More David Locke Lazz PXP Man

I have always believed this is the best way to look at standings in the middle of the season. Take the offensive efficiency (pts per 100 possessions) and subtract the defensive efficiency (pts allowed per 100 possessions). This is a far better way to look at teams than just the win loss standings. Why? 25 games into a season a team could have won or loss two or three buzzer beaters and that is scewing their records. This really is pure performace rather than a late game missed call, crazy shot, missed goal tending or missed free throw. A 0 efficiency differential will get you a .500 record or 41 wins each year. If you graph efficiency differential and wins in a line graph it is unreal what a straight line you get. Think of each point of efficiency differential as about 3 wins, so a 1.0 will be 44 win team, a 3.0 would be about 50 and if you are over 7 you are about a 60 win team. It gets a liittle steeper as you move up the win chart. Last year's Bulls 62 win team was an 8.0.

Moving past the 1/3 poll of the season is a good time to look at these numbers. In the West it is very revealing. The Jazz come in at #11 which is probably where they will finish. The Clippers should be very concerned, they have won a bunch of buzzer beaters and with the lose of Chauncey this would make me believe they will not make the playoffs. Portland and Houston are far better than we realize right now and I believe the Timberwolves may make the playoffs. This is very revealing and worth keeping an eye on.

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