The Playoffs Begin! - Comduklakis's Blog

Comduklakis's Blog

The Playoffs Begin!

Posted on February 20, 2012 at 11:10 PM.

The seeds for the playoffs were as follows:
1. Miami Heat
2. Boston Celtics
3. Chicago Bulls
4. Atlanta Hawks
5. Philadelphia 76ers
6. Indiana Pacers
7. Orlando Magic
8. Detroit Pistons

1. Dallas Mavericks
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
3. Los Angeles Clippers
4. Denver Nuggets
5. San Antonio Spurs
6. Houston Rockets
7. Minnesota Timberwolves
8. Portland Trailblazers
Conspicuous by their absence were the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks. The Knicks never jelled with Carmelo Anthony and Amar�e Stoudemire, and also stubbornly refused to try Jeremy Lin at PG with Baron Davis staying healthy all year. The Lakers pulled off a blockbuster trade for Dwight Howard in mid-January, striking as three way deal with the Rockets and Magic. The Lakers gave up Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Steve Blake. Another trade at the deadline for PG Ramon Sessions also failed to spark the team as they finished a disappointing 33-49. In contrast the acquisitions of Luis Scola, Kevin Martin, and Bynum catapulted the Magic from 11th in the conference to a finish of 7th. The Rockets, behind Gasol and JJ Reddick were able to also move up in to the top eight.
Major trades were as follows:
LAL-Pau Gasol (HOU), Andrew Bynum (ORL), Steve Blake (HOU)
ORL-Dwight Howard (LAL), Hedo Turkoglu (LAL) JJ Reddick (HOU)
HOU-Kevin Martin (ORL), Luis Scola (ORL), Haseem Thabeet (LAL)

Philadelphia sent the expiring contract of Andres Nocioni and a 2012 2nd round pick to the Houston Rockets for Samuel Dalambert

Milwaukee sent disgruntled swingman Stephen Jackson, Shaun Livingston, and Jonathan Brockman to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Martell Webster, Andrew Randolph, and Brad Miller

Cleveland sent Ramon Sessions to the Lakers for Luke Walton and a 2012 1st round pick, which was not protected and ends up being a lottery selection.

Memphis sent OJ Mayo, who declared he was not resigning with the Grizzlies, to New Jersey for Anthony Morrow and Shelden Williams. Memphis also sent New Jersey Hamed Haddadi to make the salaries work.

NO-Chris Kaman (GS), Eric Gordon (IND)
IND-Danny Granger (NO), George Hill (NO), 2012 2nd round pick
GS-Kwame Brown (NO), Dorell Wright (IND)