Hi guys! So I will be trying to lay down each possible scenarios for those teams that are still eligible to go to Vegas either as a wildcard or the top seed of the groups. This has been an enjoyable tournament so far and I love how there’s still so much to fight for even on the last game day on the 28th. Let’s start with the East:

EAST A

Team GP W L PF PA PD
Indiana Pacers 4 4 0 546 507 39
Cleveland Cavaliers 3 2 1 346 340 6
Philadelphia 76ers 4 2 2 485 476 9
Atlanta Hawks 3 1 2 394 403 -9
Detroit Pistons 4 0 4 439 484 -45

Remaining games: ATL vs CLE

  • CLE needs to win by a LOT to have a chance via wildcards with the Knicks boasting a +18 PD going into the last game day compared to Cavs’ +6. ATL winning would make both of the teams stay at 2-2 with other groups in play, not enough for a shot at wildcards.

EAST B

Team GP W L PF PA PD
Milwaukee Bucks 3 3 0 371 332 39
New York Knicks 3 2 1 325 307 18
Miami Heat 3 2 1 330 319 11
Charlotte Hornets 3 1 2 328 358 -30
Washington Wizards 4 0 4 458 496 -38

Remaining games: MIL vs MIA, CHA vs NYK

  • While the Bucks are mostly through, they need to win to stamp the outright berth to QF (eliminating the Heat in the process) however if they do lose, they still have the pole position for 1 seed by virtue of the best PD as long as the Heat don’t beat them by a lot (MIA winning by 15 or more will make them overtake MIL on PD)

  • A CHA win followed by MIA win will eliminate the Knicks, a MIA win with NYK win will make a 3-way tie towards 1 seed, with the team with best PD going through, while the 2 seed will depend on their PD for the wildcard spot. A MIL win with CHA win will effectively eliminate the Heat and Knicks (still probable for a 2-2 team to get wildcard but highly unlikely)

EAST C

Team GP W L PF PA PD
Orlando Magic 4 3 1 446 424 22
Boston Celtics 3 2 1 325 325 0
Brooklyn Nets 3 2 1 340 332 8
Toronto Raptors 3 1 2 333 342 -9
Chicago Bulls 3 0 3 312 333 -21

Remaining games: CHI vs BOS, TOR vs BKN

  • Celtics needs to win by at least 23 points to overtake the Magic and take 1 seed, the Nets will just need to win at least 15 points to do the same, if both fail the Magic advances as 1 seed while BOS and BKN will have to anxiously wait if the PD they gathered are enough for a wildcard spot

  • A CHI and TOR win will theoretically eliminate Celtics and Nets, though as mentioned in East B, a 2-2 wildcard team is probable but highly unlikely

WEST A

Team GP W L PF PA PD
Los Angeles Lakers 4 4 0 494 420 74
Phoenix Suns 4 3 1 480 446 34
Utah Jazz 4 2 2 469 482 -13
Portland Trail Blazers 4 1 3 416 455 -39
Memphis Grizzlies 4 0 4 430 486 -56

Remaining games: None

  • The only complete group so far, PHX will have to anxiously wait if their +34 PD is good enough for QF

WEST B

Team GP W L PF PA PD
New Orleans Pelicans 4 3 1 463 430 33
Houston Rockets 3 2 1 309 293 16
Denver Nuggets 4 2 2 432 442 -10
Dallas Mavericks 3 1 2 368 382 -14
Los Angeles Clippers 4 1 3 446 471 -25

Remaining games: HOU vs DAL

  • A Mavs win will make the Pels qualify to QF. A Houston win will make them qualify to QF with virtue of head-to-head vs the Pels

WEST C

Team GP W L PF PA PD
Sacramento Kings 3 3 0 358 329 29
Minnesota Timberwolves 3 2 1 332 335 -2
Golden State Warriors 3 2 1 360 355 5
Oklahoma City Thunder 3 1 2 360 333 27
San Antonio Spurs 4 0 4 429 487 -58

Remaining games: OKC vs MIN, GSW vs SAC

  • A Kings win followed by a Wolves win will have SAC qualify to QF as 1 seed, eliminating GSW in the process. MIN needs to win by at least 37 points to usurp PHX for the wildcard spot.

  • A Warriors win along with a Thunder win will qualify GSW to the QF as the 1 seed. A Warriors and Wolves win will see a 3 way tie with the best team on PD going through. PHX advances as the wildcard seed.

So that’s about the last gameday permutations I can think of for all the groups in the IST. Honestly cannot wait for 28th because there will be some anxious moments especially for those teams vying for the wildcard spots. This tourney has been a big W so far :D