FEAR THE HEAT?

Chris Ballard

April 19, 2004

Because of injuries, trades and slumps, a team's regular-season record doesn't always indicate how well its starting five is performing as the playoffs begin. Case in point: The Kings had won only II of 21 games through Sunday since Chris Webber rejoined the regular lineup of Mike Bibby, Doug Christie, Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakovic; Sacramento was 44-15 before then. On the other hand the Heat's top unit, if intact, makes Miami a contender. Here are the projected playoff starting lineups that, at week's end, had produced the best records (minimum 10 games started together).—David Sabino