Hi guys! It’s the last gameday of the IST today and I thought of reposting this (it got removed back a couple of days ago for some reason) to let yall know which teams are still in the hunt for a knockouts spot and what they will need to do to clinch it. It’s been a fun activity for me personally and I hope to catch some nerve-wracking games later!

EAST A

Team GP W L PF PA PD
Indiana Pacers 4 4 0 546 507 39
Cleveland Cavaliers 3 2 1 346 340 6
Philadelphia 76ers 4 2 2 485 476 9
Atlanta Hawks 3 1 2 394 403 -9
Detroit Pistons 4 0 4 439 484 -45

Remaining games: ATL vs CLE

  • CLE needs to win by a LOT to have a chance via wildcards with the Knicks boasting a +18 PD going into the last game day compared to Cavs’ +6. ATL winning would make both of the teams stay at 2-2 with other groups in play, theoretically still having a shot at the wildcard slot but highly unlikely.

EAST B

Team GP W L PF PA PD
Milwaukee Bucks 3 3 0 371 332 39
New York Knicks 3 2 1 325 307 18
Miami Heat 3 2 1 330 319 11
Charlotte Hornets 3 1 2 328 358 -30
Washington Wizards 4 0 4 458 496 -38

Remaining games: MIL vs MIA, CHA vs NYK

  • The Bucks might be 3-0, but the job’s not over yet. A MIA win with a CHA win will make the Heat the 1 seed and the Bucks 2 seed, and will have to rely on their PD to go through the knockouts as the East Wildcard as the Knicks will be eliminated.

  • A Knicks win will propel them to 3-1, a 2 seed with a huge chance to clinch wildcard if the Bucks also win, and a 3-way tie if the Heat win (with the 1 seed going to the team with superior PD)

  • It’s also a must win situation for the Heat. A MIA and CHA win will get them 1 seed, meanwhile an NYK win will force a 3-way tie (which again, the 1 seed going to the team with superior PD)

EAST C

Team GP W L PF PA PD
Orlando Magic 4 3 1 446 424 22
Boston Celtics 3 2 1 325 325 0
Brooklyn Nets 3 2 1 340 332 8
Toronto Raptors 3 1 2 333 342 -9
Chicago Bulls 3 0 3 312 333 -21

Remaining games: CHI vs BOS, TOR vs BKN

  • A Celtics win alone is not enough, they need the Nets to win too to force a 3-way tie for 1 seed. If that condition is met, Celtics should be by more than 23 points to get 1 seed while BKN will just need to win by 15 or more. Those conditions fail, Magic will take 1 seed and BOS the 2 seed and will have to hope that their PD is enough for at least a wildcard slot
  • A CHI and TOR win will theoretically eliminate Celtics and Nets, though as mentioned, a 2-2 wildcard team is probable but highly unlikely

WEST A

Team GP W L PF PA PD
Los Angeles Lakers 4 4 0 494 420 74
Phoenix Suns 4 3 1 480 446 34
Utah Jazz 4 2 2 469 482 -13
Portland Trail Blazers 4 1 3 416 455 -39
Memphis Grizzlies 4 0 4 430 486 -56

Remaining games: None

  • The only complete group so far, PHX will have to anxiously wait if their +34 PD is good enough for QF

WEST B

Team GP W L PF PA PD
New Orleans Pelicans 4 3 1 463 430 33
Houston Rockets 3 2 1 309 293 16
Denver Nuggets 4 2 2 432 442 -10
Dallas Mavericks 3 1 2 368 382 -14
Los Angeles Clippers 4 1 3 446 471 -25

Remaining games: HOU vs DAL

  • A Mavs win will make the Pels qualify to QF. A Houston win will make them qualify to QF with virtue of head-to-head vs the Pels

WEST C

Team GP W L PF PA PD
Sacramento Kings 3 3 0 358 329 29
Minnesota Timberwolves 3 2 1 332 335 -2
Golden State Warriors 3 2 1 360 355 5
Oklahoma City Thunder 3 1 2 360 333 27
San Antonio Spurs 4 0 4 429 487 -58

Remaining games: OKC vs MIN, GSW vs SAC

  • A Kings win followed by a Wolves win will have SAC qualify to QF as 1 seed, eliminating GSW in the process. MIN needs to win by at least 37 points to usurp PHX for the wildcard spot.

  • A Warriors win along with a Thunder win will qualify GSW to the QF as the 1 seed. A Warriors and Wolves win will see a 3 way tie with the best team on PD going through. PHX advances as the wildcard seed.

Game on!