Potential Playoff Scenarios Heading into Last Day of 2014-15 NBA Season
One day and 14 games are all that stand in the way of NBA postseason clarity.
Finally.
| Hornets at Raptors | 7 p.m. ET |
| Thunder at Timberwolves | 8 p.m. ET |
| Magic at Nets | 8 p.m. ET |
| Hawks at Bulls | 8 p.m. ET |
| Spurs at Pelicans | 8 p.m. ET |
| Jazz at Rockets | 8 p.m. ET |
| Pacers at Grizzlies | 9:30 p.m. ET |
But just because certainty is hovering on the horizon doesn't mean disorder is out of the picture just yet. Although one first-round matchup is set following the Boston Celtics' thrilling 95-93 win over the Toronto Raptors, both No. 8 seeds and seven quarterfinal matchups are still to be determined.
Entering the final day of the regular season, here's a look at the potential showdowns based on current standings:
| (1) Atlanta Hawks vs. (8) Indiana Pacers | (1) Golden State Warriors vs. (8) New Orleans Pelicans |
| (2) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (7) Boston Celtics | (2) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (7) Dallas Mavericks |
| (3) Chicago Bulls vs. (6) Milwaukee Bucks | (3) San Antonio Spurs vs. (6) Memphis Grizzlies |
| (4) Toronto Raptors vs. (5) Washington Wizards | (4) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (5) Houston Rockets |
There's a light at the end of the tunnel, but reaching it won't come without processing some mind-bending seeding scenarios.
Eastern Conference Locks
No. 1 Seed: Atlanta Hawks
The only thing the Atlanta Hawks have to worry about at this point is getting healthy. With the No. 1 seed in tow for weeks, the focus has been on resting up and preparing for a first-round series against the Brooklyn Nets or Indiana Pacers.
With Paul Millsap (shoulder), Pero Antic (illness) and Mike Scott (back) all on the injury report entering Wednesday night, the Hawks would be wise to give their big guns some added time off in advance of Game 1.
No. 2 Seed: Cleveland Cavaliers
At long last, we have a first-round series set.
While the Cleveland Cavaliers have had a lock on the No. 2 seed for a week, they are now guaranteed to square off against the Celtics in the first round.
But don't let a split of the season series fool you. Cleveland rested its studs for the final two games against Boston, which helped pad the Celtics' postseason cushion.
So long as LeBron James is on the floor, expect Cleveland's offense to be humming, as NBA.com's John Schuhmann noted:
Cleveland owns the Eastern Conference's most efficient offense since the All-Star break, which could make it difficult for a 20th-ranked Boston attack to keep pace.
There's also the matter of a slight experiential gap, according to The Boston Globe's Gary Washburn:
No. 5 Seed: Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are firmly nestled into the No. 5 seed with no chance of obtaining home-court advantage in the first round.
It would be a shock if head coach Randy Wittman didn't rest his starters Wednesday evening in a meaningless contest against the Cavaliers after John Wall, Bradley Beal, Marcin Gortat and Otto Porter all played more than 40 minutes in a losing effort to the Pacers on Tuesday night.
While the Wizards' first-round opponent remains unknown, one thing is for sure: There will be plenty of transition magic from Wall and Beal in the days and weeks to come.
No. 6 Seed: Milwaukee Bucks
Jason Kidd can take it easy on his starters with the No. 6 seed wrapped up, but the Milwaukee Bucks' impending clash with the Boston Celtics isn't totally meaningless.
Should Milwaukee topple Boston, it will clinch just its second winning season since 2002-03.
Not too shabby for a team that finished the 2013-14 campaign with the league's worst record.
No. 7 Seed: Boston Celtics
Check out the Celtics.
Tuesday's win locked up the No. 7 seed, marking the seventh time in the past eight seasons that Boston will make a postseason appearance.
However, Celtics point forward Evan Turner is well aware of the disadvantage his team could be at if it doesn't bring enough muscle, according to The Boston Globe's Adam Himmelsbach:
Man your battle stations, Boston—things are about to get testy.
Western Conference Locks
No. 1: Golden State Warriors
Good luck, Western Conference. You're going to need it.
According to The Associated Press (via ESPN.com), "The Warriors, who have already secured home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, have won 17 in a row at Oracle Arena. They're a league-best 38-2 at home, becoming the 11th team to record at least 38 home wins."
With Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson peppering the net with transition threes and Steve Kerr's motion offense ravaging opponents in the half court, Oracle Arena is ready to transform into a madhouse.
No. 4: Portland Trail Blazers
Put lightly, the Portland Trail Blazers are limping into the postseason. They've lost three in a row and four of their last five, with the lone win coming over the hapless Minnesota Timberwolves.
It helps that Portland has had the Northwest Division title in its grasp for more than a week, but without home-court advantage, the achievement won't hold much weight come playoff time.
With opposing offenses regularly shredding Portland's defense—which is short-handed thanks to Wesley Matthews' torn Achilles—it's worth noting Portland is 11-22 this season when allowing at least 100 points.
If the Blazers wind up throwing down with a high-powered offense from Houston or San Antonio, Terry Stotts' crew could be in serious trouble.
No. 7 Dallas Mavericks
Sleeping on the Dallas Mavericks is generally frowned upon in the playoffs, considering head coach Rick Carlisle is a master of second-season survival.
However, balance tends to reign supreme in the postseason, and this seventh-seeded Mavericks team is still chasing it.
Although Dallas wields the NBA's fifth-best offense, a defense that's posting the league's seventh-worst efficiency rating since the All-Star break could cap the Mavericks' postseason ceiling.
Eastern Conference Seeding Skirmishes
No. 3 and No. 4 Seeds: Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls
Let's not make this more complicated than it needs to be.
Toronto's loss to the Celtics put the Bulls in pole position to capture the East's No. 3 seed with a win over the Hawks on Wednesday. Should Chicago lose and Toronto defeat the Charlotte Hornets, the two teams will flip-flop one final time.
The Bulls can also nab the No. 3 seed if they lose to the Hawks and the Raptors come up short at home.
Needless to say, a first-round matchup with the offensively challenged Bucks is all the incentive Chicago needs to bring its A-game against Atlanta. A Bulls win would also put Chicago on track for a delectable second-round matchup with the Cavaliers.
No. 8 Seed: Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets
That whole destiny thing? Indiana controls it.
With a 99-95 double-overtime victory over the Washington Wizards, the Pacers can use a win against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Grindhouse to punch their postseason ticket.
But that's not going to be an easy task. Memphis is a stout 30-10 at home this season, while Indiana has gone 15-25 away from Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Should Indiana falter in a game that will have seeding implications on both sides of the playoff bracket, there is still a way for Frank Vogel's squad to make a last-minute entrance.
NBA.com's David Aldridge explains:
Brooklyn has the easier matchup on paper, but don't think the Orlando Magic won't come to play.
The Nets' average margin of victory in their first two meetings with Orlando was just five points, and it's all systems go for the Magic with no more tanking implications at stake.
The Miami Heat were eliminated from postseason contention with Indiana's win over Washington.
Western Conference Seeding Skirmishes
Nos. 2, 3, 5 and 6 Seeds: San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies
The San Antonio Spurs can make this a lot less painful with a win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Should the Spurs close out the regular season with their 12th straight win, they'll clinch the No. 2 seed and a Southwest Division title.
If the Spurs falter, chaos can ensue.
A Spurs loss and Houston Rockets win would thrust James Harden and Co. into the No. 2 seed, with San Antonio sliding back to No. 6 if Memphis wins.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers secured no worse than the No. 3 seed with a 112-101 win over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night. They can finish as the No. 2 seed but will need losses from the Spurs and Rockets to get there, according to CBS Sports' Matt Moore:
As for Memphis, all signs point to life as the sixth seed. The only way the Grizzlies can snag home-court advantage in the first round (remember, the No. 5 seed will host Portland) is if Houston and/or San Antonio loses and Memphis downs Indiana. Memphis can't clinch higher than the No. 5 seed.
No. 8 Seed: New Orleans Pelicans and Oklahoma City Thunder
It wouldn't have been right if the race for the West's eighth and final playoff spot didn't come down to the regular season's dying day.
This is simple stuff, though.
"Just take care of our own business," Anthony Davis said, according to CBS Sports' Zach Harper. "We know that we have the upper hand, and we know if we tie them, we're in, so just go out there and play. The pressure is really on them. We just go out there and play basketball and have fun."
If the Pelicans beat San Antonio, they're in, thanks to a 3-1 season series victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. New Orleans can also wiggle its way into the party with a Thunder loss at Minnesota.
In other words, New Orleans may wind up qualifying because Davis is a 6'10" cyborg who hits buzzer-beating threes:
The Thunder are at a disadvantage logistically, but matchups can help smooth things out. Yes, Oklahoma City needs a win and a Pelicans loss to prevent all five Southwest Division teams from participating in the playoffs, but New Orleans is drawing a highly motivated Spurs team on the brink of a division title.
Factor in a favorable clash with the Timberwolves—who are vying with the New York Knicks for top lottery odds—and Oklahoma City can pull it off.
All statistics are current as of games played through April 14 and courtesy of NBA.com, unless noted otherwise.
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