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.
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.
Charlotte's Tony Parker's quest for an 18th straight playoff
appearance is in trouble. James' run of 13 straight is over. Minnesota's Jeff
Teague has been in the league for 10 years, and this is the first time he won't
be in the postseason.
Memphis' Omri Casspi has now played in 588 career games for
seven different franchises, zero of them in the playoffs, and that won't change
this year in what is now the fourth-longest playoff drought by any player in
NBA history. And Golden State's DeMarcus Cousins — finally — should play in a
playoff game, barring injury between now and the second weekend of April.
The Warriors are in that place where they're tuning up for
the postseason, but they also want to ensure that they close their time at
Oakland's Oracle Arena the right way before moving into a brand-new Chase
Center in San Francisco next season.
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.
SLOVENIAN SHOWDOWN
Lost amid the playoff hubbub is this: They're expecting
hundreds of Slovenian fans in Miami on Thursday.
Goran Dragic vs. Luka Doncic for the first time is the
reason why.
The NBA's two Slovenian players this season — who teamed up
to help their tiny nation win the European championship in 2017 — will finally
face off. Dragic missed Miami's game in Dallas last month, so this will be
their first time sharing the court in different uniforms.
THE WEEK AHEAD
A game to watch every day this week:
MONDAY, BROOKLYN AT
PORTLAND: The Blazers clinch with a win, as the Nets' seven-game trip
continues.
TUESDAY, ORLANDO AT
MIAMI: Major East implications and the Heat retire Chris Bosh's No. 1
jersey.
WEDNESDAY, INDIANA AT
OKLAHOMA CITY: Paul George's former team visits Paul George's current team.
THURSDAY, L.A. CLIPPERS
AT MILWAUKEE: Doc Rivers and Mike Budenholzer both merit coach of the year.
FRIDAY, INDIANA AT
BOSTON: The way things are right now this would be a first-round playoff
series.
SATURDAY, MIAMI AT
NEW YORK: Dwyane Wade's final game at Madison Square Garden, his favorite.
SUNDAY, L.A. LAKERS
AT NEW ORLEANS: Because we can't get enough LeBron James vs. Anthony Davis.
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