Chapter 61: The Playoffs Are Coming
After a grueling 82-game regular season, the divide between the Eastern and Western Conferences has never been more pronounced.
The East is led by the seasoned Detroit Pistons, who managed to secure the top spot with 53 wins—an achievement that, astonishingly, would have placed them only fifth in the West. The second-place Cleveland Cavaliers stand as the only Eastern team to eclipse 50 wins, finishing with a respectable 50-32 record. Meanwhile, Chris Bosh's Raptors sit comfortably in third, boasting a 47-35 record, while the Miami Heat, last season's champions, scraped into playoff contention, relying heavily on the veteran presence of Shaquille O'Neal in the latter half of the season.
(Note: The NBA was still utilizing the division system in 2006, meaning that the division leader automatically qualified for the top four seeds.)
In fifth place, the Chicago Bulls triumphed with 49 wins, fueled by their formidable trio, yet they fell short of surpassing the Pistons. The New Jersey Nets (41 wins), Washington Wizards (41 wins), and Orlando Magic (40 wins) rounded out the playoff field, ranking sixth to eighth.
In stark contrast, the Western Conference boasted a dazzling array of talent. The Dallas Mavericks, once neck-and-neck with the Rockets in the first half of the season, unleashed a whirlwind of dazzling performances post-All-Star break, culminating in a staggering record of 67 wins and 15 losses. This feat not only overshadowed the entire league but also etched them into NBA history as one of the top six teams of all time!
The Phoenix Suns secured the second seed, being the sole team in the Western Conference to surpass 60 wins with a record of 62-20. Following closely behind are the San Antonio Spurs, who demonstrated their prowess with a commendable 59-23 record, thanks to their dynamic trio of Duncan, Ginobili, and Parker.
The fourth-seeded Utah Jazz, while only achieving 51 wins, edged out the Denver Nuggets to secure their place among the elite. The Rockets, standing at 59-23, found themselves in fifth place due to a challenging season series against the Spurs (1-3).
The Nuggets (44 wins), Lakers (41 wins), and Warriors (41 wins) held down the sixth to eighth spots.
As the final standings rolled in, major media outlets were quick to release their predictions. The Mavericks and Suns were universally favored to dominate, crowned as the frontrunners by TNT, ESPN, and FOX, all eager to jump on the bandwagon of their impressive records.
When it came to the third slot, opinions diverged. ESPN positioned the Spurs on equal footing with the Mavericks and Suns, emphasizing the Spurs' playoff history and their advantage over the Rockets in the regular season. Conversely, TNT's analysts highlighted the Rockets' potential to become dark horses despite their fifth-place finish, arguing that their prior record against the Mavericks (1-3) might not play in Dallas' favor.
FOX, on the other hand, touted the Jazz as the true wildcards of the playoffs. With the legendary Jerry Sloan coaching and a formidable pick-and-roll partnership between Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer, they suggested the Jazz could upset the Rockets in the first round.
The bookmakers soon followed suit, revealing their odds for each team entering the playoffs. The Mavericks led the pack with 1.5 odds, while the Suns followed closely at 1.67. The Spurs held third with 2.9 odds, and the Rockets, surprisingly, came in fourth with odds of 3.5. The Pistons, Cavaliers, and Jazz trailed behind with odds of 5.2, 6.0, and 7.8, respectively.
As the playoffs approached, Andrew decided to grant his team a day of rest, recognizing the psychological weight they bore after their disheartening exit in the first round last season. It was a strategic move—an opportunity to ease their minds and rekindle their spirits.
Taking this moment for himself, Andrew drove to his aunt's house to unwind and soak in the comfort of family.
"God, what are you spending all your money on this time?" Hathaway chimed in, suddenly appearing on the balcony with a newspaper in hand.
"What's going on?" Andrew asked, glancing back in confusion. Upon seeing the newspaper she clutched, the pieces began to fall into place.
"Are you really into this?" he queried, taking the newspaper from her. The page was filled with championship odds and predictions for the first round of the playoffs.
Hathaway pointed out the odds for the Rockets and Jazz—both had intriguingly low lines for their potential victories.
"I'm looking to hit it big! Just think of how envious Taylor will be!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Why don't I bet on a 4-0 sweep?" Andrew replied, feeling a surge of excitement.
Hathaway leaned closer, and Andrew couldn't help but notice how the warm spring air had her dressed lightly, accentuating her figure. His thoughts flickered to moments of intimacy they had shared before, igniting a warmth within him.
"Do you really trust me?" he teased, forcing himself to focus on the newspaper.
"Absolutely!" she grinned, "but I'm only putting a thousand dollars down!"
Andrew chuckled, a sense of camaraderie blooming between them. "Is there an option for every team?"
"Really? Why the interest? Aren't you the Rockets' coach? You can't bet on your own team!" Hathaway replied with a smirk.
Andrew remained silent, flipping through the odds. When he spotted the Warriors versus Mavericks matchup, the odds were shockingly high—1 to 5 for the Warriors winning.
Glancing further, he noted the absurdly tempting odds for the Warriors to sweep the Mavericks 4-0 at 1 to 50. It was purely a gamble, but the temptation lingered.
As he examined the lines, he recalled the legendary "Black Eight Miracle" from his past life. Back then, coach Don Nelson led an underdog Warriors team to an unforgettable 4-2 upset over the favored Mavericks—a moment etched in the annals of NBA history.
Andrew pondered. With his newfound knowledge, he couldn't shake the feeling that his journey through time had created a ripple effect. The regular-season rankings had lined up perfectly, and the stage was set for another unforgettable playoffs.