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Zach Kram
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Kevin Pelton
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Kevin Pelton
ESPN Senior Writer
- Co-author, Pro Basketball Prospectus series
- Formerly a consultant with the Indiana Pacers
- Developed WARP rating and SCHOENE system
The gauntlet of the NBA playoffs, which requires the champion to win four series which could last up to seven games each, has a knack for revealing teams’ weaknesses en route to the Finals.
Every team, even the three considered the NBA’s top contenders — the No. 1 seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers and the defending champion Boston Celtics — has shortcomings.
For each of these eight teams — the top three in the East and top five in the West — we’re taking a look under the statistical microscope to identify weaknesses and which potential opponents could expose them in the postseason.
East contenders:
BOS | CLE | NYK
West contenders:
DEN | GS | HOU | LAL | OKC
EAST CONTENDERS
Weakness: Insufficient pace
