NBA Playoff Standings 2015: Predicting Final Playoff Seedings
The Oklahoma City Thunder have a slightly easier remaining schedule than the New Orleans Pelicans, but watch the Minnesota Timberwolves make life tough for OKC on the final day of the regular season. The Thunder and Pelicans have identical records of 43-36 as they compete for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
The table below shows the current playoff standings in both conferences.
| Atlanta 1e | 60 | 19 | 0.759 | 0.0 |
| Cleveland 2c | 51 | 28 | 0.646 | 9.0 |
| Toronto 3a | 48 | 32 | 0.600 | 12.5 |
| Chicago 4x | 48 | 32 | 0.600 | 12.5 |
| Washington 5x | 45 | 34 | 0.570 | 15.0 |
| Milwaukee 6 | 39 | 40 | 0.494 | 21.0 |
| Boston 7 | 37 | 42 | 0.468 | 23.0 |
| Brooklyn 8 | 37 | 42 | 0.468 | 23.0 |
| Indiana | 36 | 43 | 0.456 | 24.0 |
| Miami | 35 | 45 | 0.438 | 25.5 |
| Golden State 1w | 65 | 15 | 0.813 | 0.0 |
| Memphis 2x | 54 | 26 | 0.675 | 11.0 |
| L.A. Clippers 3x | 54 | 26 | 0.675 | 11.0 |
| Portland 4nw | 51 | 29 | 0.638 | 14.0 |
| San Antonio 5x | 54 | 26 | 0.675 | 11.0 |
| Houston 6x | 53 | 26 | 0.671 | 11.5 |
| Dallas 7x | 48 | 31 | 0.608 | 16.5 |
| New Orleans 8 | 43 | 36 | 0.544 | 21.5 |
| Oklahoma City | 43 | 36 | 0.544 | 21.5 |
The Pels own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Thunder, so if the teams finish with the same record, New Orleans would get the spot.
New Orleans has road games at Minnesota and the Houston Rockets and a home game against the San Antonio Spurs on the final day of the regular season. The Thunder are on the road at the Indiana Pacers, at home against the Portland Trail Blazers and back on the road against the T'Wolves to finish the season.
It feels like a race that will come down to the final day.
While it might not seem like it on paper, the Thunder could have the tougher game on the last day of the season. If the Spurs are already locked into their playoff position, head coach Gregg Popovich may very well rest some of his aging superstars to get ready for the postseason.
San Antonio would essentially have nothing to play for as it prepares to try and defend its NBA championship. The Wolves have long been eliminated from playoff contention. As a matter of fact, the drama surrounding their season is whether they will finish with the worst record in the NBA and ensure the best chance of landing the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.
That said, the Wolves are a young and athletic team that will likely be motivated to play the spoiler role. Zach LaVine and Andrew Wiggins have been excellent as a duo of late, and in a one-game situation, Minnesota could be a tough out—especially at home.
Both the Pels and Thunder have to play Minnesota, but OKC's game in Minny could be for all the marbles. In the end, the Pelicans are playing defense and better basketball overall down the stretch. New Orleans has won six of its last eight compared to OKC, which has lost four of five. The Thunder have allowed 113.2 points per game in that span.
The Pels will either finish one game up or even and get in on the strength of the tiebreaker. Here's a look at predictions for the way seedings will finish at the end of the season.
| 1 | Atlanta | Golden State |
| 2 | Cleveland | Memphis |
| 3 | Toronto | L.A. Clippers |
| 4 | Chicago | Portland |
| 5 | Washington | San Antonio |
| 6 | Milwaukee | Houston |
| 7 | Boston | Dallas |
| 8 | Brooklyn | New Orleans |
The East's Final Three Spots
Suddenly, the Indiana Pacers, Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets have come alive. All three are over .500 in their last 10 games and have won their last games.
Had all three teams played this way throughout the season, the Eastern Conference wouldn't be poised to send three teams to the postseason with losing records.
At any rate, the Milwaukee Bucks, Celtics and Nets are the picks to finish sixth through eighth. Milwaukee isn't playing quite as well as the other three teams, but with just three games remaining, a two-game lead on the C's and Nets and a three-game edge on the Pacers, the Bucks should be safe.
Boston has a tough rematch with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday after beating the King on Friday. The Celtics also have a home game against the Toronto Raptors and a battle with the Bucks in the season finale. It's a tough remaining schedule, but head coach Brad Stevens has his team confident. CelticFanChat.com heaps praise on Stevens.
Boston should win two out of three to secure a spot.
The Nets get the Bucks on the road, the Chicago Bulls at home and the Orlando Magic at home to finish the season. Even if Brooklyn manages to win just one of the last three games, it should be in.
The Pacers have the toughest road, and that's not a good look considering they are a game out of the final spot. Indy hosts OKC and the Washington Wizards, and then it finishes the season on the road against the Memphis Grizzlies. With all three teams likely to have something to play for, the Pacers won't be able to make up the necessary ground to reach the postseason.
The Nets and Celtics own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Pacers
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