With just a few games remaining for each team in the NBA season, this year's playoff picture is slowly but surely coming together.
In the final days of the season we may see a lot of movement throughout both conferences as teams could be on move from NBA Play-In territory to NBA Playoff seeding, and vice versa.
Here is where everyone stands at the moment.
Related Article: NBA Coach of the Year: Thunder, Magic and Wolves All in These COTY Candidates
The NBA Playoff Picture: Eastern Conference
If the season ended today:
(1) Celtics vs. (8) Bulls/Hawks
(2) Bucks vs. (7) Heat/76ers
(3) Cavaliers vs. (6) Pacers
(4) Magic vs. (5) Knicks
In the Eastern Conference the Boston Celtics are asserting their dominance, leading the pack with an impressive 60-16 record. They have locked up a home-court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 135-100 on Wednesday.
There's a fierce battle for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, with the Miami Heat fighting to avoid the Play-In and the Indiana Pacers looking to hold onto their playoff seeding.
The Milwaukee Bucks are in second at 47-29. The Cleveland Cavaliers are right on their trail, currently landing as the No.3 seed with a record of 46-31, and still have a chance to potentially steal the second seed.
The Orlando Magic and the New York Knicks are currently jockeying for positions at four and five, respectively.
The Magic are experiencing one of the best seasons in franchise history, as the Knicks are maintaining a consistent one at 45-31.
The Miami Heat, currently the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference, are in a precarious position at 42-34. With the Indiana Pacers hot on their tails, the Heat have fallen back into the Play-In, making the race for the playoffs all the more thrilling.
Miami has won three straight in a row prior to losing to the 76ers Thursday night, which has knocked them back into Play-In territory. However, they still do have a chance at closing out the sixth seed in the coming week.
Read More: Celtics Break NBA Record After Clinching the Best Record in the League in Dominant Win
The NBA Playoff Picture: Eastern Conference Play-In
The Chicago Bulls (36-40) and the Atlanta Hawks (36-41) are locked into the final NBA Play-In spots in the Eastern Conference with roughly similar records. However, the seventh and eighth seeds could see some change.
The Indiana Pacers are holding on to the sixth seed with a record of 43-34. With a solid finish to the season, the Pacers have a chance at locking in the position.
The Pacers' matchups against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Miami Heat, and Cleveland Cavaliers will decide where they will finish the season.
The Philadelphia 76ers are the eighth seed with a 42-35 record. Joel Embiid has played for the first time since the end of January, so they do have some time to make up ground trying to get out of the NBA Play-In with a solid finish to the NBA season.
Read More: NBA Western Conference Playoff Picture: Who Will Rule the West in the NBA Playoffs?
The NBA Playoff Picture: Western Conference
Over in the NBA Western Conference, things are looking a bit different.
(1) Timberwolves vs. (8) Lakers/Warriors
(2) Nuggets vs. (7) Pelicans/Kings
(3) Thunder vs. (6) Suns
(4) Clippers vs. (5) Mavericks
The Minnesota Timberwolves (53-23) and Denver Nuggets (53-24) are neck and neck for the number-one seed; having the Oklahoma City Thunder hot on their heels at third with a record of 52-24.
Any of these three teams can finish with the No.1 seed. The Thunder do have the harder games remaining with matchups against the Kings, Bucks, and Mavericks on the horizon along with some teams out of the NBA Playoff picture sprinkled in.
The fifth through ninth seeds in the NBA West are all just a few games within each other.
After a challenging week, the Dallas Mavericks at 46-30 having climbed to the fifth seed after stringing some wins together, while the New Orleans Pelicans have slipped into the NBA Play-In after a series of tough losses.
The Phoenix Suns have played themselves into the sixth seed after picking up some crucial wins last week, including defeating the New Orleans Pelicans.
Related Article: NBA East Sixth Seed up for Grabs as We Head Closer to Playoffs
NBA Playoff Picture: Western Conference Play-In
During their Western Conference road swing, the New Orleans Pelicans (45-31) are reeling, losing four of their last five. They have some tough games ahead of them including matchups against Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, and Phoenix Suns.
Due to injuries, the shorthanded Sacramento Kings (44-32) will be without Malik Monk and Kevin Huerter, as their final four remaining games are on the road.
The Lakers are ninth out West with 44 wins but with 33 losses, and the Golden State Warriors are rounding out the final Play-In spot. Setting up a premiere matchup in the Play-In between LeBron James and Stephen Curry.
Read More: Mixed Feelings for Doc Rivers and His Bucks Heading Into the NBA Playoffs
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
