NBA Playoff Schedule 2012: Breaking Down How Final Games Will Impact Matchups

Today is the final day of the 2011-12 NBA regular season, and it’s incredible how many playoff factors are on the line tonight.

While all 16 teams have clinched their spot in the playoffs, here’s a look at how the last games can impact the seeding.

No. 1 Chicago Bulls vs. No. 8 New York Knicks/Philadelphia 76ers

Both the Knicks and 76ers are finishing the season on a high note and have identical 35-30 records right now. New York holds the tiebreaker over Philadelphia, meaning that the Knickerbockers would have to lose to the Bobcats and Philly has to beat the Pistons in order for New York to fall to the No. 8 seed and play the Bulls.

No. 2 Miami Heat vs. No. 7 New York Knicks/Philadelphia 76ers

If the Knicks want to avoid the Heat and play Chicago, a team they match up better with, they had best tank tonight’s game in Charlotte and pray the 76ers come out ahead in the Motor City.

No. 4/5 Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks

These two teams are definitely meeting, but Boston can still steal home court advantage for this first-round matchup.

The C’s would have to beat the Milwaukee Bucks at home tonight while the Hawks also lose to the Dallas Mavericks. Boston holds the season series tiebreaker over ATL and would therefore be rewarded with Game 1 in the Garden.

No. 2 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 7 Dallas Mavericks/Denver Nuggets

Neither of these teams wants to face the Thunder in the postseason. Dallas managed just one win in four attempts against OKC while the Nuggets are 1-3 against them.

In order for Dallas to move up to the No. 6 seed from its current No. 7 spot, the Mavericks must beat Atlanta while Denver has to fall short against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

This would pull them even in record at 37-29 with the Mavs hold the tiebreaker.

No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 6 Dallas Mavericks/Denver Nuggets

It would be interesting to see if the Mavericks are hesitant to move up to take on the Lakers, the team that they eliminated early in the playoffs last year. They might tank the game in order to draw OKC—a younger, less experienced team that isn’t on its last legs and feeling desperate.

Either way, the Lakers have a favorable matchup as they have beat the Mavs all four times they played and only lost one of four contests to the Nuggets.

No. 4/5 Memphis Grizzlies vs. Los Angeles Clippers

After the Clippers failed to come back from a mid-fourth quarter, 18-point deficit against the Knicks last night, they may have forfeited the No. 4 seed and home court advantage to the Grizzlies.

Memphis takes on the Orlando Magic tonight, and a win would give them a one-game lead over the Clips in the final standings.

Series Already Decided

No. 3 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 6 Orlando Magic

No. 1 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 8 Utah Jazz