The 2024 NBA playoffs opening this weekend offer the perfect opportunity to truly appreciate the thoroughness and common-sense practicality of the revolutionary TENDEX basketball statistical rating system.
TENDEX bases its first-round playoff predictions on regular-season team ratings. The average NBA team has a TENDEX rating of 100.
Once you know the ratings of each playoff team, it becomes easier to understand - though not necessarily agree with - how TENDEX makes its predictions.
TENDEX = 100 percent facts; 0 percent emotion/opinion
EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF TEAMS (TENDEX ratings in parenthesis)
Boston Celtics (109.8)
Indiana Pacers (104.3)
Cleveland Cavaliers (102.6)
New York Knicks (102.2)
Orlando Magic (102.1)
Milwaukee Bucks (101.9)
Philadelphia 76ers (101.6)
Chiago Bulls (101.0)
Miami Heat (100.6)
Atlanta Hawks (96.5)
WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF TEAMS (TENDEX ratings in parenthesis)
Minnesota Timberwolves (106.8)
Oklahoma City Thunder (106.6)
Denver Nuggets (106.0)
Phoenix Suns (104.2)
New Orleans Pelicans (104.1)
Los Angeles Clippers (103.2)
Golden State Warriors (103.0)
Los Angeles Lakers (101.3)
Sacramento Kings (100.9)
Dallas Mavericks (100.1)
EASTERN CONFERNCE FIRST-ROUND TENDEX PREDICTIONS
Boston Celtics (109.8) > Chicago Bulls (101.0)/Miami Heat (100.6) winner.
Celtics are the TENDEX No. 1 overall seed in playoffs. Anything less than NBA Finals appearance would be considered a colossal failure.
Philadelphia 76ers (101.6) > New York Knicks (102.2)
Knicks have a slightly better TENDEX rating only because Philly C Joe Embiid missed 43 games because of injury.
Indiana Pacers (104.3) > Milwaukee Bucks (101.9)
Many will consider this an upset but not TENDEX: Pacers have second-best rating in Eastern Conference. Besides, Giannis sidelined with calf injury.
Orlando Magic (102.1) > Cleveland Cavaliers (102.6)
Another matchup too close to call due to nearly identical TENDEX team ratings. Orlando playing with house money.
WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST-ROUND TENDEX PREDICTIONS
Minnesota Timberwolves (106.8) > Phoenix Suns (104.2)
T-Wolves are super dangerous now that Karl Anthony Towns is back.
Oklahoma City Thunder (106.6) > New Orleans Pelicans (104.1)/Sacramento Kings (100.9) winner
Pelicans among biggest TENDEX underachievers. Zion sidelined with hammy makes matters worse. OKC is NBA’s best story to go from no playoff appearances since 2020 to No. 1 seed in Western Conference.
Denver Nuggets (106.0) > Los Angeles Lakers (101.3)
Nuggets have history on their side with nine straight wins over LA. Plus, they’re 4.7 points per game better than Lakers.
Los Angeles Clippers (103.2) > Dallas Mavericks (100.1)
Clippers simply the better team.