Another week of NBA action is here, which means we're inching even closer to the start of the NBA Playoffs. April marks the final month of the regular season, which will end on Sunday, April 14. The playoffs will start on Saturday, April 20.
And so, it's time for another standings check and a look at the current playoff picture, a picture which is becoming clearer by the day. Several teams have already punched their ticket to the big dance, while others have already been eliminated. We'll start by naming the teams that are eliminated.
In the Eastern Conference, the Toronto Raptors, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, and Detroit Pistons are already out, and the Brooklyn Nets will likely join them soon. In the Western Conference, the Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers, and San Antonio Spurs are eliminated.
We'll begin with the East, where eight teams have already secured at least a spot in the Play-In Tournament.
The Boston Celtics have already secured the top seed in the East with a record of 58-16. They may soon secure the best record in the entire NBA.
The Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, and Indiana Pacers sit in the 2-6 spots, respectively, and they would have a playoff berth already secured if the season ended today.
Miami would be the seventh seed, with Philadelphia as the eighth seed if the playoffs began today. But Miami is only two games back of the Magic for the No. 5 spot in the conference, while the Sixers are only two back of Indiana for seed No. 6.
Milwaukee will draw the winner of the 7-8 Play-In matchup, which would either be Miami or Philadelphia if the season ended today. The remaining Play-In teams would all still be in the running for seed No. 8, who would match up against Boston.