NBA Play-In Tournament Teams Almost Set
Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports
We are one game away from the NBA regular season being concluded. Some of the teams for the Play-In Tournament are set, although the Eastern Conference still has playoff spots up for grabs.
Western Conference
The Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, and Los Angeles Lakers have all clinched a spot in the tournament. The Warriors in particular have held onto the 10th seed in the Western Conference for the past few weeks. Their spot in the play-in was practically secured the moment the Houston Rockets were eliminated from playoff contention.
The Warriors current record is 45-36 and are tied with the Kings while also being a game behind the Lakers. The Warriors previously lost 114-109 to the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Kings, while having the same record as the Warriors, are on a three game losing streak. About a week ago, the Kings were the seventh seed and on the verge of clinching a spot in the playoffs.
The Lakers have a 46-35 record and are two games behind the Suns for the seventh seed. Their recent matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies was a close, 123-120 victory. Regardless of what happens for the three previously mentioned teams with their final matchups, these three matchups will not change.
The Suns have a 48-33 record and are one game behind the Pelicans for the final playoff spot. The Suns recent matchups have them on a two game winning streak, including a 108-107 win against the Kings.
The Pelicans are the only team in the Western Conference to not clinch the playoffs or the play-in. Despite their four game winning streak, they are in jeopardy of falling out of the playoffs depending on how both they and the Suns perform.
If the Pelicans win, the Suns are automatically in the play-in. However, if the Pelicans lose their upcoming matchup with the Lakers, and the Suns win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Suns will overtake the Pelicans as the sixth seed and clinch the playoffs.
Eastern Conference
To start off, the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks have already clinched the play-in, but they are so far away from the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat in terms of record that there is no shot for either team to clinch the playoffs.
The eastern conference has a four way battle for the fifth and sixth seeds between the Heat, 76ers, Indiana Pacers, and Orlando Magic. There are a plethora of scenarios that can occur due to tiebreakers.
The Magic currently hold a 46-35 record, tied with the Pacers and 76ers. The Magic and Pacers are on losing streaks of three and one respectively, while the 76ers are on a seven game winning streak.
Due to tiebreakers, and the Magic leading the Southeast division, whereas the 76ers are third in the Atlantic division, if the Magic, Pacers and 76ers get a win in their final matchup, the current standings will remain unchanged and the Pacers and Magic will be in the playoffs.
For the 76ers to grab the fifth or sixth seed, they need three things to happen. First, they must beat the Brooklyn Nets in their final game. Next, the Magic have to lose to the Milwaukee Bucks. Finally, the Indiana Pacers have to beat the Atlanta Hawks.
The Heat have a 45-36 and can still get the sixth seed in the conference. In order to get into the playoffs as the sixth seed, they have to beat the Toronto Raptors for the second time in a row, and they need the 76ers and Magic to lose their final games.
There is also a nearly improbable scenario for the Heat to grab the fifth seed in the East. In order for that to happen, the Magic, Pacers, and 76ers must lose in their final games
Its an exciting time to be an NBA fan, that is unless you are clinching onto hope that your team doesnβt lose and get bumped out of the playoffs.
