NBA Play-In Tournament Picture: Are the Los Angeles Lakers a lock?

With a few weeks remaining in the regular season, we update the NBA’s Play-In Tournament playoff picture.

Most teams around the NBA have between 9-12 games remaining in the regular season. There are a few teams that still have 13. Either way, it’s clear that the start of the NBA Playoffs is drawing closer and closer. But before we get the full scope of the NBA Playoff picture, the NBA Play-In Tournament must be determined. And with just a few weeks left in the season, that is too becoming clearer.

When it comes to the Play-In Tournament, the Eastern Conference bracket seems to be a bit clearer than the West at this point. And the next couple of weeks will go a long way in determining the matchups that we will see ahead of the NBA Playoffs.

How many NBA teams seem to be a lock?

Out East, it seems that the 7-9 seeds are pretty much locked in. The Brooklyn Nets could theoretically fall to 7, but with a two-game lead (in the loss column) over the inconsistent Miami Heat, I think they will be able to hold on to that seeding.

The Heat (7th), Atlanta Hawks, and Toronto Raptors seem to be locked into the top three seeds in the Play-In Tournament. The Heat has a 2.5-game lead over Atlanta for the 7th seed and a 3.5-game lead over the Raptors. I have a hard time seeing them slip past that 7th spot. And there’s even an outside chance that they could climb into sixth if the Nets stumble down the stretch.

Nevertheless, it’s safe to say that the Heat, Hawks, and Raptors are considered all but locks for a spot in the Play-In Tournament. The 10th spot is where it gets interesting as there are three teams fighting for the final spot in the tournament – the Raptors have a 1.5-game lead over the Bulls for the 9th seed.

In the West, it seems that the top 5 seeds are pretty much set. The Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors are fighting for the sixth seed, both with 36-35 records. They have a one-game lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves (35-36) and Oklahoma City Thunder (34-36), who is sitting as the 8th and 9th seeds with the Los Angeles Lakers a half-game back of the Thunder sitting in the 10th seed with a 34-37 record.

Los Angeles has picked an unfortunate time to lose two-straight games. On the Lakers’ tail are the Utah Jazz (33-36) and the Utah Jazz (33-36).

The next couple of weeks will go a long way in sorting out the teams that will qualify for the NBA’s Play-In Tournament, which is too close to call at this point.