There's reason for optimism heading into the third week of the season. The current expanded playoff format has been in place since 1990. In the 14 seasons that have followed, 24 teams have started a campaign with at least two losses and eventually made the playoffs. Some even made deep playoff runs.
The Han Dynasty and Roman Empire were not only similar during there prosperous times, but also during the fall of both empires. They were both affected by Internal problems like disease, and corrupt politicians; while they were also affected by external problems like Nomadic invasions.
The Byzantine Empire or Eastern Roman Empire, known to its inhabitants as the Roman Empire, the Empire of the Romans (Greek: ÎÎ±ÏÎ¹Î»ÎµÎ¯Î± Ïá¿¶Î½ á¿¬ÏÎ¼Î±Î¯ÏÎ½, BasileÃ­a tÃ´n RhÅmaÃ­Ån) and also as Romania (á¿¬ÏÎ¼Î±Î½Î¯Î±, RhÅmanÃ­a), was the continuation of the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered on its capital of Constantinople, and ruled by Emperors in direct succession to the ancient Roman Emperors.