Hi guys! It’s the last gameday of the IST today and I thought of reposting this (it got removed back a couple of days ago for some reason) to let yall know which teams are still in the hunt for a knockouts spot and what they will need to do to clinch it. It’s been a fun activity for me personally and I hope to catch some nerve-wracking games later!
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, theoretically still having a shot at the wildcard slot but highly unlikely.
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
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The Bucks might be 3-0, but the job’s not over yet. A MIA win with a CHA win will make the Heat the 1 seed and the Bucks 2 seed, and will have to rely on their PD to go through the knockouts as the East Wildcard as the Knicks will be eliminated.
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A Knicks win will propel them to 3-1, a 2 seed with a huge chance to clinch wildcard if the Bucks also win, and a 3-way tie if the Heat win (with the 1 seed going to the team with superior PD)
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It’s also a must win situation for the Heat. A MIA and CHA win will get them 1 seed, meanwhile an NYK win will force a 3-way tie (which again, the 1 seed going to the team with superior PD)
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
- A Celtics win alone is not enough, they need the Nets to win too to force a 3-way tie for 1 seed. If that condition is met, Celtics should be by more than 23 points to get 1 seed while BKN will just need to win by 15 or more. Those conditions fail, Magic will take 1 seed and BOS the 2 seed and will have to hope that their PD is enough for at least a wildcard slot
- A CHI and TOR win will theoretically eliminate Celtics and Nets, though as mentioned, 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
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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.
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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.
Game on!
for the last point, couldn’t GSW and MIN both qualify if they run up the score and both have huge point differentials at the end of the night?
(usurping PHX as the wildcard)