What does it mean if you are a half a game behind in basketball?

Answer 1

Teams haven't always played the same number of games. Say team A has played 9 games and has a 5-4 record. Team B has played 8, and is 4-4. Team B is 1/2 game behind team A. Team B has one more game to play to equal A's games, and it may win it, or it may lose it - a 50-50 condition.