points or less. That is the most all time.
The Charlotte Bobcats are the only NBA team that has never made the postseason.
Chris Paul averaged 26.5 ppg and 9 apg this season against the Mavericks. New Orleans was 2-2 against Dallas.
These two teams have never met in postseason history.
The Spurs and Suns have met eight times in postseason history. San Antonio's recent success over Phoenix has given the Spurs a 5-3 edge in those series.
In the first round of the NBA playoffs, the team that wins Game 1 wins the series 82.9 percent of the time (156-32).The NBA Finals has featured either Shaquille O'Neal or Tim Duncan in each of the past nine seasons.
Last postseason the Utah Jazz beat the Houston Rockets by winning Game 7 in Houston.The Jazz are 4-2 against the Rockets in postseason history, including the past three times they have met.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment