The 89-86 loss to the Knicks, that 100-99 overtime Bellineli falling prayer buzzer beating loss, and that Atlanta overtime loss where we had a 19 point halftime lead, all during that recent six game losing streak were heartbreaking.
Hate to live in a world of could of should of but its hard not to wonder. Look, law of averages say we will win our share of close games and lose our share but had we been lucky enough to win those games here is where we would stand.
1-Miami 32-14
2-New York 30-17
3-Indiana 31-19
4-Boston 29-20
4-Brooklyn 29-20
6-Chicago 28-21
7-Atlanta 26-22
8-Milwaukee 25-23
We would have been 1 1/2 games back of Indiana and 2 games back of New York and 4 1/2 games behind Miami. We would have also been 15-3 since that slow start. In that span we would have beaten the Heat, Pacers, Bulls, Knicks (twice), Hawks (twice), Rockets & Clippers.
I guess the glass half full person in me says three buckets and/or three stops at the end of those games and we would be considered in striking distance of the 2nd seed in the East. Just saying maybe we truly are closer to a top four seed than that dreaded 8th seed we just valiantly crawled out of.