The NBA common season has now entered the ultimate week, however there’s nonetheless loads of play forward of Sunday’s final slate of video games and the following play-in event — which matches from April 16 to 19.
A number of groups are nonetheless combating to clinch playoff spots and home-court benefit by not less than the primary spherical of the playoffs, which is able to start April 20.
Within the Japanese Convention, the Boston Celtics have lengthy since secured the highest spot. The Milwaukee Bucks are barely holding onto the No. 2 seed, whereas groups just like the Philadelphia 76ers (and reigning MVP Joel Embiid) try to maneuver up the standings.
Issues could not be tighter within the Western Convention. Three groups — the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Denver Nuggets and the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder — are combating for the highest spot. In the meantime, star-laden groups just like the Los Angeles Lakers (led by LeBron James) and the Golden State Warriors (led by Stephen Curry) will possible need to emerge from the play-in event to make a postseason run.
Our NBA insiders take a look at the important thing video games and massive storylines to observe for because the NBA common season wraps up.
1. What sport this week are you keeping track of, and why?
Tim MacMahon: Timberwolves at Nuggets. The West’s prime seed might be determined Wednesday evening in Denver, when these groups will each be on back-to-backs after taking part in lottery-bound groups the earlier nights. Minnesota would declare the tiebreaker with a victory. The Timberwolves are already chargeable for one of many Nuggets’ eight dwelling losses this season, profitable March 29 — a sport that Denver guard Jamal Murray missed due a knee damage.
Jamal Collier: Not solely might that Timberwolves-Nuggets sport in the end decide the No.1 seed within the West, it is going to give the groups within the backside half of the bracket an concept the place Denver will probably be seeded and arrange a weekend of watching groups attempt to keep away from a first-round matchup with the defending champions.
Kendra Andrews: Denver is the one group nobody within the West needs to face within the first spherical. Not solely will Tuesday’s sport towards Minnesota presumably determine the No. 1 seed, it is going to decide who the groups combating to make the play-in (together with groups just like the Lakers and the Warriors) might face within the first spherical.
Andrew Lopez: Wednesday’s conflict between the East’s prime two sides — the Celtics and the Bucks — could have some intrigue. Milwaukee has struggled as of late (shedding 4 straight and 6 of their previous seven) as they attempt to get into the playoffs with some kind of momentum. Boston has gained two of three earlier matchups this season together with a 122-119 win March 20 when Bucks large man Giannis Antetokounmpo sat out with a hamstring damage. If Milwaukee needs to show it’s a official menace to the Celtics within the playoffs, a win right here would assist.
Dave McMenamin: Lakers on the New Orleans Pelicans on the final day of the common season. After L.A. dominated New Orleans in Las Vegas within the semifinals of the inaugural in-season event in December, it sparked a dialog in regards to the profession trajectory of Zion Williamson and what’s gone improper. Williamson has performed a few of his greatest ball since however will face an enormous check in Sunday’s showdown towards LeBron James & Co., with main seeding implications possible on the road.
2. What group has the MOST at stake within the ultimate week of the season?
McMenamin: The Bucks are in an fascinating spot. Milwaukee closes with video games towards the Celtics, the Thunder and two video games towards an Orlando Magic facet proper behind them within the standings. If the Bucks attain the convention finals and lose to the Celtics, will probably be a disappointment however not a catastrophe. Something lower than convention finals run for Bucks coach Doc Rivers with this championship-hungry group can be an abject failure.
Collier: The 76ers. Sitting in seventh place, the Sixers might get again within the top-six of the standings and provides reigning MVP Embiid an additional week to organize and relaxation earlier than the playoffs. If the Sixers keep away from the play-in altogether, they may set themselves up for a deep playoff run.
Lopez: Simply two weeks in the past, the Pelicans have been 17 video games over .500 and as much as No. 4 within the West. Now, they’ve tumbled into the No. 7 spot and will probably be hoping to keep away from slipping additional within the standings. New Orleans finishes with highway video games at Portland, Sacramento and Golden State earlier than a house matchup towards the Lakers — which might find yourself being a large sport for seeding functions. Failing within the play-in event for the second 12 months in a row after holding home-court benefit simply three weeks prior can be disastrous for the franchise.
Andrews: The Sacramento Kings’ fall into the play-in bracket has been powerful, and it isn’t going to get any simpler. They’ve 4 video games left, and three of them are towards aggressive West groups above them within the standings (Oklahoma Metropolis, New Orleans and the Phoenix Suns). If they will not less than safe the No. 6 or No. 7 seed at this level, that might be thought-about a win.
MacMahon: As issues stand, the Kings are within the No. 8 seed — which implies they would want to beat the Pelicans to advance into the playoffs. In the event that they misplaced, they might possible play both the Warriors or the Lakers in a win-or-go-home matchup within the 9/10 sport. It was Golden State which eradicated Sacramento within the first spherical of the playoffs with a Recreation 7 win final season. The Kings do personal the tiebreaker over the Lakers, who’re additionally caught within the play-in bracket, after sweeping this season’s collection.
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Rivers: Regardless of Embiid’s return, 76ers cannot compete with Celtics
Alan Hahn and Austin Rivers talk about how the Celtics can solely beat themselves within the playoffs and query Joel Embiid’s postseason efficiency.
3. Within the East, it has been the Celtics and everybody else. Which group ought to Boston concern most?
MacMahon: Concern is simply too robust of a phrase, however who needs to see Jimmy Butler and the Miami Warmth within the playoffs? Actually not the Celtics, who’ve encountered that in three of the previous 4 postseasons, getting eradicated by Miami twice and surviving a Recreation 7 on the opposite event. That is Boston’s greatest group of this period after final summer time’s personnel upgrades, together with Jrue Vacation, however Butler averaged 37.6 factors whereas eliminating Vacation’s Bucks within the first spherical final season.
Collier: The best way the previous two weeks within the Japanese Convention have gone, the Celtics actually mustn’t concern any group on their technique to the NBA Finals. Milwaukee should be poised to provide Boston its greatest collection, and Boston will certainly be listening to the place Philly winds up within the standings, contemplating how Embiid regarded in his return final week after his two-month absence from a knee damage.
Andrews: With the Bucks sputtering proper now, it feels as if the 76ers are most poised to provide the Celtics a tough time. If Embiid can get into a great groove, the Sixers might make a aggressive push within the playoffs.
McMenamin: Boston remains to be the category of the East, however I might additionally give Philly a puncher’s likelihood. Perhaps that is placing an excessive amount of religion within the reigning MVP’s means to handle his ailing left knee, however I’ve to suppose that Embiid did not push to return when he did until he had plans to make some noise. A current large man who went up towards Embiid following his return instructed me he was blown away by how match the Sixers middle stayed throughout his rehab. After developing quick towards Boston in Recreation 7 of the convention semis final 12 months, Embiid could have loads of motivation if the groups play once more.
Lopez: It might be barely cliché, however the group the Celtics have to fret about essentially the most are themselves. When you’ve gotten a 15-game lead within the standings, it could be straightforward to get complacent heading into the playoffs towards whoever is likely to be the No. 8 seed. A few of these potential matchups — particularly if it is the Warmth or the Sixers — might be scary sufficient. However ensuring every part is correct inside their very own squad needs to be the precedence.
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Legler: With a wholesome Embiid, Sixers’ ceiling is convention finals
Tim Legler breaks down how the return of Joel Embiid impacts the 76ers’ playoff hopes within the Japanese Convention.
4. Which of the West’s prime seeds needs to be most involved about its potential first-round matchup?
MacMahon: The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, who most likely choose to not go towards the Lakers — an enormous, bodily group that matches properly towards an undersized OKC squad. The Lakers went 3-1 towards the Thunder this season, profitable every of the previous three conferences. The Thunder bought bullied by cumbersome Lakers superstars LeBron James (who averaged 26.4 factors and 9.3 rebounds) and Anthony Davis (27.0 ppg, 13.0 rpg) in these matchups. There may be additionally fairly a drastic distinction in playoff expertise. James has 282 video games of playoff expertise; your entire Thunder roster has 108.
McMenamin: Past the expertise edge and regular-season success the Lakers have had towards the Thunder, there’s additionally the query of whether or not the components for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s affect — capturing 8.6 free throws per sport, third most within the league — would translate in playoff basketball.
Andrews: If it isn’t the Lakers for the Thunder, it might be one other veteran-led group within the Warriors. OKC does maintain the 3-1 regular-season collection over Stephen Curry and Co., however do not rely out the expertise issue. If the Warriors need an opportunity at making a postseason run, the Thunder is their most favorable matchup.
Collier: The LA Clippers have been among the best groups within the convention just a few months in the past, however the Dallas Mavericks have seized that function because the All-Star break, organising a possible third playoff assembly in 5 seasons. Whereas the Clippers have superior in each of these earlier matchups regardless of stellar performances from Luka Doncic, the concept of going towards him (together with Kyrie Irving) in a possible No. 4 vs. No. 5 seed matchup ought to give them purpose to be involved.
Lopez: The Timberwolves, however has extra to do with the well being of Karl-Anthony Cities than the rest. Minnesota remains to be 11-5 since Cities went out along with his meniscus tear, however the playoffs are completely different. With the Warriors and Lakers nonetheless in play as attainable matchups within the first spherical, that will probably be an enormous check for Anthony Edwards and the Wolves.
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Rivers: Solely group Lakers cannot beat in playoffs is the Nuggets
Austin Rivers and Mike Greenberg talk about how the Lakers will fare within the NBA playoffs.
5. There will probably be eight play-in groups. Which one is poised to make an enormous postseason run or exceed expectations?
Lopez: The Western Convention play-in race shifts on a nightly foundation. However one factor that appears sure is that it’s going to include the Warriors, because it’s simply onerous to rely out Curry in any race. Because the Warmth proved final season, it’s attainable for a group to achieve the NBA Finals from the play-in event.
Andrews: The 76ers have the expertise, championship aspirations and the reigning MVP. They have been harm in the course of the common season due to an onslaught of accidents, so in the event that they construct momentum in the course of the play-in event, it might bode properly for them.
Collier: I am going to go along with Philly as properly, simply because that is shaping up as the primary postseason in current Sixers historical past with out a lot postseason expectations. However they might be getting wholesome on the proper time whereas the highest of the East is faltering.
MacMahon: The group that wins the 7-8 sport within the East play-in event — whether or not that’s the Warmth, the Sixers or the Pacers — and books a first-round collection towards the struggling Bucks. Because the starting of March, the Bucks have been beneath .500 and have misplaced 4 straight video games, together with a three-game stretch to the Raptors, Grizzlies and Wizards — all groups that will probably be within the prime half of the lottery. The one purpose the Bucks stay in second place is as a result of the Cleveland Cavaliers have been even worse –10-16 (.385) because the All-Star break.
McMenamin: After making it to the convention finals because the No. 7 seed final season, there is no likelihood the Lakers can exceed exterior expectations this time round. The fanbase needs a visit to the NBA Finals. That stated, they’re a assured group with inside expectations to make a long term as soon as once more. I additionally suppose Philly is a group that would go deep within the postseason from the play-in tourney and really be counseled for it.