Insider Special: Best of Times, Worst of Times...

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The best of times -- the worst of times

By Terry Brown

Wednesday, April 2 Updated 11:56 AM EST

Some 2,693 miles separate the cities of San Francisco and Boston but only 0.14 points which may make all the difference in the world.

The Golden State Warriors score 101.8 points per game, second most in the NBA, and give up 102.6, the most in the NBA, for an average margin of defeat of 0.85 per game after compiling a 36-39 record, which places them 11th in the Western Conference and almost mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.

The Boston Celtics score 92.9 points per game and give up 93.6 for an average margin of defeat of 0.71 per game after compiling a 40-34 record, which places them 6th in the Eastern Conference and almost mathematically qualified for the playoffs.

The bigger difference, though, is the Boston Celtics won 49 games last season, finished 3rd in the Eastern Conference and had a complete rotation with a traditional point guard and a former sixth man of the year coming off the bench, while the Golden State Warriors finished dead last in the Pacific Division last year with only 21 wins and no head coach.

This year, the Celtics have had 11 different players start for them, some of whom will have to be replaced next season, while the Warriors have had the same starting line up in 73 of their 75 games. They are, perhaps, the youngest starting five in the entire league with only 13 seasons experience total.

It is the best of times. It is the worst of times.

But you'd have a hard time telling which is which.

BIGGEST MARGINS OF VICTORY

1. Dallas Mavericks

Difference: +8.6 points (103.5 to 94.9)

Comment: After the 14-0 start, after the current 8-2 run, after a league-best 56-18 record with 8 games to go, all the Dallas Mavericks have to do now is beat the three-time defending champs twice and the second-best team in the league in the season finale or it could all be for naught. And we'll all say I TOLD YOU SO to a team that won 60 games this year, 57 the year before that, 53 before that, 40 before that and 19 before that. Fickle, us.

2. Sacramento Kings

Difference: +6.5 points (101.8 to 95.3)

Comment: When the Lakers finally broke through to win their first title in their current run, they won 67 games to convince themselves, as well as everyone else, that they could. So we can spot them their ensuing 56, 58 and even 43 wins so far this season and still blink first when they walk in the gym. But even if the Kings go undefeated the rest of the way, they'll win 60 games, one short of last year's 61, and not nearly the exclamation point we were expecting.

3. New Jersey Nets

Difference: +5.9 points (95.9 to 90.0)

Comment: Nothing like six games in a row against non-playoff teams in which the average margin of victory was a whopping 11 points per game to pull you out of that 7-12 tailspin threatening to flush not only the season but your starting point guard who also happens to be your franchise player and upcoming free agent. Lucky for them, I guess, that 5 of their last 8 games are also against non-playoff teams.

4. San Antonio Spurs

Difference: +5.3 (95.8 to 90.5

Comment: The flavor of the month could very well turn into the flavor of the season but we'll never know since none of their final eight games will be televised nationally. Which should tell you how David Stern really feels about the Spurs, the hottest team in the league since Christmas and last NBA Champion not clad in purple and gold, winning their second title in franchise history for a city with a population that could be lost between Mark Cuban's seat cushions.

5. Detroit Pistons

Difference: +4.6 (91.4 to 86.8)

Comment: Four and some change may not seem like a lot to most teams but not only are the Pistons statistically the best defensive team in the league, but do so by 3.2 points over the next team (their 86.8 to New Jersey's even 90) while 12.7 points separate the other 28 teams. Think about that for a second. On average, that's only a 0.45 difference between each of them. And of the 11 teams in the league averaging less than 94 points per game, only two of them are on the plus side of this ranking (Seattle being the other at +0.1). So it should come as no surprise that these Pistons have played 28 games decided by 5 or fewer points and still have the best record in the Eastern Conference by two.

BIGGEST MARGIN OF DEFEAT

25. Los Angeles Clippers

Difference: -4.7 points (92.9 to 97.6)

Comment: Check back in a week or so after playing 6 of their final 8 games on the road, having already dropped their most recent five losses by double-digits on average with Elton Brand on the bench, Michael Olowokandi in stitches and Andre Miller needing a couch and ink blots.

26. Chicago Bulls

Difference: -5.5 points (93.9 to 99.4)

Comment: Congratulations! The Bulls not only made a repeat appearance on this list (last posted at the halfway point of the season) but are the only team in the bottom five to actually get worse. The Raptors improved by almost a free throw. The Nuggets improved. Even the Cavaliers got better by almost half a point and threaten to break that double-digit barrier. But not the Bulls. Back then, teams were back-handing them by 4.3 points per game. Currently, they're at 5.5. By the time we're done here, and they've played their final seven games against teams all headed to the playoffs, more pats on the back may be in order.

27. Toronto Raptors

Difference: -5.8 points (91 to 96.8)

Comment: The good news is that Vince Carter has led them in scoring in 11 of their last 14 games. The bad news is that the Raptors have also lost 11 of their last 14 games.

28. Denver Nuggets

Difference: -7.6 points (84.0 to 91.6)

Comment: One example will do. In their last game, which happened to be against the Phoenix Suns, they not only lost by 30, but their leading scorer had only 10. Okay, one more. If the Dallas Mavericks fail to score a single point the rest of the season, they'll still finish with 7,743. At their current pace, the Nuggets will be lucky to reach 6,863 by April 16.

29. Cleveland Cavaliers

Difference: -10 (91.7 to 101.7)

Comment: Last week, the Cavs won back to back games for only the second time all season when they beat the Nets on March 23 and the Warriors on March 25. The first time came when they beat the Jazz on October 18 and the Lakers on October 22. In the Preseason.

[cyman3]

they're not in the "BIGGEST MARGIN OF DEFEAT" list after losing big games here and there

ex- Grizzles