The six biggest NBA playoff picture questions, as the season winds down

Friday, 29 March 2024 at 23:00

As we are approaching the end of the NBA regular season were every team has 10 games or less left. There are still plenty of seedings in the playoffs that still need to be finalized, and should be a fun and entertaining home stretch. These are the six biggest questions before the season ends on Sunday, April 14.

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Can the Knicks catch the Bucks for No. 2 in the East?

With Boston clinching the number one seed in the East, the attention has now shifted to who would get the second seed. The Bucks have held the spot for a majority of the season, however the Knicks who are currently number three are only 1.5 games back from the Bucks.

The Bucks currently have a 2-1 series advantage over the Knicks with one more game to play between the two teams. The game on Sunday, April 7th could be the deciding factor on who gets the second seed between the two.

The Bucks have an easier path as they only have the 12th toughest schedule remaining as the Knicks have the ninth toughest.

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Who get's the West's No. 1?

For a major part of the season the West top four seeds have all been within a game or two apart, however with the Clippers struggling a little bit the race for number one is now with three teams. Right now the Nuggets have the number one seed with the Thunder and Timberwolves just 0.5 games back from them.

The Thunder won there season series against the Nuggets 3-1, while the Timberwolves are 1-1 with two games remaining between the two. As for the Timberwolves and Thunder they split there season series 2-2.

Denver has the easier schedule remaining with the timberwolves being second, however the West number one seed could be determined in those two games between the Nuggets and Timberwolves.

Are the Warriors in danger of missing the Play-in Tournament?

The Warriors have had an up-and-down season all year long were they have moments looking like their old selves. With the Warriors going just a mediocre 5-5 in the last 10 games. It is the surging Rockets that have been very impressive as of late going 12-1 in the month of March, that are threatening the Warriors for the 10th spot.

The Warriors are currently a game ahead of the Rockets. They also lead the series matchup against the Rockets 2-0 with on game left on Thursday, April 7th that could be a determining factor on who gets the last play-in spot.

The Warriors have the 27th easiest schedule remaining with the hopes of staying at number 10, but I wouldn't count out the Rockets as they have been the hottest team in basketball recently. They have been doing all of this without their best player in Alperen Sengun.

Which of the 76ers, Heat, or Pacer avoids the play-in tournament?

With the Orlando Magic seeming like they will be the 5th seed, there are three teams battling for the 6th seed to avoid the play-in. The Heat who were a play-in team last year that made it to the Finals, The Pacers who traded for Pascal Siakam earlier in the year, and the 76ers who have fallen of a cliff ever since Joel Embiid went down with an injury.

The good news for 76ers fans, is the hope right now, is Embiid will return before the season is over with, and that should help them with there chances to avoid the play-in tournament. All three of these teams are playoff caliber teams and all should make the playoffs. The only question is which one will be able to avoid the play-in tournament.

The Pacers are currently the 6th seed right now and have a 1 game lead on the Heat and a 1.5 game lead on the 76ers. However, the 76ers have the easiest schedule of the three remaining.

Can either Dallas or the Suns avoid the Play-in tournament?

Coming into the season people thought that the Suns and The Mavericks were going to be sure fire playoff teams with the talent that they have on their rosters. That has not been the case with both teams being very inconsistent and the Suns having injury problems were their top three players haven't played a ton together.

The Mavericks are currently the 6th seed and the Suns are the 7th seed. If they both want to avoid the play-in they will have to pass the 5th seed Pelicans who are 1.5 games ahead of the Mavericks and 2.0 games ahead of the Suns.

The Suns have the toughest remaining schedule left with two games against the Pelicans with the hopes to close the gap between them. While the Mavericks have the 22nd hardest schedule remaining with the easier road of staying away from the play-in.

Will the Clippers avoid dropping out of the top four seed in the West?

As we brought up earlier, the Clippers not that long ago where in the hunt for the number one seed in the West. However with their recent struggle of going 4-6 in their last 10 games they could be in danger of loosing home-court advantage in at least the first round.

They are only 0.5 games ahead of the 5th seeded Pelicans, but they lost the season series against them loosing three of the four matchups. If they want to stay ahead of them they will have to finish the year with a better record.

The Clippers have the 10th hardest schedule remaining while the Pelicans have the eighth toughest schedule remaining. They are pretty even in that department and will be interesting to see if the Clippers can stay at number four or not.