While we frantically shake the Polaroid picture that is the Western Conference, things are coming into much clearer focus in the East. The Milwaukee Bucks (56-22) remain in the driver’s seat to secure the top record in the NBA as they hold a two-game lead over Boston with both teams having four games to play. Boston does hold the head-to-head tiebreaker following last Thursday’s shellacking in Milwaukee, but will need some help from the Wizards, Bulls, Grizzlies and Raptors to hand the Bucks at least two more losses in order to have a chance at the No. 1 seed.
Overall, five of the six guaranteed playoff spots have been clinched as New York earned their spot on Sunday. Brooklyn currently holds the No. 6 spot with a two-game lead over No. 7 Miami. The Nets have won three in a row to maintain their lead and hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Heat, so they are in a strong position to clinch that final guaranteed spot this week.
The four teams in the Play-In Tournament are nearly locked up: No. 7 Miami (41-37), No. 8 Atlanta (39-39), No. 9 Toronto (39-39) and No. 10 Chicago (38-40). Orlando is the only team outside the top 10 in the East that has not been mathematically eliminated from the postseason, but the Magic are one loss or one Bulls win from joining the lottery.
The drama here lies between No. 8 Atlanta and No. 9 Toronto, who enter the week with matching 39-39 records and four games remaining in the regular season to try to get some separation. As noted above, the difference between No. 8 and No. 9 in this Play-In Tournament format is massive.
This week, Atlanta will be at Chicago, vs. Washington, vs. Philadelphia, at Boston – those four teams combine for a win percentage of 56.7%. Meanwhile, Toronto will be at Charlotte, at Boston twice and close out the season at home vs. Milwaukee – those three teams combined for a win percentage of 60.7%.
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