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spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun.sPubDate = "4/12/2009 9:38:40 AM GMT";
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spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun.appHeader = "NBA's race to the playoffs";
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun.sTitle = "NBA's race to the playoffs";
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun.appDeck = "A look at what each contender faces in the final days of the regular season.";
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun.appFooter = "Updated through April 11 games. x--clinched playoff berth. y--clinched division title. z--clinched conference title.";
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spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i++] = new Array("","","Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, left, and Cavaliers forward LeBron James have their teams at the
top of their respective conferences and on a potential collision course to the NBA Finals.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/g-spt-090120-kobe2-6a.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Harry How", "Getty Images", "273", "540", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
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spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i++] = new Array("","PLAYOFF TEAMS (RECORD, GAMES BEHIND)","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i++] = new Array("","PLAYOFF TEAMS (RECORD, GAMES BEHIND)","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i++] = new Array("","1. xyz-Cleveland Cavaliers (64-15, --)","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Art/SPORTS/LOGOS/NBA/cleveland_cavaliers.htease.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left-NW", "", "", "110", "110", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i-1].body = "
Potential first-round opponent: Philadlephia 76er, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons.
Cleveland is looking to ... beat out the Lakers for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.";
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i++] = new Array("","1. xyz-L.A. Lakers (63-17, --)","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Art/SPORTS/LOGOS/NBA/losangeles_lakers.htease.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left-NW", "", "", "110", "110", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i-1].body = "
Potential first-round opponent: Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Hornets.
Los Angeles is looking to ... beat out the Cavaliers for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.";
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i++] = new Array("","2. xy-Boston Celtics (60-19, 4)","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Art/SPORTS/LOGOS/NBA/boston_celtics.htease.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left-NW", "", "", "110", "110", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i-1].body = "
Potential first-round opponent: Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat.
Boston is looking to ... get healthy, now that it has secured the East's No. 2 seed, before it has to defend its NBA title in the playoffs. The Big Ticket, Kevin Garnett, remains a Big Question for the Celtics.";
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i++] = new Array("","2. x-Denver Nuggets (53-27, 10)","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Art/SPORTS/LOGOS/NBA/denver_nuggets.htease.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left-NW", "", "", "110", "110", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i-1].body = "
Potential first-round opponent: With Nos. 2-8 tightly bunched, it's too close to call.
Denver is looking to ... beat out the rest of the West for the No. 2 playoff seed. The Nuggets failed to clinch the No. 2 spot when they lost to the Lakers on Thursday.";
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i++] = new Array("","3. xy-Orlando Magic (58-22, 6.5)","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Art/SPORTS/LOGOS/NBA/orlando_magic.htease.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left-NW", "", "", "110", "110", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i-1].body = "
Potential first-round opponent: Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat.
Orlando is looking to ... find a balance between the power and defensive prowess of center Dwight Howard and the bombs-away mentality of 3-point shooters Rashard Lewis, Hedo Turkoglu, Rafer Alston and others. A big win for the East's No. 3 seed over the Cavs on April 3 could be a sign of things to come.";
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i++] = new Array("","3. x-Houston Rockets (52-28, 11)","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Art/SPORTS/LOGOS/NBA/houston_rockets.htease.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left-NW", "", "", "110", "110", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i-1].body = "
Potential first-round opponent: With Nos. 2-8 tightly bunched, it's too close to call.
Houston is looking to ... hone its game before the playoffs begin. With Tracy McGrady out of the picture (microfracture knee surgery in February), the Rockets now have a focus of Yao Ming and Ron Artest. Question will be if point guard Aaron Brooks can keep everything flowing.";
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i++] = new Array("","4. x-Atlanta Hawks (46-34, 18.5) ","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Art/SPORTS/LOGOS/NBA/atlanta_hawks.htease.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left-NW", "", "", "110", "110", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i-1].body = "
Potential first-round opponent: Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls.
Atlanta is looking to ... find a way to win games on the road. They pushed the Celtics to the brink in last year's playoffs but couldn't get a win in Boston. During the 2008-09 season, the Hawks again are struggling away from their nest.";
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i++] = new Array("","4. x-Portland Trail Blazers (52-28, 11)","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Art/SPORTS/LOGOS/NBA/portland_trailblazers.htease.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left-NW", "", "", "110", "110", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i-1].body = "
Potential first-round opponent: With Nos. 2-8 tightly bunched, it's too close to call.
Portland is looking to ... erase the general perception that they're still a year away from making a deep playoff run.";
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i++] = new Array("","5. x-Miami Heat (41-38, 23)","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Art/SPORTS/LOGOS/NBA/miami_heat.htease.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left-NW", "", "", "110", "110", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i-1].body = "
Potential first-round opponent: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic.
Miami is looking to ... beat out Philadelphia for the No. 5 spot in the Eastern Conference, which would be hugely beneficial because the road-wary Hawks have grabbed the No. 4 spot.";
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i++] = new Array("","5. x-San Antonio Spurs (51-28, 11.5)","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Art/SPORTS/LOGOS/NBA/sanantonio_spurs.htease.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left-NW", "", "", "110", "110", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i-1].body = "
Potential first-round opponent: With Nos. 2-8 tightly bunched, it's too close to call.
San Antonio is looking to ... regroup after being dealt a severe blow with the loss of Manu Ginobili -- he's out for the remainder of the season with an injured right ankle. The Spurs will likely rely heavily on Roger Mason and Michael Finley.";
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i++] = new Array("","6. x-Philadelphia 76ers (40-39, 24)","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Art/SPORTS/LOGOS/NBA/philadelphia_76ers.htease.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left-NW", "", "", "110", "110", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i-1].body = "
Potential first-round opponent: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic.
Philadelphia is looking to ... beat out the Heat for the No. 5 spot while adjusting to a new roster after losing forward Thaddeus Young (15.2 points, 5 rebounds) to a sprained ankle on April 1. He could miss the start of the playoffs.";
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i++] = new Array("","6. x-New Orleans Hornets (48-31, 14.5)","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Art/SPORTS/LOGOS/NBA/neworleans_hornets.htease.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left-NW", "", "", "110", "110", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i-1].body = "
Potential first-round opponent: With Nos. 2-8 tightly bunched, it's too close to call.
New Orleans is looking to ... answer questions about its depth. Point guard Chris Paul and forward David West are playing magnificently, but injuries to Tyson Chandler, Peja Stojakovic and others continue to dog the team.";
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i++] = new Array("","7. x-Chicago Bulls (40-40, 24.5)","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Art/SPORTS/LOGOS/NBA/chicago_bulls.htease.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left-NW", "", "", "110", "110", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i-1].body = "
Potential first-round opponent: Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic.
Chicago is looking to ... Move on up in the standings.";
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i++] = new Array("","7. x-Dallas Mavericks (48-31, 14.5)","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Art/SPORTS/LOGOS/NBA/dallas_mavericks.htease.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left-NW", "", "", "110", "110", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i-1].body = "
Potential first-round opponent: Most likely the Denver Nuggets or Los Angeles Lakers, but a tight West race leaves the door open for other possibilities.
Dallas is looking to ... find the magic that led it to the 2006 NBA Finals. While Dirk Nowitzki is putting up similar numbers (25-plus points, 8-plus rebounds) to that same MVP season, the Mavericks, at times, flounder when they should flourish -- with point guard Jason Kidd taking much of the blame.";
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i++] = new Array("","8. x-Detroit Pistons (39-41, 25.5)","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Art/SPORTS/LOGOS/NBA/detroit_pistons.htease.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left-NW", "", "", "110", "110", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i-1].body = "
Potential first-round opponent: Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic.
Detroit is looking to ... move on up in the standings, now that they've clinched a playoff berth for the eighth straight season. They play the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, which could have major implications.";
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i++] = new Array("","8. x-Utah Jazz (47-33, 16)","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Art/SPORTS/LOGOS/NBA/utah_jazz_2005.htease.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left-NW", "", "", "110", "110", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_2009playoff_stretchrun[i-1].body = "
Potential first-round opponent: Most likely the Lakers.
Utah is looking to ... regain the form that led the Jazz to a 12-game winning streak from Feb. 11 through March 10. Utah is struggling down the stretch and likely looking at a first-round playoff series with L.A.";
// END editorial data