NBA Playoff Picture 2018: Standings, Bracket and Key Storylines Down the Stretch
The 2017-18 NBA season is down to its final week, meaning there's already a deep divide between the Association's haves and have-nots.
But the playoff picture is still taking shape, particularly in the Western Conference, where seven clubs are clamoring for the five unclaimed spots. Even out East, the final stretch will witness some serious jostling for prime postseason positions.
This will all be settled by next Wednesday night, but the road to get there will be fascinating. Let's see how the current standings shake out, draw up the first-round brackets if the playoffs tipped today and examine the biggest storylines worth tracking before the curtain closes.
Updated NBA Standings
Eastern Conference
1. x-Toronto Raptors: 55-22
2. x-Boston Celtics: 53-24
3. x-Cleveland Cavaliers: 48-30
4. x-Philadelphia 76ers: 47-30
5. x-Indiana Pacers: 46-32
6. x-Miami Heat: 42-36
7. x-Washington Wizards: 42-36
8. Milwaukee Bucks: 42-36
9. Detroit Pistons: 37-40
10. e-Charlotte Hornets 34-45
11. e-Chicago Bulls 27-51
12. e-New York Knicks: 27-51
13. e-Brooklyn Nets: 25-53
14. e-Orlando Magic: 23-54
15. e-Atlanta Hawks: 22-56
Western Conference
1. y-Houston Rockets: 63-15
2. y-Golden State Warriors: 57-21
3. x-Portland Trail Blazers: 48-30
4. Utah Jazz: 45-33
5. San Antonio Spurs: 45-33
6. Oklahoma City Thunder: 45-34
7. Minnesota Timberwolves: 44-34
8. New Orleans Pelicans: 43-34
9. Denver Nuggets: 43-35
10. Los Angeles Clippers: 42-36
11. e-Los Angeles Lakers: 33-44
12. e-Sacramento Kings: 25-54
13. e-Dallas Mavericks: 24-54
14. e-Memphis Grizzlies: 21-56
15. e-Phoenix Suns: 20-59
*y-clinched a division title; x-clinched a playoff berth; e-eliminated from playoff contention
Current Playoff Bracket
Eastern Conference
(1) Toronto Raptors vs. (8) Milwaukee Bucks
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Washington Wizards
(3) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (6) Miami Heat
(4) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (5) Indiana Pacers
Western Conference
(1) Houston Rockets vs. (8) New Orleans Pelicans
(2) Golden State Warriors vs. (7) Minnesota Timberwolves
(3) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (6) Oklahoma City Thunder
(4) Utah Jazz vs. (5) San Antonio Spurs
Key Storylines
Is Kawhi Coming Back?
This is neither breaking news nor a fiery-hot take, but San Antonio Spurs skipper Gregg Popovich is a miracle-worker. He's been without his best player—a top-five talent, at that—Kawhi Leonard for all but nine games this season, yet Pop still has the silver and black positioned to secure their 21st consecutive playoff spot.
More impressive—and bizarre—is the fact Leonard remains without a timetable for his return. He hasn't suited up since mid-January due to right quadriceps tendinopathy and has been in New York rehabbing "under the supervision of outside medical personnel," sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Michael C. Wright.
Popovich typically steers a tighter ship than anyone, but even he seems left in the dark on this one.
"I don't know when he's going to feel, he and his group are going to feel like they're ready to go," Popovich said, per the Associated Press (via ESPN.com). "If I knew, he'd be here. When he and his group feel he's ready, he'll be ready."
The Spurs might be finding ways to win without Leonard, but their playoff ceiling would grow exponentially if he could find his way back inside the lines and get anywhere close to 100 percent.
Leonard is a two-time All-Star, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and a former Finals MVP. He was one of only 13 25-plus-points-per-game scorers last season, ranking second among that group in win shares (13.6) and tied for second in player efficiency rating (27.6).
He wasn't as efficient in this season's brief appearances, but his per-36-minute marks remained at superstar levels—25 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 3.1 steals and 1.5 blocks.
Jimmy Butler Nearing Return
The Minnesota Timberwolves have managed to tread water without two-time All-Star Jimmy Butler, going 8-8 in the 16 games he's missed since having meniscus surgery on his right knee.
He could soon help them make a big splash down the final stretch. He was a full participant in Tuesday's practice and said he's on the verge of getting back in the action.
"I'm this close to returning to the floor and playing the game I love, being out there with the soldiers that go through it every day in practice," Butler said, per Kent Youngblood of the Star Tribune.
Butler is the team's top player on both ends of the court. He leads them in points (22.2 per game), steals (1.9) and minutes (37.1), while ranking second in assists (5.0) and third in rebounds (5.4). The 'Wolves have fared a whopping 13.0 points better per 100 possessions with him than without.
His importance to the team is hard to overstate, although Minnesota would struggle replacing any of its top talents. Among current playoff teams, none has a less efficient bench than the Timberwolves (minus-4.3 net rating, 22nd overall).
That said, the full-strength Timberwolves could be a nightmare first-round matchup. Their normal starting lineup boasts a plus-8.2 net rating. That mark would only trail the defending champion Golden State Warriors and top-seeded Houston Rockets (plus-9.0 each).
New Weapon for Hottest Team
No Joel Embiid, no problem for the Philadelphia 76ers? Not exactly. If this squad is going to continue its torrid play in the postseason, it will need the All-Star center to make a swift recovery from an orbital fracture around his left eye.
But no one is playing better ball than Brett Brown's bunch. Philly's 121-95 drubbing of the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday pushed its winning streak to 11 games, a feat this franchise hadn't pulled off in decades, as Yahoo Sports' Michael Lee noted:
The Sixers haven't played a single-digit game since March 16. And they keep finding new ways to impress.
The latest was a wrinkle that wasn't supposed to be coming. Prior to Tuesday's tilt, Brown said there could be challenges in playing Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz together, per Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Then, Brown deployed his two freshmen floor generals for three minutes together, during which Philly hit 5-of-7 from the field and dished four assists without a turnover. Simmons was among those impressed with the look, per WIP's Jon Johnson:
Philly is quickly becoming a team no one wants to see come playoff time, provided Embiid is ready to go.
The Sixers looked scary before Fultz' surprising return, and the combination of this season's No. 1 pick with last year's could make the club that much more dangerous.
Statistics used courtesy of NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.
