NBA Playoff Push: What to Expect Over the Final Month of the Season
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Cavs, Celts and OKC Lock In Playoff Spots
While there is still plenty of action to come from the hardwood before the playoff seedings are confirmed, three teams have already earned their place in the postseason showdown.
The first side to do so was the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are enjoying a stellar season, 56-12 at the time of writing and looking well on course to secure the top seed in the East. The major task for the Cavs from here on is keeping the likes of their star players Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Darius Garland fit and fresh.
Joining Cleveland in the playoffs from the Eastern Conference are the defending champions, the Boston Celtics. The C’s are 50-19 for the season, but they are doing what they do best - heating up at just the right time - with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown firing on all cylinders. The only downside for Boston is they will not have the home advantage if they face the Cavs in the Eastern Conference Final.
Over in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder have gone nuclear this season. OKC have been head and shoulders better than the rest, 56-12 to date, while second-placed Houston are 44-25. Key to OKC’s success has been Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is certain to be a leading candidate in the MVP race this season.
Check out our Sacramento Kings vs. Cleveland Cavaliers prediction for tonight!
Western Conference: Race For the Top Four
Behind the current leaders, the race for home advantage is still red-hot. The Western Conference, in particular, is proving to be a battlefield, but one team that has come on leaps and bounds this season is the Houston Rockets. Ime Udoka’s side racked up their seventh win in a row on March 17 and have been sensational at home, currently 26-10 at the Toyota Center.
However, the Denver Nuggets are right on their shoulders, level on 44-25 for the season, while still rattling off wins even with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray currently sidelined. Still, the Joker is having yet another incredible season, and if he can stay fit, the Nuggets could pose a genuine threat to the Thunder in the playoffs.
Keep an eye on the Golden State Warriors over the final month of the season!
The Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors round out the top six, but it is the latter that are making a late surge up the table. Steve Kerr’s side have looked like a team transformed since signing Jimmy Butler, and Steph Curry has led the side expertly to 13 wins in their last 15 matches. Keep an eye on our NBA predictions for more insight on how the Warriors could end the season.
Eastern Conference: Race For the Top Four
Outside the top two in the Eastern Conference, it’s still anybody’s for the taking. The New York Knicks currently hold third place, but their defence has been questionable all season and they now have Jalen Brunson dealing with an ankle issue. You get the feeling it’s a case of hanging on from here for the Knicks.
Behind New York, the Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks are in fourth and fifth respectively, but it is the former that are looking like the team in the ascendancy. Tyrese Haliburton is finding the sort of form he showed last season at just the right time, and the Pacers could turn into the dark horse in the postseason if he continues on his current trajectory.
Can the Pistons push into the top four before the season ends?
It certainly won’t be easy to surpass the Bucks and Pacers, but the Pistons have enjoyed a remarkable rise over the second half of the season and one more big effort could be all it takes. What could be the difference-maker is that Detroit are starting to get contributions from their bench players as well, while the Bucks are still relying heavily on Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.
Feel free to use our NBA livescore tool so you never miss a minute from the hardwood for the remainder of the season!
The SoFi Play-In Tournament 4: East and West
The Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic and Chicago Bulls look the most likely to battle it out for the final two playoff seeds via the Play-In Tournament. However, the Hawks are the side to beat in this contest according to the latest NBA odds, with Chris LaVert playing some of his best ball since arriving from the Cavs, while rookie Zaccharie Risacher is finding his feet under the guidance of Trae Young’s leadership.
Will the Minnesota Timberwolves make a comeback in the Play-In tournament?
The Timberwolves have experienced a massive fall from grace this season after reaching the conference final last year. Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley have been out of sync for the majority of this campaign, and perhaps the only reason Minnesota is still in the picture is because of Anthony Edwards’ immense work rate. Keep an eye on the Clippers in the West - James Harden and Kawhi Leonard may still have a say before this season ends.
