NBA Playoff Scenarios: Here's Where Every Team Stands Going Into The Final Night Of The Season
Let's start in the Eastern Conference, where things are pretty simple.
The top-4 seeds are set, and Chicago gets the 5-seed if they beat Washington tonight or if Atlanta loses to New York.
Here's the breakdown:
- SET IN STONE: Miami (1) vs. Milwaukee (8)
- SET IN STONE: New York (2) vs. Boston (7)
- SET IN STONE: Indiana is the 3-seed
- SET IN STONE: Brooklyn is the 4-seed
- If Chicago wins OR Atlanta loses: Indiana (3) vs. Atlanta (6), Brooklyn (4) vs. Chicago (5)
- If Chicago loses AND Atlanta wins: Indiana (3) vs. Chicago (6), Brooklyn (4) vs. Atlanta (5)
In all likelihood, we're going to get the Indiana-Atlanta series.
The Western Conference, on the other hand, is a headache.
Let's start at the bottom of the playoff picture. The Lakers get into the playoffs if they beat Houston tonight, or if Utah loses to Memphis.
Houston will move up one spot if they win and Golden State loses, or move down one spot if they lose.
Here's the breakdown (6-8 seeds):
- If Los Angeles Lakers win OR Utah loses: Oklahoma City (1) vs. Houston (8), San Antonio (2) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (7), Utah OUT
- If Los Angeles Lakers lose AND Utah wins: Oklahoma City (1) vs. Utah (8), San Antonio (2) vs. Houston (7), Los Angeles Lakers OUT
- If Los Angeles Lakers lose, Utah wins, AND Golden State wins: Oklahoma City (1) vs. Utah Jazz (8), San Antonio Spurs (2) vs. Houston (7), Denver/Los Angeles Clippers (3) vs. Golden State (6) Los Angeles Lakers OUT
- If Los Angeles Lakers lose, Utah wins, AND Golden State loses: Oklahoma City (1) vs. Utah Jazz (8), San Antonio Spurs (2) vs. Golden State (7), Denver/Los Angeles Clippers (3) vs. Houston (6) Los Angeles Lakers OUT
Things are similarly confusing in the 3-5 seed range.
Denver just has to win, and they get the 3-seed. The Clippers are guaranteed the 4-seed because they won their division, but they can move up to the three if Denver loses and they win.
Memphis is stuck in the 5th seed, but they can get home court advantage over the Clippers with a win and and LA loss (even though LA is still nominally the 4-seed because they won their division).
The breakdown (3-5 seeds):
- If Denver wins: Denver (3) vs. Golden State/Houston (6), LA Clippers (4) vs. Memphis (5)
- If Denver loses and Los Angeles Clippers win: Los Angeles Clippers (3) vs. Golden State/Houston (6), Denver (4) vs. Memphis (5)
- If Denver loses, Los Angeles Clippers lose, and Memphis loses: Denver (3) vs. Golden State/Houston (6), Los Angeles Clippers (4) vs. Memphis (5)
- If Denver loses, Los Angeles Clippers lose, and Memphis wins: Denver (3) vs. Golden State/Houston (6), Los Angeles Clippers (4) vs. Memphis (5) but Memphis will have home court advantage
So there you have it.
We basically have no idea what the West match-ups are going to look like because all seven teams below the second seed can still move around.