NBA Playoff Predictions: Ways Playoff Picture Will Change from Now to Playoffs
As the last third of the season begins, the race for playoff positioning and playoff berths is as competitive as it has been in recent years. In both the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference, teams are scrambling to either reach the playoffs or jump a few spots up in the standings for home-court advantage.
The trade deadline was as active as one could have it and several teams, including many in the playoff race, are trying hard to integrate new pieces into their attack. Although eight teams in each conference are currently holding playoff spots, we might see about five other teams make the list at the end of the season.
As the season ends, this whole playoff mess should be a very fun ride. Read on for a few predictions on how the standings might look like come the end of the season.
Eastern Conference—Eight Seed
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The Indiana Pacers currently hold the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference. Sneaking right behind them are the Charlotte Bobcats, and above them the surprising Philadelphia 76ers. With the trade of Gerald Wallace, it seems like the Charlotte Bobcats are more interested in developing their young talent rather than making the playoffs this season.
Everything points to the Pacers keeping this spot through the end of the season. After the firing of Jim O’Brien, the Pacers have been playing much better. Even with their current success, they will likely not catch the 76ers.
Conclusion: Indiana Pacers
Eastern Conference—Seventh Seed
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Similarly to the seventh spot in the East, the Philadelphia 76ers are in a position where they are playing super basketball that will keep from any team catching them in the standings, but will likely not be enough to catch the New York Knicks who hold the sixth spot.
Conclusion: Philadelphia 76ers
Eastern Conference—Sixth Seed
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This is where it gets a bit interesting in the Eastern Conference. Currently the new-look New York Knicks hold this spot, but with the addition of a superstar in Carmelo Anthony, they are bound to win a good amount of games to close the season. On the other hand, the Atlanta Hawks have been playing just over .500 basketball and will have to deal with a knee sprain suffered by Josh Smith.
The Hawks currently lead the New York by five games, but they will slip. As they get through Smith’s injury, and try to integrate Kirk Hinrich (also injured) into the lineup, the Hawks will give up a few games. At the end of the day, the New York Knicks will leapfrog the Hawks and leave them in sole possession of the sixth spot.
Conclusion: Atlanta Hawks
Eastern Conference—Fifth Seed
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As explained in the previous slide, the New York Knicks will likely climb at least one spot in the standings with their new lineup. They will run past Atlanta, but they will not catch the Orlando Magic. Close, but not close enough.
The Knicks have a game against Orlando this week, and it should be a good measuring stick for New York as their game against Miami was. A furious end of season run might prove this article wrong, but chances are the Knicks climb to the fifth spot and stay there.
Conclusion: New York Knicks
Eastern Conference—Fourth Seed
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As of now, there is a pretty big gap between the top three Eastern Conference playoff teams and the fourth. Although this gap is only three and a half games, the loss column is what matters for top teams. Orlando is five games behind Chicago for the third spot, and thinking that the Bulls, Celtics or Miami will lose five more games than Orlando down the stretch is not very realistic.
Conclusion: Orlando Magic
Eastern Conference—Third Seed
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This is where it gets fun. Only two games separate the top three teams. Down the stretch, it will come down to the difficulty of the remaining schedules. The Miami Heat have the most difficult schedule of the top three teams, and against contenders, they are yet to prove themselves.
Although none of these three teams will likely lose may more games as the season ends, the team that will see the most burn will be the Miami Heat. A loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday was not a good sign, and a few more eggs like that will have them dip down to the third seed.
Conclusion: Miami Heat
Eastern Conference—Second Seed
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The battle between Chicago and Boston for the top seed in the Eastern Conference will come down to their final matchup on April 7th. The Boston Celtics currently hold a two to one lead in the season series and a victory over the Bulls will surely give them the edge and the Eastern Conference crown.
And it will happen. The Celtics will win a playoff like game on April 7th and hold the Bulls back from being crowned Eastern Conference champions for the first time since Michael Jordan left town.
Conclusion: Chicago Bulls
Eastern Conference—First Seed
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Not enough can be said about the Boston Celtics. Nothing seems to stand in the way of this team and their ultimate goal. The loss of Kendrick Perkins will not be felt as strong as many may have thought as both O’Neals are nearing their return. Also, the wind help provided by Jeff Green will only be a plus.
The Boston Celtics look even better than they did last year at this point in time. Watch them turn the engines on for the remainder of the season and grab the top spot in the East in what will be a fierce race.
Conclusion: Boston Celtics
Western Conference—Eight Seed
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The Western Conference will see another crowded bottom of the standings for the third season in a row. Two and a half games separate the fifth-seeded team from the 10th-seeded team. At 10th, the Utah Jazz are desperately trying to put a stop to their late season downfall. Sadly for them, they won’t be catching anyone.
Ahead of the Jazz are the Phoenix Suns, who are coming off two dramatic overtime wins. They are tied for the eighth spot with the Memphis Grizzlies. If it wasn’t for the unfortunate injury to Rudy Gay, Memphis might have finally made the playoffs this year. Missing Gay for up to four weeks will keep them from doing so. A brutal schedule won’t help either.
Conclusion: Phoenix Suns
Western Conference—Seventh Seed
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The Portland Trailblazers currently hold the seventh spot in the West, and they will keep it. Winning seven out of their last 10 games has helped them establish a one game lead over the eight spot. This success though, will likely not be continuous through the remainder of the season. Portland faces the most challenging remaining schedule in the West.
Conclusion: Portland Trailblazers
Western Conference—Sixth Seed
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The Denver Nuggets were supposed to exit the playoff picture after the departure of Carmelo Anthony. That did not happen. The New Orleans Hornets were supposed to be a top-four team in the league after an incredible start, that didn’t happen either.
Denver and New Orleans will battle it down the stretch for the fifth seed. This is highly important. Avoiding the sixth-seed means avoiding the Spurs, Mavericks and Lakers. Regardless, a meeting with the Thunder in the first round will be just as challenging.
Although Denver has already lost the season series against New Orleans, the Hornets face a stronger schedule down the stretch. Also, the Hornets are in a horrible slump. Dropping to the sixth-seed might not be as bad as it sounds, since it may be even worse.
Conclusion: New Orleans Hornets
Western Conference—Fifth Seed
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This might be the boldest prediction of the list. It might be too early to declare victory in Denver after the Carmelo Anthony trade, but so far it is looking very promising for the Nuggets.
Believe it or not, the Nuggets are winning with defense nowadays and with constant production from their bench and their starters. This could have not been said a few weeks ago. The Nuggets will keep their heads up and grab the fifth-seed by season’s end. Their remaining schedule is also quiet forgiving in comparison to the rest of the Western conference teams.
Conclusion: Denver Nuggets
Western Conference—Fourth Seed
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As in the Eastern Conference, there is a significant difference in team record between the top four and bottom four teams in the Western Conference. Down in Los Angeles, the Lakers have been looking good after the break, while the Thunder have dropped three straight.
The Lakers current four-game winning streak coupled with Oklahoma City’s struggles has them with a four and a half lead for the third spot. This is something the Thunder will not be able to erase.
Conclusion: Oklahoma City Thunder
Western Conference—Third Seed
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The Los Angeles Lakers are surging and challenging Dallas for the second seed in the West. Regardless, the Mavericks are on pace for another 60-win season. They are on pace for just six more losses this year and they lead the Lakers by three in the loss column.
To catch Dallas, the Lakers would likely have to go 18 and three for the remainder of the season. This is a possibility, but definitely a stretch goal. They will come close, but the Mavericks will come out victorious.
Conclusion: Los Angeles Lakers
Western Conference—Second Seed
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The first seed in the Western Conference is still in reach for the Dallas Mavericks. With the recent injury to Tony Parker, this will be even a greater possibility. The problem is that six games is just a little too much. San Antonio has lost 10 games all season, and thinking they will lose more than six in the last 20 games is just not a good prediction.
Dallas will trim the gap to perhaps three or four games by the time the teams meet in March 18th. Not even that will be enough to match the Spurs record. Both teams will likely end up first and second in the NBA as far as record goes, but San Antonio will come out on top.
Conclusion: Dallas Mavericks
Western Conference—First Seed
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What a season it has been for the San Antonio Spurs. Predictions on how the team would perform were really all over the place. Some experts still believed in experience and had them at the top. Others thought their window was definitely closing for sure and had them near the bottom of the playoff seeding. Others even dared to predict the Spurs might even miss the playoffs.
It has been an incredible season for the Spurs and it will continue all the way to the end of the season. They will finish the season as the league’s top team and will likely carry such success into the playoffs.
Conclusion: San Antonio Spurs
