Boston is humming lead by the amazing Rajon Rondo

Isn’t it amazing to see a guy get double figure assists in 20 straight games. In the NBA, only 3 people have done it. John Stockton in his heyday had 29 straight games of amassing more than 10 assists. Magic Johnson had 20. Now, Rondo’s streak still alive.

Since Boston is fighting for home court advantage for the first round. I am sure that Doc Rivers will keep him on the floor. Most likely the streak will extend to the playoffs.  The Celtics are also similarly streaking and I think many teams will avoid a first round match-up against the red hot Boston team.

In the last 5 games, Boston went 4-1 with victories over potential playoff opponents Atlanta, Miami, Philadelphia, and Indiana. The lone loss was against the out of contention Raptors. In those 5 games, Rondo averaged 14.8 assists and he even had a triple double against Atlanta Hawks. It was his 6^th triple double in the season.

The Celtics will be facing the Nets and Bobcats in the next two games and they will be finishing the season battling 5 other teams who are fighting for playoff spots. If Boston remains hot, then I expect to see a salivating Boston-Chicago match-up in the 2^nd round of the playoffs. J

The Streaking Rajon is leading the red-hot Celtics!

Links:
NBA Playoff Race 
Rondo Extends streak
Boston 79 - 84 Toronto

2012 NBA Playoff Race as of Easter Sunday

It is already April and NBA teams are starting to position themselves for the playoffs in this lockout-shortened season. Here is the conference standings as of today.

Western Conference:

1. San Antonio Spurs (39-14)
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (40-15)
3. LA Lakers (35-22)
4. LA Clippers (34-22)
5. Memphis Grizzlies (32-23)
6. Houston Rockets (30-25)
7. Dallas Mavericks (31-26)
8. Denver Nuggets (30-26)
9. Phoenix Suns (29-27)
10. Utah Jazz (29-27)
11. Portland Trailblazers (27-30)
12. Minnesota Timberwolves (25-32)
13. Golden State Warriors (22-33)

Eastern Conference:

1. Chicago Bulls (43-13)
2. Miami Heat (39-15)
3. Indiana Pacers (34-22)
4. Boston Celtics (31-24)
5. Atlanta Hawks (34-23)
6. Orlando Magic (33-23)
7. Philadelphia 76ers (29-26)
8. New York  Knicks (28-27)
9. Milwaukee Bucks (28-28)
10. Detroit Pistons (21-34)
11. Toronto Raptors (20-36)
12. New Jersey Nets (20-37)
13. Cleveland Cavaliers (18-35)

Eliminated Teams:

1. Charlotte Bobcats (7-47)
2. New Orleans Hornets (15-41)
3. Washington Wizards (12-44)
4. Sacramento Kings (19-37)

In the West, the race for the final 3 spots is between 5 teams.  Phoenix and Utah are just one game behind the Denver Nuggets. In the East, the 76ers, Knicks and Bucks are battling for the 7th and 8th seeds. So far, Chicago, Miami, San Antonio and Oklahoma City are the only teams that clinched a playoff berth.