The eight NBA seeding games as part of Orlando’s restart next month benefit the Boston Celtics in many ways, including the ability to shake off rust, the opportunity to push for seed no. 2 and the possibility of avoiding a team like the Philadelphia 76ers in the playoffs Round 1.
Those games could also offer Celtics a lottery choice.
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The Celtics will receive the first choice of the first round of Memphis Grizzlies – based on the 2015 trade that Jeff Green delivered to Memphis – if it ranks outside the top 6 in this year’s draft.
Before the break of the 2019-2020 season, the Grizzlies held the eighth and last place of the playoffs in the Western Conference and planned to send the 17th pick to Boston. Now, as part of the reboot, the Grizzlies will have to fend off five other teams for that seat.
There will be a play-in tournament between the eighth and ninth suits in the West if these two teams finish restarting within four games of each other. Even with a 3.5-game cushion on three teams at the start of the seeding games, the Grizzlies will be challenged to maintain that place.
Memphis has one of the hardest reboot programs, with a program strength metric fixing them with the fifth toughest slate. Additionally, the Grizzlies have head-to-head fights with three of the teams chasing them outside the gates (Portland, San Antonio, New Orleans) before playing a brutal trait that includes the top 3 teams in the East.
There is a real possibility that Boston could help Memphis dive into the lottery with a direct confrontation on August 11th.
How long does the Memphis program last? Before the season’s hiatus, ESPN’s Basketball Power Index screened the Grizzlies to win only three of their 16 final games based on their pre-break performance. The only real win he offers now is a matchup with New Orleans.
It doesn’t help Memphis because pelicans have the simplest remaining program of all 22 bubble teams, opening doors in New Orleans to push hard for last place. The league certainly wouldn’t hate a LeBron James-Zion Williamson paired in Round 1 of these playoffs.
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If the Grizzlies make the playoffs, it is unlikely that their choice will shift from 17 (they could theoretically slip behind the nets or the magic in the overall record, but it seems unlikely that the grizzlies will have to reject the teams behind them).
If the Grizzlies miss the playoffs, they will try to pick number 14, with the best record of all non-playoff teams. Memphis would enter the lottery by chance with only 2.4% probability of bypassing one of the top 4 points of this year’s draft and thus activating the protections on the pick. Even if that happens, Boston would line up to receive an unprotected first-round pick from Memphis in 2021 – not the worst situation due to the unpredictable nature of the league, even for a team like Memphis who appears to be on the rise with his youngster. talent.
Mix from no. 17 to no. 14 is it a big deal?
Two years ago, being at no. 14, positioned Denver to grab Michael Porter Jr. as he slid off the board due to injury. In 2017, Miami landed in Bam Adebayo at the age of 14. You can still get Giannis Antetokounmpo at 14 in 2013. Of course, you can play this game with any draft and there are undoubtedly gems to be found at 14 (and beyond). But drawing three points earlier than expected can certainly help finding a team to get the player they want most.
The Celtics could have up to three first-round picks in this year’s draft. They also project to nos. 26 (their choice) and 30 (Milwaukee).
