• All three higher seeds in the Eastern Conference trailed by double digits at some point during Saturday's games. Only Orlando failed to mount a comeback.
Athlon Sports NBA Power Rankings — Playoff Edition
1. Chicago — The league's best team rides into the playoffs as winners of 13 of 14 and a league-best winning percentage of .703 against teams with a .500 record or better (26-11).
2. Miami — The Heat picked a good time to start, um, heating up. Miami is 41-4 when it scores 100 or more points, while its first-round opponent, Philadelphia, is 6-25 when it gives up 100 or more points.
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The NBA playoffs are here. The first round begins Saturday, April 15. Sixteen teams made the pro dance, and Athlon Sports ranks those 16 teams as they enter the postseason.</p>
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It's NBA Playoffs Eve as the "second season" gets underway Saturday afternoon. Here are just a few thoughts as we embark on the potential for another 105 games from now until June — that's if every series goes seven games througout the postseason.</p>