Every 2004-05 NBA race charted day by day: East, Atlantic, Central, Southeast, West, Northwest, Pacific and Southwest. Final standings, from a season that ran November 2, 2004 to April 20, 2005.
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East standings, 2004-05
Team
W
L
Pct
GB
L10
Streak
Miami Heat (MIA)
59
23
.720
-
5-5
W3
Detroit Pistons (DET)
54
28
.659
5
9-1
L1
Chicago Bulls (CHI)
47
35
.573
12
6-4
L1
Boston Celtics (BOS)
45
37
.549
14
6-4
L2
Washington Wizards (WAS)
45
37
.549
14
4-6
L2
Indiana Pacers (IND)
44
38
.537
15
6-4
W1
Philadelphia 76ers (PHI)
43
39
.524
16
8-2
W2
Cleveland Cavaliers (CLE)
42
40
.512
17
4-6
W2
New Jersey Nets (NJN)
42
40
.512
17
8-2
W4
Orlando Magic (ORL)
36
46
.439
23
2-8
L1
New York Knicks (NYK)
33
49
.402
26
4-6
W1
Toronto Raptors (TOR)
33
49
.402
26
3-7
L1
Milwaukee Bucks (MIL)
30
52
.366
29
3-7
L2
Charlotte Bobcats (CHA)
18
64
.220
41
3-7
W1
Atlanta Hawks (ATL)
13
69
.159
46
2-8
L2
The dashed line on the chart is the pace of the final playoff spot.
Turning points
The lead changed hands 11 times.
The Miami Heat trailed by as many as 1.5 games on November 26, 2004.
The Miami Heat took first place for good on December 12, 2004.
The Miami Heat won 14 games in a row from December 6, 2004 to January 1, 2005, the longest run of the race.
The Indiana Pacers led by 1.5 games as late as November 26, 2004.
The Miami Heat led by as many as 10 games on March 25, 2005.
The Miami Heat went 16-2 from November 27, 2004 to January 1, 2005, turning a deficit of 1.5 games into a lead of 6.5 games.
The top two ended the day within one game of each other on 40 of the 164 days played.
The Miami Heat spent 145 of the season's 170 charted days in first place.