NBA Playoffs 2011: Forget the Seeds! These Are the Strongest Teams

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Seeds determine team matchups in the NBA Playoffs. They are seen as a ranking system to determine the best teams in the game, but many times seeding can be misleading.

Are the Celtics really the third-best team in the East? Do the Lakers make a good case to be considered the best team in the entire league?

The Bulls may have the best overall record, but does that give them the right to be the headliner?

16. Indiana Pacers

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This one frustrates me.

Any team in any sport should not lose more games than they win and be able to make the postseason!

It's just not right. Yeah, I'm subtly referring to you NFC West, with your Seahawks and such. The Pacers have a decent lineup of players, but they may as well not show up in Chicago, as they're deserving of the title "Worst in Show."

Now skedaddle on out of here Pacers.

15. Philadelphia 76ers

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Philadelphia has a shot to win one game in the first round.

With a perfectly even record, they're the epitome of average. The playoffs aren't intended for the average.

Why can't the NBA go to a six-team format, such as the NFL, and give the top two seeds a first-round bye?

They could make the first series a best-of-five so that players will still have legs in later rounds and the top seeds won't get rusty.

Anyway, there's nothing special about the Sixers. They're a so-so, on-and-off team. At least the Phillies and Eagles are good!

14. New Orleans Hornets

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Derrick Rose and the Bulls are the bull's eye for just about every team.

Sorry Chris Paul, you're not the best point guard in the game anymore, and your team isn't seen as too much of a threat.

However, this is the perfect situation to be in. The Hornets take on the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, who struggled down the stretch of the regular season. If the Lakers don't find the "on switch", this could be Paul's chance to get his team and himself back in the limelight.

But in reality, the Lakers know how to win and they will win because of their superb talent, which exceeds the Hornets.

13. New York Knicks

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The Knicks are just missing one more piece to their team, which they will likely get next year.

They come into the playoffs playing well, and they have a decent shot at knocking off the Celtics in the first round.

But the Knicks just aren't ready for a deep playoff run at the moment.

Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony are fantastic players, but the group around them is subpar. It's like taking LeBron or Wade off of Miami: the Heat won't be nearly as good.

12. Boston Celtics

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Yeah, they're this low on my list.

In my short life, I have never witnessed such a careless trade. Kendrick Perkins was a major factor in the Celtics' attempt to prevail in the East. Fortunately for them, they match up well with the Heat if they can get out of the series with the Knicks.

With the aging Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce as their core, this team is about as good as Rondo's jump shot.

Okay, I shouldn't go that far!

11. Memphis Grizzlies

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The Grizzlies are a team I'm impressed with, and I believe they will give San Antonio a run for their money, seeing as they split their season series.

The Spurs will be without Manu Ginobili for at least the opening game. If Memphis can steal a game in San Antonio, don't be surprised if Duncan and Co. spend their spring watching basketball.

Memphis may not be the best team in the West, but they are certainly an underrated eight seed.

10. Portland Trailblazers

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Despite drafting a bust in Greg Oden, the Trailblazers have done pretty well for themselves. About a third of the "experts" are picking Portland to upset a higher seed in the West, as they take on the Dallas Mavericks.

 Portland finished the season pretty strong, with wins against the Spurs (twice), Thunder, Lakers, Mavericks and Grizzlies in the final few weeks of the season.

9. Atlanta Hawks

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Ever since they became a perennial playoff team, it seems as if the Hawks have become complacent.

They have struggled down the stretch of the regular season, and regaining form in the playoffs is a difficult task. Though they have a 3-1 advantage over Orlando during the regular season, I don't see similar results carrying over into the playoffs.

With that being said, if I'm wrong, this Atlanta Hawks team could produce big shockers this postseason.

Josh Smith and Joe Johnson, no matter how generic their names, possess enough talent to possibly push Atlanta into the second round.

8. Orlando Magic

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There is no doubt that Stan Van Gundy is a champ.

Orlando is somewhat like the Bulls, not in style of play, but both teams depend heavily on one player to persevere through any obstacles they will face (Dwight Howard and Derrick Rose respectively).

Orlando is too streaky of a team. When Howard cannot function down low, they throw up deep shots and are either on fire or build a new stadium with all of their bricks.

Predominantly jump-shooting teams tend to struggle in long series, which is what I think the Hawks-Magic series will be.

But then again, Al Horford won't shut down Howard. Dwight will persevere through the first round, as long as his team gives him some help. But then Joakim Noah's defense will be looming in Chicago, unless the Pacers pull off a miracle.

7. Denver Nuggets

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Shouldn't George Karl get at least a few votes for Coach of the Year?

He took a somewhat struggling team with huge distractions that lost a franchise player, Carmelo Anthony, and coached them to a decent seed in the playoffs.

I for one am pretty impressed.

The Nuggets have essentially no-name players and are playing good basketball since the Carmelo Anthony deal, better than the Knicks at least.

6. Dallas Mavericks

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Mark Cuban will eventually win an NBA title.

This could be the year.

The Mavericks pretty much have to take care of business this year or rethink their lineup. Dirk is a strong leader, but can he carry his team past a strong Portland team and deep into the playoffs?

Dallas is a hard team to predict. They always seem promising but never turn out to be a major threat, excluding their trip to '06 NBA Finals.

5. Oklahoma City Thunder

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Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook can't go far by themselves! Wait, they traded for who? Kendrick Perkins? Oh, okay, they're contenders now.

That's right folks, with the defensive presence of Kendrick Perkins, this young team has the capabilities to make a deep run in the playoffs and challenge anybody in their way.

With Westbrook's athleticism at point guard and Durant's unbelievable shooting ability, this Oklahoma City team could be making some thunder this year.

See what I did there?

4. San Antonio Spurs

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With Manu Ginobil'si injury looming in the playoffs, there's an unsure feeling about the Spurs.

If Ginobili is out for the entire first series, the Grizzlies are capable of taking advantage and shocking Tim Duncan and the rest of the Spurs. It would be an extremely disappointing finish for a team that had the best record in the league until the very last game of the season.

The Ginobili injury should not be too big of a factor, since he sprained his right elbow. Fortunately for Ginobili and the Spurs, he is left-handed.

3. Los Angeles Lakers

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Kobe Bryant's Lakers may have struggled towards the end of the season and they may be an older team, but they sure do know how to win. The two-time defending champions cannot be overlooked, because that's exactly when the Black Mamba strikes.

There is a reason, other than coaching Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, that Phil Jackson has more rings than fingers: he's a great leader and motivator.

The Lakers' success really depends on the health of the young Andrew Bynum, who hyperextended his knee as the regular season came to a close. It was recently disclosed that he has a bone bruise on his right leg as well.

2. Chicago Bulls

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The surprise team of the year, the Chicago Bulls, boast not only the soon-to-be-anointed MVP of the league in Derrick Rose but also the best record in the league.

It is pretty crazy to think the Bulls only had a 1.7 percent chance to get Rose in the '08 NBA Draft.

The Bulls lack of experience is the main criticism against their chances in the playoffs, but they are playing the best basketball in the league.

And to think they started the season with a sluggish 9-8 record.

1. Miami Heat

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After NBA fans waited through an offseason and 82 games, they finally get their chance to see the revamped Miami team in the playoffs.

Will the collaboration of talent succeed in South Beach?

Expectations are high for Miami, but they did set themselves up for a "championship or bust" season.

Dwayne Wade and LeBron James know how to turn it on in the postseason, and if they find a way to close out games, it's going to be hard to win four out of seven games against them.

If you can't handle the Heat, get out of the playoffs.

Thanks for the read and enjoy the playoffs!