Wildcard tier: 60-some odd games and we still don’t know who these teams really are. Could they win a series or even two? Possibly. Could they get swept out in the first round of the playoffs? Probably just as likely
Teams: 76ers, Heat, Pacers
The Pacers find themselves in this tier rather than the “Thanks for coming tier” due to the uncertainty around Victor Oladipo‘s participation in the seeding games. Oladipo has been playing in the scrimmages, and if he keeps playing into the playoffs he provides a big bump the Pacers’ ceiling.
The 76ers and Heat are a different story. We know who is playing for them and how high their ceiling is, but I don’t think anyone can feel confident in what either team will do in Orlando. Both were among the best home teams in the NBA this year while at the same time owning a dreadful road record.
Does that matter on a neutral court? Your guess is as good as mine, but I don’t think you can be surprised with any outcome for those two teams.