As the autumn season arrives, the 10th anniversary of a pivotal NBA playoff rule change approaches, where a division champion is no longer guaranteed a top-four seed regardless of their record. This alteration in procedure highlights its significance, particularly when observing the current state of the Southeast Division.
Throughout NBA history, there has never been a division with as poor a win-loss record as the Southeast Division this season. As of Monday’s figures, the five teams in the Southeast—Atlanta, Orlando, Miami, Charlotte, and Washington—collectively hold a 113-200 record, translating to a win percentage of .369. This sets an unprecedented low for any division in the league’s history.
Previously, the lowest win percentage belonged to the Central Division during the 1970-71 season, standing at .384. During that period, Baltimore topped their division with a 42-40 record while the combination of Atlanta, Cincinnati, and Cleveland yielded an overall tally of 84-162.
What remains intriguing about the Southeast Division is that Atlanta, Orlando, and Miami are likely to participate in the play-in tournament, indicating that two of these teams will advance to the playoffs despite not being on track to end the regular season with winning records.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra remarked on the current competitive scenario, stating, “I don’t know division-wise, but I just know it seems in both conferences it’s a dogfight. With the play-in and everything, it’s been really good for the league. A lot more teams are competing.”
The Southeast being the NBA’s battleground division is no novel circumstance. This year, it is improbable for any Southeast team to achieve a 50-win season—a pattern observed in the last decade. Only the Miami Heat achieved this feat in the 2021-22 season, finishing 53-29.
To draw comparisons, the Atlantic Division produced 15 teams reaching a 50-win record over the past 10 years. The Northwest and Pacific Divisions each yielded 11 teams, with the Central and Southwest each producing nine. Boston appears likely to achieve this milestone for the sixth time within this period, paralleling Cleveland, Golden State, and Toronto, who each hit the mark at least five times.
In stark contrast, the Southeast Division has merely vouched one team with a 50-win season. Forget achieving 50 wins; there have only been 17 instances of a Southeast team finishing the regular season with a winning record out of a possible 50 chances over the past decade. Given the current standings, substantial progress is required for any Southeast team to change this trend within the present season. Nevertheless, three teams retain aspirations for noteworthy achievements.
Atlanta coach Quin Snyder reflected on the evolving dynamics, saying, “I do feel like having more teams involved can be good. I think that distinction between being a playoff team and a play-in team is a little bit murky to me. It’s the postseason, in my mind.”
The path to success is uncertain for Charlotte and Washington, expected to remain in the lottery pool for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, Miami, Atlanta, and Orlando aim to salvage their seasons with memorable results.
Two seasons ago, the Heat progressed from the play-in tournament to reach the NBA Finals, exemplifying the play-in’s potential as a significant opportunity for teams, according to Snyder. Despite the possibility of the Southeast Division concluding with the worst record in NBA history, Atlanta, Orlando, and Miami still possess ample motivation and opportunities.
Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley emphasized the need for resilience: “We have to fight our way out of this funk. It’s exactly what it is, it’s a funk and we’ve got to fight our way out of it. … Because in this league, it can turn fast one way or the other.”
As always, “Around The NBA” continues to explore the most salient topics within the league throughout the season.
