Updating the NBA Play-In Tournament in the Eastern Conference heading into the final weekend of the regular season.
Most NBA teams have one or two games remaining on their regular-season slate. The NBA Play-In Tournament is only a few days away from starting and the NBA Playoffs are a week away. Either way, this is an exciting time in the NBA.
Looking at the Play-In Tournament, the good news is that we know which teams are involved. The Brooklyn Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Charlotte Hornets, and Atlanta Hawks have all clinched the right to play for one of the last two playoff spots in the East.
The big question that will be answered over the next two days is how each of those teams will enter the Tournament.
It’s likely that the Nets and Cavs will be the 7 and 8 seeds, but it remains to be seen which will host that 7 vs. 8 Tournament game.
Trying to sort it all out could be a bit confusing, so let’s try to break down the possible scenarios heading into the weekend.
For the 7th seed:
- If the Nets win vs. Indiana Sunday, they are the 7th seed.
- If the Nets lose vs. Indiana, the Cavs win vs. Milwaukee, Cleveland is the 7th seed.
- If the Nets win vs. Indiana, the Cavs win vs. Milwaukee, Brooklyn is the 7th seed.
- If the Nets lose vs. Indiana, the Cavs lose vs. Milwaukee, Brooklyn is the 7th seed.
For the 8th seed:
- If the Hawks win vs. Houston, Nets lose, Cavs lose, Hawks are the 8th seed.
- If the Hawks win, Nets win, Cavs win, Cleveland is the 8th seed.
For the 9th seed:
- If the Hawks win, Nets win, Cavs win, Hawks are the 9th seed.
- If the Hawks lose, Hornets win, Hornets are the 9th seed.
- If the Hawks lose, Hornets lose, Hawks are the 9th seed.
For the 10th seed:
- The Hawks win, the Hornets win, Hornets are the 10th seed.
- The Hawks lose, the Hornets win, Hawks are the 10th seed.
- The Hawks lose, Hornets lose, Hornets are the 10th seed.
Overall, if there’s one thing that we can gain is that the most likely scenarios entail the Nets and Cavs playing in the 7-8 game and the Hawks and Hornets playing in the 9-10 games. The good news is there should be much clearer in the next 48 hours.