Crazy LeBron, Steph blockbuster on the cards; two teams’ lucky break: NBA Playoff Picture

Basketball
Published 09.04.2024
Crazy LeBron, Steph blockbuster on the cards; two teams’ lucky break: NBA Playoff Picture

The NBA’s play-in event is simply over per week away and already the highest 10 groups in every convention are already locked in.

Beyond that time there’s nonetheless lots to be determined over the ultimate few days of the season, with the Western Conference specifically wanting wide-open forward of the playoffs.

Elsewhere within the East, Boston stays the clear contender to beat however the sliding Bucks are vulnerable to tumbling down the standings with a cluster of groups combating for dwelling courtroom benefit.

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Read on for a full breakdown of simply the place each staff stands within the NBA playoff race!

All odds/percentages by way of PlayoffStanding.com.

EASTERN CONFERENCE (Percentage likelihood of ending in particular spot)

1. Boston Celtics (62-16)

Locked into No.1 seed

2. Milwaukee Bucks (47-31)

Locked into playoffs, with a doable seeding of No.2-6 (40% No.2, 19% No.3, 21% No.4, 14% No.5, 6% No.6)

3. Orlando Magic (46-32)

Possible seeding of No.2-8 (26% No.2, 20% No.3, 18% No.4, 16% No.5, 8% No.6, 7% No.7, 5% No.8)

4. New York Knicks (46-32)

Possible seeding of No.2-8 (12% No.2, 24% No.3, 27% No.4, 26% No.5, 10% No.6, 1% No.7, lower than 1% No.8)

5. Cleveland Cavaliers (46-33)

Possible seeding of No.2-8 (21% No.2, 29% No.3, 21% No.4, 15% No.5, 10% No.6, 3% No.7, 1% No.8)

6. Indiana Pacers (45-34)

Possible seeding of No.2-8 (1% No.2, 8% No.3, 11% No.4, 18% No.5, 39% No.6, 18% No.7, 6% No.8)

7. Philadelphia 76ers (44-35)

Possible seeding of No.3-8 (Less than 1% No.3, lower than 1% No.4, 7% No.5, 18% No.6, 38% No.7, 37% No.8)

8. Miami Heat (43-35)

Possible seeding of No.3-8 (Less than 1% No.3, 1% No.4, 5% No.5, 9% No.6, 34% No.7, 51% No.8)

9. Chicago Bulls (37-41)

Locked into play-in event, with a doable seeding of No.9-10 (92% No.9, 8% No.10)

10. Atlanta Hawks (36-42)

Locked into play-in event, with a doable seeding of No.9-10 (8% No.9, 92% No.10)

ELIMINATED

Brooklyn Nets (31-48)

Toronto Raptors (25-53)

Charlotte Hornets (19-59)

Washington Wizards (15-64)

Detroit Pistons (13-65)

At this level it appears nearly inevitable that Boston will likely be representing the Eastern Conference within the NBA Finals, though given the Celtics’ postseason struggles in recent times nothing is assured.

Milwaukee has dropped 4 straight video games and finds itself susceptible, with the Magic, Knicks and Cavaliers all nonetheless an opportunity of sneaking forward of the Bucks to say dwelling courtroom benefit.

The Bucks have a tricky run dwelling with the Celtics, Thunder and Magic (twice) on the schedule, giving third seed Orlando a giant alternative to leap Mikwaukee within the standings.

Elsewhere, Chicago and Atlanta is locked into the play-in event, though each groups will depend themselves lucky to be in that place regardless of proudly owning a shedding report.

Miami can have no situation with having to combat its approach out of the play-in event, having made the NBA Finals final yr from an identical place, though Philadelphia will likely be notably determined to keep away from that destiny given Joel Embiid has solely simply returned from harm and any additional relaxation will likely be welcomed.

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WESTERN CONFERENCE (Percentage likelihood of ending in particular spot)

1. Minnesota Timberwolves (54-24)

Locked into with a doable seeding of No.1-3 (55% No.1, 36% No.2, 9% No.3)

2. Denver Nuggets (54-24)

Locked into with a doable seeding of No.1-4 (34% No.1, 31% No.2, 34% No.3, lower than 1% No.4)

3. Oklahoma City Thunder (53-25)

Locked into playoffs, with a doable seeding of No.1-4 (11% No.1, 32% No.2, 57% No.3, lower than 1% No.4)

4. Los Angeles Clippers (50-28)

Possible seeding of No.2-7 (Less than 1% No.2, lower than 1% No.3, 98% No.4, 1% No.5, lower than 1% No.6, lower than 1% No.7)

5. Dallas Mavericks (48-30)

Possible seeding of No.4-8 (2% No.4, 97% No.5, 1% No.6, lower than 1% No.7, lower than 1% No.8)

6. Phoenix Suns (46-32)

Possible seeding of No.4-10 (Less than 1% No.4, lower than 1% No.5, 25% No.6, 27% No.7, 27% No.8, 19% No.9, 1% No.10)

7. New Orleans Pelicans (46-32)

Possible seeding of No.4-10 (Less than 1% No.4, 1% No.5, 49% No.6, 27% No.7, 11% No.8, 9% No.9, 4% No.10)

8. Sacramento Kings (45-33)

Possible seeding of No.5-10 (Less than 1% No.5, 19% No.6, 33% No.7, 33% No.8, 14% No.9, 1% No.10)

9. Los Angeles Lakers (45-34)

Possible seeding of No.6-10 (5% No.6, 12% No.7, 23% No.8, 36% No.9, 24% No.10)

10. Golden State Warriors (43-35)

Possible seeding of No.6-10 (Less than 1% No.6, 1% No.7, 6% No.8, 22% No.9, 71% No.10)

ELIMINATED

Houston Rockets (38-40)

Utah Jazz (29-49)

Memphis Grizzlies (27-51)

Portland Trail Blazers (21-57)

San Antonio Spurs (19-59)

Welcome to the wild West, the place the highest seed continues to be up for grabs and the surging Lakers are an opportunity of avoiding the play-in event after as soon as wanting vulnerable to lacking the post-season totally.
Minnesota has winnable video games in opposition to the Wizards and Hawks down the stretch and it’s a comparable story for Denver, with the defending champions dealing with the Jazz, Spurs and Grizzlies.

A Thursday match-up between the Timberwolves and Nuggets although may very properly resolve prime seed within the West.

Both groups have already wrapped up dwelling courtroom benefit together with Oklahoma City whereas the Clippers are in prime place to additionally do exactly that regardless of robust current kind from Dallas.

The Mavericks look all however locked into the 5 seed and a first-round match-up in opposition to Los Angeles.

Elsewhere, the Western Conference play-in event may very properly be stacked with famous person expertise and particularly three of the groups underneath probably the most stress this post-season — the Suns, Warriors and Lakers.

Phoenix presently sits sixth within the West forward of New Orleans however face the Clippers (twice), Kings and Timberwolves in a tough run dwelling. The Pelicans (Trail Blazers, Kings, Warriors, Lakers) don’t have it significantly better although.

Sacramento (Thunder, Pelicans, Suns, Trail Blazers) additionally has a brutal few video games to finish the season whereas the Lakers (Warriors, Grizzlies, Pelicans) have a blended bag of fixtures left.

There continues to be the distinct chance the Lakers and Warriors may end within the ninth and tenth seed, which means LeBron James or Steph Curry may very well be dealing with a do-or-die blockbuster recreation to save lots of their season.