The final week of the NBA season is an ongoing tussle for
playoff position, with pivotal seeding up for grabs and — in the East — the
final spots still far from decided.
This is My playoff predictor, where I take a look at
the final contests of the regular season and predict what the postseason
matchups are going to be.
The predicted end-of-season records and the first-round
pairings that come from them will be updated at the end of each day to give you
an evolving view of how things are shaping up. Check back each day to see how
the picture is changing.
After Sunday night's games, the Detroit Pistons have somehow
left themselves susceptible to being left out of the postseason in what would
be one of the NBA's most egregious late collapses of all time. With a week left
in March, the Pistons were cruising in Blake Griffin's slipstream, all the way
to a near-certain six seed.
But after losing at home to Charlotte on Sunday, Detroit has
now dropped seven out of nine and could find themselves dramatically
leapfrogged by the Hornets on the final day. If the Pistons take care of
business in both of their remaining games against Memphis and New York, that
will seal the deal. One slip-up, however, and the tiebreaker-owning Hornets,
who looked dead and buried for weeks but have somehow stayed afloat, could
knock them out. Miami, in Dwyane Wade's final season, are now almost
certainly eliminated.
Wednesday's action will be highlighted by a meaningful clash
between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets. A Houston win would
guarantee at least the three seed and avert a second-round collision course
with Golden State, while OKC needs a win to have a shot at climbing from
eighth. The advantage of that would be — you guessed it — also to avoid the
Warriors.
PREDICTING THE MATCHUPS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Milwaukee Bucks (1) vs. Orlando Magic (8)
Toronto Raptors (2) vs. Detroit Pistons (7)
Philadelphia 76ers (3) vs. Brooklyn Nets (6)
Boston Celtics (4) vs. Indiana Pacers (5)
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Golden State Warriors (1) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (8)
Denver Nuggets (2) vs. LA Clippers (7)
Portland Trail Blazers (3) vs. San Antonio Spurs (6)
Houston Rockets (4) vs. Utah Jazz (5)
PREDICTING THE FINISHES
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. MILWAUKEE
Current record: 60-21
Predicted final record: 61-21
Remaining games: v. Thunder
2. TORONTO
Current record: 57-24
Predicted final record: 57-25
Remaining games: @ Timberwolves
3. PHILADELPHIA
Current record: 50-30
Predicted final record: 51-31
Remaining games: @ Heat, v. Bulls
4. BOSTON
Current record: 48-33
Predicted final record: 49-33
Remaining games: @ Wizards
5. INDIANA
Current record: 47-34
Predicted final record: 48-34
Remaining games: @ Hawks
6. BROOKLYN
Current record: 41-40
Predicted final record: 42-40
Remaining games: v. Heat
7. DETROIT
Current record: 39-41
Predicted final record: 41-41
Remaining games: v. Grizzlies, @ Knicks
8. ORLANDO
Current record: 41-40
Predicted final record: 41-41
Remaining games: @ Hornets
9. CHARLOTTE
Current record: 38-42
Predicted final record: 40-42
Remaining games: @ Cavaliers, v. Magic
10. MIAMI
Current record: 38-42
Predicted final record: 39-43
Remaining games: v. 76ers, @ Nets
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. GOLDEN STATE
Current record: 56-24
Predicted final record: 58-24
Remaining games: @ Pelicans, @ Grizzlies
2. DENVER
Current record: 53-27
Predicted final record: 54-28
Remaining games: @ Jazz, v. Timberwolves
3. PORTLAND
Current record: 51-29
Predicted final record: 53-29
Remaining games: @ Lakers, v. Kings
4. HOUSTON
Current record: 53-28
Predicted final record: 53-29
Remaining games: @ Thunder
5. UTAH
Current record: 49-31
Predicted final record: 50-32
Remaining games: v. Nuggets, @ Clippers
6. SAN ANTONIO
Current record: 47-34
Predicted final record: 48-34
Remaining games: v. Mavericks
7. LA CLIPPERS
Current record: 47-34
Predicted final record: 48-34
Remaining games: v. Jazz
8. OKLAHOMA CITY
Current record: 47-33
Predicted final record: 48-34
Remaining games: v. Rockets, @ Bucks
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