The Western Convention standings have been altering each night time. Whereas the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and Houston Rockets have clinched their spots on the prime of the convention, each different group remains to be jockeying for place. Much more drama was added to the West playoff image on Wednesday night time when the Golden State Warriors suffered arguably their worst lack of the season at house to the San Antonio Spurs.
If Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox have been taking part in, this loss could be considered a lot in another way. Nevertheless, it was Stephon Fortress, Keldon Johnson, and Harrison Barnes who pushed San Antonio over the sting in opposition to Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Inexperienced.
Sooner or later, Golden State’s fast progress and success in opposition to among the greatest groups within the convention would get to their heads. Sadly for the Dubs, this loss couldn’t have come at a worse time since they have been tied with the Denver Nuggets, LA Clippers, and Memphis Grizzlies within the standings coming into Wednesday night time.
All of those groups have been one full sport behind the Los Angeles Lakers, who have been capable of choose up an emotional victory on the highway in opposition to the Dallas Mavericks in Luka Doncic’s return sport.
This loss from the Warriors would not change the Lakers’ place within the 3-seed, but it surely does relieve strain off Los Angeles coming into their ultimate two video games of the season since that is one much less group they should fear about doubtlessly stealing home-court benefit.
What transpired on Wednesday night time was a doomsday state of affairs for the Warriors. Apart from this loss taking the Dubs out of rivalry for the 3-seed and principally the 4-seed, it additionally complicates their path to avoiding the play-in event.
With two video games left on many groups’ schedules, there may be nonetheless no certainty as to who will find yourself the place within the Western Convention standings. Here’s what the playoff outlook seems to be for the Lakers, Nuggets, Clippers, Grizzlies, Warriors, and Timberwolves, together with doable tiebreaker eventualities.
3. Los Angeles Lakers (49-31)
After a troublesome loss in opposition to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, a sport wherein Luka Doncic was ejected regardless of the league rescinding his second technical foul from this one, the Lakers acquired again on observe in Dallas.
This was a big win for Los Angeles not solely due to what it meant to Doncic however as a result of they clinched a playoff spot. The Lakers additionally inched nearer to successful the Pacific Division with this win and the Warriors’ loss. By successful the Pacific Division, the Lakers would personal tiebreakers over each different group nonetheless behind them within the West.
At this level, the celebrities have aligned for the Lakers to clinch the 3-seed within the West. Though it’s nonetheless doable for them to lose their ultimate two video games and fall from this spot, it is more likely that they are going to be capable of defeat both Houston or Portland of their ultimate two video games. All of the Lakers want is another win to say the 3-seed within the West.
The Rockets lately rested virtually their whole beginning lineup on Wednesday in opposition to the LA Clippers since they already clinched the 2-seed. They might accomplish that once more on Friday night time in opposition to Los Angeles.
Ought to the Lakers surprisingly lose their ultimate two video games of the season, then it’s doable for them to fall out of the 3-seed or 4-seed spot and home-court benefit. For the Nuggets, Clippers, or Grizzlies to leap the Lakers within the standings, they might every must win all of their remaining video games and see the Lakers lose twice.
The bottom spot the Lakers can fall to is the 5-seed on this state of affairs since they might personal the tiebreaker over the loser between Denver and Memphis.
Highest doable seed: 3-seed | Lowest doable seed: 5-seed
4. Denver Nuggets (48-32)
David Adelman acquired his first win in his first sport because the appearing head coach of the Denver Nuggets since Michael Malone was fired. Even so, it is nonetheless exhausting to belief the Nuggets given the quantity of stress Nikola Jokic is underneath to hold this group with Jamal Murray as soon as once more coping with accidents.
Come time for the playoffs, there can even be questions on Adelman’s capability to make the precise calls down the stretch of video games.
Total, the Nuggets management their future at this level. If Denver can win their ultimate two video games in opposition to Memphis and Houston, they are going to host a first-round playoff collection because the 4-seed. Whereas it is too early to undertaking their opponent on this state of affairs, the Nuggets would possible host the winner of Thursday’s sport between the Timberwolves and Grizzlies, or the winner of the Clippers and Warriors on the finish of the season.
So far as tiebreakers go, the Nuggets personal the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Warriors. They will not be capable of get a tiebreaker over the Lakers, and they might lose the division tiebreaker to Minnesota in the event that they have been tied with them on the finish of the season. Memphis might additionally seize the tiebreaker over Denver with a win on Friday.
If Denver have been to lose their remaining two video games of the season in opposition to Memphis and Houston, they may very well be at risk of falling into the play-in event regardless of being the 4-seed proper now. That’s the reason the Nuggets should care for enterprise whereas they management their destiny.
Highest doable seed: 3-seed | Lowest doable seed: 8-seed
5. LA Clippers (48-32)
Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers are one of the best group within the league that no person is speaking about. This group has misplaced solely twice of their final 15 video games, and the Clippers’ protection will be suffocating.
Apart from Leonard being wholesome, Norman Powell has additionally labored his means again to full power from a hamstring subject that plagued him after the All-Star break. James Harden and Ivica Zubac are additionally taking part in terrific basketball proper now.
No one will wish to run into the Clippers at this level, which is why they may doubtlessly go from being within the play-in area of the standings close to the midway level of the season to claiming both the 3-seed or 4-seed.
In fact, the Clippers will want some assist from others to beat the Nuggets to leap Denver for the 4-seed. It’s nonetheless doable for them to leap Denver and Los Angeles ought to each of those groups lose their ultimate two video games and the Clippers win out. Ought to LA win each their video games and the Lakers and Nuggets accomplish that as nicely, they would be the 5-seed and face Denver within the first spherical.
The Clippers defeated the Rockets 134-117 of their ultimate house video games of the season on Wednesday night time. This was not a lot of a contest since Houston did not play any of its starters apart from Jalen Inexperienced. Now, LA will hit the highway for 2 intriguing matchups with the Sacramento Kings and the Golden State Warriors.
The Kings wish to maintain onto the 9-seed, which is why a win would go a good distance for them. Clearly, the Warriors are determined for a giant win after dropping Wednesday’s sport in opposition to San Antonio. This might make the ultimate sport of the season one which decides which group leads to the play-in event.
It is very important word that the Clippers personal head-to-head tiebreakers over Golden State and Memphis. They don’t personal a tiebreaker over Minnesota, and the Nuggets would personal the tiebreaker in opposition to them except LA jumps the Lakers within the standings to win the Pacific Division.
The Clippers have one of the best likelihood of seizing the 5-seed within the West.
Highest doable seed: 3-seed | Lowest doable seed: 8-seed
6. Memphis Grizzlies (47-32)
If the Grizzlies wish to have a shot at avoiding the play-in event, they might want to beat the Timberwolves on Thursday night time. This can be a large Western Convention conflict, particularly since a win by Minnesota might change fairly a bit.
Though the Grizzlies nonetheless personal the tiebreaker over the Timberwolves, a Memphis loss would profit each Minnesota and Golden State, particularly since Ja Morant and his group nonetheless must play the Nuggets on the second night time of a back-to-back on Friday.
For the reason that Warriors personal the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Grizzlies, a loss to Minnesota would lead to Memphis falling into the lay-in event and not controlling their destiny to make the playoffs.
If the Grizzlies win this sport, then they are going to stay even with the Nuggets and Clippers within the standings, making Friday night time’s sport in Denver much more essential than it’s already.
A spread of potentialities stay for the Grizzlies, together with a state of affairs the place they may rise into the highest 4 of the Western Convention standings. In any case, wins over Minnesota and Denver, in addition to losses by the Clippers, would enable the Grizzlies to leap into the highest 4.
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What occurs on Thursday night time in Memphis will instantly impression all of those six groups nonetheless battling for place within the Western Convention playoff image.
Highest doable seed: 3-seed | Lowest doable seed: 8-seed
7. Golden State Warriors (47-33)
It appeared as if the Warriors have been going to coast their means into their season finale in opposition to the Clippers controlling their future to probably transfer up right into a spot the place they may host a first-round collection. Now, after shedding to the Spurs because of a Harrison Barnes three on the buzzer, Golden State should win their ultimate two video games and obtain assist to keep away from the play-in event.
The Warriors should deal with enterprise on Friday in Portland to have any shot at getting again to the 6-seed on the very least. A loss to the Blazers ensures they might be within the play-in event except they defeated the Clippers and noticed the Grizzlies lose two of their ultimate three video games.
Whereas a state of affairs to rise again into rivalry for the 4-seed remains to be technically a risk, the possibilities of Denver and LA shedding out, in addition to Memphis shedding to each Minnesota and Dallas, is slim. That is not the state of affairs that the Warriors are looking, as they solely wish to keep away from the play-in event.
At this price, it seems possible that Golden State can be both the 6-seed or the 7-seed on the conclusion of the common season. Ought to they be the 6-seed, a first-round matchup with LeBron James and the Lakers can be their reward.
Even earlier than taking part in on Friday, the Warriors will solid their consideration on what occurs with the Grizzlies and Timberwolves. A win by Memphis makes the Warriors’ path much more sophisticated with two video games remaining.
Highest doable seed: 4-seed | Lowest doable seed: 8-seed
8. Minnesota Timberwolves (46-33)
All that issues for the Timberwolves is choosing up a win in Memphis on Thursday night time. If the Wolves lose this sport, their possibilities of rising out of the play-in area of the Western Convention standings will take an enormous hit.
The one means Minnesota might keep away from being the 7-seed or 8-seed with a loss in opposition to the Grizzlies could be to choose up wins over Brooklyn and Utah, in addition to see each the Nuggets and Clippers lose all of their remaining video games.
This state of affairs would see the Warriors and Grizzlies possible rise to the 4-seed and 5-seed within the convention. Minnesota would then be tied at 48-34 with Denver and LA. For the reason that Timberwolves have a mixed 7-0 file in opposition to the Clippers and Nuggets, Anthony Edwards’ squad would declare the 6-seed.
That’s the solely path for the Timberwolves to keep away from the play-in event in the event that they have been to lose to the Grizzlies on Thursday night time.
With a win, the Wolves’ path turns into rather a lot smoother. Though the Grizzlies nonetheless personal the tiebreaker this season whatever the consequence on Thursday, these two groups could be even with the Warriors within the standings at 47-33 with two video games remaining.
Minnesota has Brooklyn and Utah to shut out the season, two tanking organizations who aren’t seeking to choose up any extra wins this season. These ought to be two straightforward wins for the Timberwolves, placing strain on Memphis and Golden State to win their remaining video games to keep away from falling into the play-in area.
The primary order of enterprise is defeating the Grizzlies. After that, the Timberwolves will want some additional assist to rise within the standings.
Highest doable seed: 4-seed | Lowest doable seed: 8-seed
What occurs in a multi-team tie?
Sooner or later, tiebreakers will come into play for the Western Convention standings. However what occurs if a number of groups find yourself tied with each other and all of the head-to-head tiebreakers cancel one another out?
When three or extra groups are tied within the standings, the division winner will all the time have the higher hand. Each the Thunder and Rockets received their respective divisions within the Western Convention standings, and the Pacific Division is the one one but to be clinched. The Lakers will possible declare this with a win of their subsequent sport.
The following stage of the multi-team tiebreaker seems at head-to-head file, adopted by division file, if the groups are in the identical division. Every group’s file convention file is then evaluated, adopted by every group’s win-loss proportion in opposition to playoff-eligible groups of their convention if additional tiebreaker standards are wanted.
That’s the reason every of those video games down the stretch issues. One loss might see a group go from being safely above the play-in event area to out of the blue having to combat for his or her lives within the ultimate sport(s) of the season. That’s the state of affairs the Warriors face after their heartbreaking loss to San Antonio.
If a number of groups are tied on the finish of the season, the mixed head-to-head file in opposition to the groups they’re tied with will finally untangle these standings.
Solely the Lakers, Nuggets, and Clippers management their fates at this level. Ought to these three groups win their remaining video games, they are going to keep away from falling within the standings. That would go away the 6-seed up for grabs between Minnesota, Memphis, and Golden State.
With the Timberwolves and Grizzlies set to play on Thursday, adopted by the Grizzlies and Nuggets on Friday, the NBA playoff image will develop into clearer over the subsequent two days.
