NBA playoff picture: A lot is at stake over final days of the regular season
The top four seeds in the Eastern Conference are up for grabs.
The Los Angeles Lakers might not even make the postseason in the West.
There is a lot to be decided (except No. 1 seed in West where Phoenix ran away with the top spot) in both conference as teams fight to either stay in the top six and out the play-in game format or simply make the play-in game.
It has all the makings for an exciting and wild finish to the 2021-22 regular season, a campaign that nearly three months ago had Boston nowhere near competing for an NBA title. Now, they might be the best team in the East.
And take a look at the schedules. Maybe a team or two has it easier, especially teams with their seed just about locked up, but there are some difficult schedules remaining for teams trying to make the postseason.
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What’s at stake in final two weeks of NBA season? We take a look at the standings, where each team stands, who has what to gain and lose and who plays who:
Eastern Conference
Any one of four teams can earn the No. 1 seed in the East, and the four teams can finish in any order. And the finish could invoke several tiebreaker scenarios.
It’s been an elevator ride in the East standings all season, up and down. This is how it looks heading into the Tuesday’s games:
Top four seeds
Miami Heat (48-28)
Just a week ago, the Heat were in first place with a three-game lead. But a late-season swoon coupled with a Jimmy Butler-Erik Spoelstra in-game argument puts the top seed in jeopardy for Miami.
Remaining schedule (7): vs. Sacramento; at Boston; at Chicago; at Toronto; vs. Charlotte; vs. Atlanta; at Orlando
Boston Celtics (47-29)
The Celtics might just be the best team in the East – and that’s after a 18-21 start that left them in 11th place in January. It’s been a remarkable turnaround, but Robert Williams’ knee injury is a tough loss for the Celtics.
Remaining schedule (6): vs. Miami; vs. Indiana; vs. Washington; at Chicago; at Milwaukee; at Memphis.
Milwaukee Bucks (46-28)
The defending champs know what it takes to win in the playoffs and have paced themselves to make another deep run.
Remaining games (8): at Philadelphia; at Brooklyn; vs. Los Angeles Clippers; vs. Dallas; at Chicago; vs. Boston; at Detroit; at Cleveland.
Philadelphia 76ers (46-28)
Philadelphia managed well without Ben Simmons and are now trying to figure it out with James Harden. It’s been mostly good with room for improvement if the NBA Finals remain the goal.
Remaining schedule (8): vs. Milwaukee; at Detroit; vs. Charlotte; at Cleveland; at Indiana; at Toronto; vs. Indiana; vs. Detroit
Seeds 5-7
Chicago Bulls (43-32)
On Feb. 24, the Bulls were 39-21 and in first place in the East. Since then, the Bulls have struggled – injuries have been a big part – and are now in fifth place, clawing to remain in the top six and avoid a play-in game scenario.
Remaining schedule (7): at Washington; vs. Los Angeles Clippers; vs. Miami; vs. Milwaukee; vs. Boston; vs. Charlotte; at Minnesota
Toronto Raptors (43-32)
Toronto was sub-.500 on Jan. 1 but is above .500 since. The Raptors are a solid team with depth, and they have figured it out as the season has progressed. They’ll be a tough out as the lower seed.
Remaining schedule (7): vs. Minnesota; at Orlando; vs. Miami; vs. Atlanta; vs. Philadelphia; vs. Houston; at New York
Cleveland Cavaliers (42-33)
By any measurement, this is a solid season for the emerging Cavs. But like the Bulls, injuries have taken their toll, and the Cavs are trying to get back into the top six. But just getting into the playoffs, even through the play-in game format, will be significant now and for the future.
Remaining schedule (7): vs. Dallas; at Atlanta; at New York; vs. Philadelphia; at Orlando; at Brooklyn; vs. Milwaukee
Spots eight, nine and 10
The biggest intrigue here is order and who will play who in the play-in games.
Brooklyn Nets (39-36)
The Nets have had an uneven and disappointing season – once as high as second place and now trying to make the playoffs. With Kyrie Irving now able to play in home games and Kevin Durant getting healthier, the Nets will be a dangerous team to face if they’re one of the eight playoff teams in the East.
Remaining schedule (7): vs. Detroit; vs. Milwaukee; at Atlanta; vs. Houston; at New York; vs. Cleveland; vs. Indiana
Charlotte Hornets (39-37)
Charlotte is better than last season but the East as a whole also improved, leaving the Hornets in a play-in game scenario for the second consecutive season. It’s important for the team’s growth to make the eight-team playoffs in the East but that will be difficult.
Remaining schedule (6): at New York; at Philadelphia; at Miami; vs. Orlando; at Chicago; vs. Washington
Atlanta Hawks (38-37)
After reaching the conference finals last season, the Hawks have had a disappointing 2021-22. But with Trae Young, Atlanta has experience winning on the road in the postseason and won’t be intimidated by any opponent.
Remaining schedule (7): at Oklahoma City; vs. Cleveland; vs. Brooklyn; at Toronto; vs. Washington; at Miami; at Houston
Western Conference
Top seed
Phoenix Suns (61-14)
Phoenix will finish with the league’s best record, securing home-court advantage for as long as it is in the playoffs.
Remaining schedule (7): at Golden State; at Memphis; at Oklahoma City; vs. Los Angeles Lakers; at Los Angeles Clippers; at Utah; vs. Sacramento
No. 2 seed
Memphis Grizzlies (53-23)
Overtaking Golden State for the No. 2 seed and winning games with Ja Morant are significant accomplishments for the Grizzlies
Remaining schedule (6): at San Antonio; vs. Phoenix; at Utah; at Denver; vs. New Orleans; vs. Boston
Seeds 3-7
These five places are separated by five games. It’s unlikely Golden State drops out of the top six, but it’s possible Minnesota jumps into the top six.
Golden State Warriors (48-28)
Injuries have hurt the Warriors throughout the season. At times, they’ve been able to play through it, but the last month, including games with Steph Curry, have been rough with just xx victories.
Remaining schedule (6): vs. Phoenix; vs. Utah; at Sacramento; vs. Los Angeles Lakers; at San Antonio; at New Orleans
Dallas Mavericks (46-29)
Dallas has quietly had a solid season, especially defensively. It will be tough, not impossible, for the Mavs to catch the Warriors at No. 3, but they also have to watch out for Utah, which owns the tiebreaker between the two teams.
Remaining schedule (7): vs. Los Angeles Lakers; at Cleveland; at Washington; at Milwaukee; at Detroit; vs. Portland; vs. San Antonio
Utah Jazz (45-30)
Another team struggling down the stretch (four consecutive losses), the Jazz could finish fourth, fifth or sixth, and tiebreakers work in their favor. They own the tiebreaker against Dallas and Denver. Still, they need to win games.
Remaining schedule (7): at Los Angeles Clippers; vs. Los Angeles Lakers; at Golden State; vs. Memphis; vs. Oklahoma City; vs. Phoenix; at Portland
Denver Nuggets (45-31)
Nikola Jokic’s play without injured Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray is a testament to his MVP candidacy. Finishing sixth would be impressive, but there's a key game against Minnesota looming.
Remaining schedule (6): at Indiana; vs. Minnesota; at Los Angeles Lakers; vs. San Antonio; vs. Memphis; vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Minnesota Timberwolves (43-33)
The fun Timberwolves are on the verge of their first playoff appearance since 2018. Do they get in as the sixth seed or do they have to work their way in through the play-in game?
Remaining schedule (6): at Toronto; at Denver; at Houston; vs. Washington; vs. San Antonio; vs. Chicago
No. 8 seed
Los Angeles Clippers (36-39)
Los Angeles has this spot just about wrapped up – too far behind Minnesota and enough games up the teams behind them in the standings.
Remaining schedule (7): vs. Utah; at Chicago; at Milwaukee; vs. New Orleans; vs. Phoenix; vs. Sacramento; vs. Oklahoma City
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Ninth, 10th and 11th places
It’s basically three teams for the final two play-in spots, and there’s so much interest because it involves the Lakers. They're in danger of missing not only the playoffs but the play-in game, too.
New Orleans Pelicans (32-43)
New Orleans has worked itself into a potential play-in game following an awful 3-16 start. The Pelicans are above .500 since and are in control of their situation while owning the tiebreaker against the Lakers.
Remaining schedule (7): at Portland; at Los Angeles Lakers; at Los Angeles Clippers; at Sacramento Kings; vs. Portland; at Memphis; vs. Golden State.
Los Angeles Lakers (31-43)
Just to get into the play-in game, the Lakers need a strong finish amid a difficult and grueling schedule with LeBron James potentially hobbled by a sore ankle.
Remaining schedule (8): at Dallas; at Utah; vs. New Orleans; vs. Denver; at Phoenix; at Golden State; vs. Oklahoma City; at Denver
San Antonio Spurs (31-44)
In 11th place and just behind the Lakers in the standings, the Spurs have the potential to eliminate the Lakers from the postseason. The finish will be intriguing.
Remaining schedule (7): vs. Memphis; vs. Portland; vs. Portland; at Denver; at Minnesota; vs. Golden State; at Dallas