BREAKING DOWN NBA PLAYOFF RACE
Milwaukee poised to grab top seed in post-season
THE playoff field is largely set.
The positioning, that’s still anyone’s guess.
So even while some of what we could have had for drama over the final 2½ weeks of the NBA regular season won’t materialize—LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are already out of the playoffs, robbing us of one potential story line—the races for seedings and home-court edges are almost certain now to go down to the final days of the season.
Milwaukee has the edge over all other teams in the race for the No. 1 overall seed. Dwyane Wade’s career still isn’t guaranteed of going past Miami’s regular-season finale in Brooklyn on April 10. Golden State, bidding for a third straight NBA championship and fourth in five years, still has a fight on its hands just to get the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
“We’re ready to take on any challenger,” Warriors forward Draymond Green said.
There have been nights where that’s looked like a very accurate statement. Others, not so much.
The Warriors have lost twice by at least 33 points already this month, though in fairness they sat Klay Thompson in one of those games and Stephen Curry in the other.
At least they know they’re going to the postseason. Not everyone has had that ability to exhale yet.
San Antonio still hasn’t clinched a 22nd consecutive playoff spot, which would tie Philadelphia (1950-71, some of that as the Syracuse Nationals) for the league record, though the Spurs are well on their way.
“That’s a good sign that they’re figuring it out,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.
Let’s take a look at where things are:
EASTERN CONFERENCE IN: No. 1 Milwaukee, No. 2 Toronto, No. 3 Philadelphia, No. 4 Indiana.
The Bucks are in total control of the race for the No. 1 overall seed and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. Really, the two interesting games left on their schedule are Tuesday against Houston (Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. James Harden in the MVP battle will be the dominant narrative there, as if one game will change much) and April 4 at Philadelphia (two teams that just don’t like one another). Toronto’s remaining schedule is the easiest left in the NBA, but the Raptors may have run out of time in their quest to catch the Bucks.
ON THE VERGE: Boston. It’s only a matter of time. The Celtics are going to get in.
WHAT’S LEFT: Technically, six teams—Detroit, Brooklyn, Miami, Orlando, Charlotte and Washington—for three spots. Washington’s odds are almost nonexistent. The Miami-Orlando game on Tuesday is enormous, especially for the Heat. Brooklyn’s remaining schedule looks incredibly tough, unless the Nets run into some teams who rest stars on those nights. And with two games against Milwaukee in April, that’s possible.
OUT: Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, New York.
WESTERN CONFERENCE IN: No. 1 Golden State, No. 2 Denver, No. 3 Houston.
The race for No. 1 in the West is obviously important for home-court advantage through as many rounds as possible, but there’s something else for the Warriors and Nuggets to consider. If Houston—playoff-bound for a franchise-record-tying seventh straight year— finishes in the No. 3 spot (which is far from guaranteed), then the top-seeded team would avoid seeing James Harden until the West finals. Golden State’s lead over Denver is only a half-game, but the Warriors’ remaining schedule is a ton easier than what Denver has left.
ON THE VERGE: Portland, the Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City, Utah, San Antonio. The Spurs are eighth, but they have a very easy schedule left and shouldn’t have much trouble not only clinching, but possibly moving up a spot or two.
STILL WITH A TINY CHANCE: Sacramento, which probably can’t lose more than one or two games the rest of the way.
OUT: Minnesota, the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans, Memphis, Dallas and Phoenix. /