Every 2008-09 NBA race charted day by day: East, Atlantic, Central, Southeast, West, Northwest, Pacific and Southwest. Final standings, from a season that ran October 28, 2008 to April 15, 2009.
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East standings, 2008-09
Team
W
L
Pct
GB
L10
Streak
Cleveland Cavaliers (CLE)
66
16
.805
-
7-3
L1
Boston Celtics (BOS)
62
20
.756
4
8-2
W2
Orlando Magic (ORL)
59
23
.720
7
5-5
W1
Atlanta Hawks (ATL)
47
35
.573
19
5-5
L1
Miami Heat (MIA)
43
39
.524
23
5-5
W1
Chicago Bulls (CHI)
41
41
.500
25
7-3
L1
Philadelphia 76ers (PHI)
41
41
.500
25
4-6
W1
Detroit Pistons (DET)
39
43
.476
27
4-6
L3
Indiana Pacers (IND)
36
46
.439
30
6-4
W1
Charlotte Bobcats (CHA)
35
47
.427
31
3-7
L4
Milwaukee Bucks (MIL)
34
48
.415
32
3-7
L1
New Jersey Nets (NJN)
34
48
.415
32
4-6
L1
Toronto Raptors (TOR)
33
49
.402
33
6-4
W3
New York Knicks (NYK)
32
50
.390
34
3-7
W1
Washington Wizards (WAS)
19
63
.232
47
3-7
L2
The dashed line on the chart is the pace of the final playoff spot.
Turning points
The lead changed hands 12 times.
The Cleveland Cavaliers trailed by as many as 2.5 games on December 15, 2008.
The Cleveland Cavaliers took first place for good on February 19, 2009.
The Boston Celtics won 19 games in a row from November 15, 2008 to December 23, 2008, the longest run of the race.
The Boston Celtics led by 2.5 games as late as December 24, 2008.
The Cleveland Cavaliers went 20-2 from February 17, 2009 to March 29, 2009, turning a deficit of 2 games into a lead of 5.5 games.
The top two ended the day within one game of each other on 79 of the 160 days played.
Nine teams held first place.
The Cleveland Cavaliers spent 80 of the season's 170 charted days in first place.