NBA Playoff Picture 2016: Latest Bracket Scenarios for Final Day of Season
One playoff spot and a myriad of seeding uncertainty loom over the NBA season's final night.
With exception to the Golden State Warriors' attempt at a record-setting 73rd victory, the league's true title contenders can take a breather and watch how the bottom unfolds. In fact, it might benefit the San Antonio Spurs to rest everyone against the Dallas Mavericks. By losing to their Texas rivals, they could avoid them in the opening round.
Both conferences contain a multiteam gridlock entering Wednesday. Four teams will battle for the Eastern Conference's No. 3 spot, and three Western Conference squads will try to escape the No. 7 seed, which would prompt a date with the Spurs.
Anyone following those seeding races must sift through convoluted scenarios, detailed Tuesday by CBS Sports' Matt Moore. In a much easier situation to monitor, the Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz will settle a tie for the West's No. 8 seed.
| 1 | Cleveland Cavaliers - Z | 57-24 |
| 2 | Toronto Raptors - Y | 55-26 |
| 3 | Miami Heat - X | 48-33 |
| 4 | Atlanta Hawks - X | 48-33 |
| 5 | Boston Celtics - X | 47-34 |
| 6 | Charlotte Hornets - X | 47-34 |
| 7 | Indiana Pacers - X | 44-37 |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons - X | 43-38 |
| 1 | Golden State Warriors - Z | 72-9 |
| 2 | San Antonio Spurs - Y | 66-15 |
| 3 | Oklahoma City Thunder - Y | 55-27 |
| 4 | Los Angeles Clippers - X | 53-28 |
| 5 | Portland Trail Blazers - X | 43-38 |
| 6 | Dallas Mavericks - X | 42-39 |
| 7 | Memphis Grizzlies - X | 42-39 |
| 8 | Houston Rockets | 40-41 |
| 9 | Utah Jazz | 40-41 |
Western Conference No. 8 Seed
Kobe Bryant's final game will overshadow his opponent's dire circumstances. The Jazz need to beat the Los Angeles Lakers, which seems easy enough since they topped them by 48 points on March 29.
However, they also need the Rockets to slip up against the Sacramento Kings.
Neither team has navigated the closing stretch gracefully. Utah has lost three of its last four games, most notably falling to the Los Angeles Clippers as they rested their starters. Houston, meanwhile, would have already clinched a playoff berth if not for losing to the Phoenix Suns last week.
A home game against the 33-48 Kings should provide the Rockets little resistance to establishing a Western Conference Finals rematch. Making matters easier, the Kings aren't putting their best foot forward. (On a related note, their first-round pick goes to the Chicago Bulls if it falls outside the top 10.) According to CSNBayArea.com's James Ham, DeMarcus Cousins, Rajon Rondo and Darren Collison won't make the trip to Houston.
The Rockets will count on James Harden to carry the club one more time. Last year's runner-up in the MVP ballot has averaged 30.6 points and 8.5 assists since the All-Star break, playing a grueling 40 minutes per contest.
He also continues to worsen Houston's defensive dilemmas, but the team has recorded 115.6 points per game in April, tallying 130 against the Lakers and 129 on the Minnesota Timberwolves in consecutive days. NBA.com/Stats tracked the star shooting guard's recent performance:
Utah has played stifling defense at a methodical tempo all season. Only San Antonio has allowed fewer points per contest. The Jazz would make the Warriors work hard in the first round, but they need a helping hand from the Kings reserves to snap a three-year playoff drought.
Eastern Conference No. 3-6 Seeds
The Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets will make up two of the Eastern Conference's first-round matchups. Now it's a matter of deciphering who faces whom on which two's home courts.
Of the four teams, only Atlanta has a winning record on the road. The Hawks are also the only team guaranteed to net a No. 3 or 4 seed. They can wrap up the No. 3 spot by beating the Washington Wizards, who have played their last four games without star point guard John Wall.
The Hornets, who are 24-9 since Feb. 1, can't jump any higher than No. 5. They won't have as much incentive to go all out against the Orlando Magic.
In the conference's most crucial game of the evening, Boston and Miami will go head-to-head Wednesday night. Boston has recently lost to Atlanta and Charlotte, against whom leading scorer Isaiah Thomas played just 21 minutes.
Per ESPN.com's Chris Forsberg, Thomas vowed to "come out the next game on fire" in response to his limited playing time Monday night.
"I don't know. It makes you rethink things and lock back in, and you've got to play better, do better," Thomas said. "The coach is just doing whatever he can to make this team the best team possible, and you've got to roll with whatever he decides."
After upending the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday, the Heat can lock down the No. 3 spot by besting Boston. However, advertisers probably prefer they settle into a No. 4 or 5 slot and arrange a second-round foray against LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers. Miami shouldn't mind that scenario, either.
Along with winning their last two meetings against the Cavaliers, the Heat lost three of four bouts to the No. 2-seeded Toronto Raptors. They have defeated every Eastern Conference playoff team other than the Celtics at least once this season, so a win Wednesday would cement their status as the conference's most feasible dark horse.
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