NBA Playoffs — Day 1

NBA
Derrick Rose
Dirk Nowitzki
Dwight Howard
Jamal Crawford
Jameer Nelson
Kyle Korver
Bulls
Hawks
Heat
Magic
Mavericks
Pacers
Trail Blazers

Thoughts from Day 1 of the NBA Playoffs

• All three higher seeds in the Eastern Conference trailed by double digits at some point during Saturday's games. Only Orlando failed to mount a comeback.

COMMENTS

Chicago paces playoff rankings

NBA
Bulls
Celtics
Heat
Lakers
Magic
Mavericks
Nuggets
Spurs
Thunder
Trail Blazers

Athlon Sports NBA Power Rankings — Playoff Edition

1. Chicago — The league's best team rides into the playoffs as winners of 13 of 14 and a league-best winning percentage of .703 against teams with a .500 record or better (26-11).

2. Miami — The Heat picked a good time to start, um, heating up. Miami is 41-4 when it scores 100 or more points, while its first-round opponent, Philadelphia, is 6-25 when it gives up 100 or more points.