15 games are scheduled, most of them fundamental for postseason and play-in placements
April 13 – 6.11pm – MILAN
Everything still to be decided. The last day of the NBA regular season offers as many as 15 games on the calendar tomorrow. The double mosaic of playoffs and play-ins is yet to be put together: very few pieces are already in their final place. Twelve of these challenges still have something up for grabs. Of the 15 in total, 7 will be staged from 7pm in Italy, those from the Eastern Conference, 8 from 9.30pm, those from the West. Warnings and instructions for use: 8 teams from each of the two conferences qualify for the playoffs, the first 6 directly classified while the play-in is played from seventh to tenth, the antechamber to the best-of-7 post season series . The play-ins will be played from 16 to 19 April, the playoffs from 20 April.
the certainties
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Boston is already certain of the first seed, Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks, fourth and fifth forces respectively in the Western Conference, already know they will face each other in the first round of the playoffs. Chicago and Atlanta, ninth and tenth in the East, will instead face each other in the play-in. Everything else will be decided by the last 48 minutes of matches, on all pitches. An unpredictable sprint, here are the details.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
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This is the picture to the east.
ORLANDO-MILWAUKEE – The Kia Center in Orlando will be the central court in the East. The Bucks, without Giannis Antetokounmpo, injured, must win to maintain second place. By losing they could even slip to fourth, overtaken by New York and Cleveland. In the event of a victory, Orlando would secure fifth place, which it already holds, but a defeat would likely condemn it to the play-in, with Indiana and Philadelphia overtaking it. And Miami could also set the tone.
NEW YORK-CHICAGO – The Knicks, currently third, can finish second, remain third or slip to 4th place. Second if Milwaukee loses the Magic at home and New York beats the Bulls who have nothing to ask for in this match. Third if they beat Chicago, but Milwaukee beats Orlando. Fourth, finally, if they lose, Milwaukee loses, Cleveland wins. The three-way tie break would see them close out the group.
CLEVELAND-CHARLOTTE – The Cavs are certain of a place in the top 4. To rise further from the current 4th place they need a hand from the Bucks and Knicks, as explained a few lines above. In theory, however unlikely, they can even hope for the second seed. For the Hornets the match means nothing.
INDIANA-ATLANTA – The victory over the Hawks, who have nothing to ask for from the match other than avoiding injuries, should be a formality. But to improve on the current sixth place, the Pacers must hope for a defeat in Orlando, which would take them away. In the event of defeat, however, the play-in would essentially be almost certain.
PHILADELPHIA-BROOKLYN – The 76ers, currently seventh in the East, undefeated since Embiid’s return, in the event of a victory over the Nets (out of everything) and a defeat of at least one of Orlando and Indiana they would gain direct qualification to the playoffs.
MIAMI-TORONTO – The Heat are eighth at the moment. Beating the Canadians, who have nothing left to ask of the season, should be a given. But to grab fifth place with a final blow, the simultaneous defeats of Orlando, Indiana and Philadelphia, who precede them, would also be needed. To finish sixth Miami would need to win and defeat Orlando and one between Indy and Philly. Miami has a favorable tie break with the Magic and an unfavorable tie break with the Pacers.
BOSTON-WASHINGTON – The game is only being played because the tickets have already been sold and due to calendar constraints. The reserves of the reserves are on the field so as not to risk anything. And to celebrate the historic Celtics commentator, Mike Gorman, who is retiring after 43 consecutive seasons. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has declared tomorrow “Mike Gorman Day” in the Massachusetts capital.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
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This is the picture in the West.
MINNESOTA-PHOENIX – Minny aims for first place, Phoenix for the direct playoffs. It will be the big game. Wolves, Thunder and Nuggets have the same record: 56-25. Minny with one success and the defeats of others, but even arriving tied only with the Thunder, would finish ahead of everyone. The Suns, seventh, have won 9 of their last 13 games played. If they win the Target Center in Minneapolis and New Orleans, which precedes them, loses, they overtake them thanks to favorable direct clashes.
OKLAHOMA CITY-DALLAS – The Thunder’s victory over the Texans seems obvious. The Mavs will not field Doncic and Irving to preserve them for the playoff series with the Clippers. However, it still wouldn’t be enough to take first place in the event of Denver’s defeat and Minny’s victory, having a negative tiebreak with the Wolves. In the event of a three-way finish on the same line, however, the green light: OkC would obtain the first seed.
MEMPHIS-DENVER – The reigning champion Nuggets made a big deal by losing in San Antonio. They finish third if they finish on the same line with Oklahoma City and Minnesota, defeated 2 games ago. They can overtake it if Phoenix beats the Wolves and they win. Expecting the Thunder to slip is asking too much.
NEW ORLEANS-LOS ANGELES LAKERS – The Pelicans are sixth today, the Lakers eighth. If New Orleans wins it confirms the position. If they lose and Phoenix wins, they climb to seventh place, forced into the play-in. By winning, the Lakers would guarantee themselves eighth place and therefore a double chance of qualifying for the playoffs from the play-in, from which they reached the Conference final last season. In the event of a knockout and victory between Sacramento and Golden State, they would slip to ninth place, in the event of a success for both, even to tenth.
SACRAMENTO-PORTLAND – For the Kings, beating the Blazers without any ambition shouldn’t be a problem. But to climb from ninth to eighth position they need a misstep from the Lakers.
GOLDEN STATE-UTAH – Overcoming the demotivated Jazz is certainly not complicated, but it may not be enough to improve the current tenth place. To finish ninth the Dubs need one of the Lakers and Kings to lose, for 8th place they both need to do so.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS-HOUSTON – Opportunity to see more than one Carneade play. SAN ANTONIO-DETROIT – On the parquet only for the honor of signing millionaire contracts.
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2024-04-13 16:14:41
#NBA #playoffs #combinations #East #West
