Postseason Mania

If the postseason started today, these twenty teams would have have a ticket to the promised land.

NBA squads will be jockeying for position in the coming weeks, and while current play-in teams in the Eastern Conference have some distance between them and their competition (the Wizards and Knicks are 4.5 and 5 games back of Atlanta for the 10 seed), the West is getting dicey near the bottom for postseason hopefuls. The Lakers are amidst a very poor stretch of basketball, and are only 2.5 games up on the Spurs for the 10 seed. LA's record is currently 30-41, the same as the New Orleans Pelicans, who sit in the 9 seed by way of a tiebreaker situation. The Lakers and Pelicans will face off two more times to end the year, and both play tonight. That race will be tight if the current play from both teams is any indicator; LA is falling precipitously and New Orleans is rollin'.

Here's how the standings are looking:

Minnesota jumped Denver for the 6 seed in the West, and plays tonight. They are currently tied with the Nuggets at 42-30, in sole possession of 1st place in the Northwest Division via a tiebreaker. The difference between a 6 and 7 seed is huge considering the 6 seed avoids the play-in. If the Wolves can keep pace with the Nuggets and win their April 1 matchup, they'll have done the best they can to escape a play-in situation. Minnesota is also only 1.5 games back of Dallas for 5th.

Denver has fallen as Minnesota has ascended, and would face the Clippers in a one-game play-in for the rights to the 7 seed if the season ended today. They're 2-1 against the Clippers on the year and play the finale of that season series tomorrow night. The Nuggets, if they can't dethrone Minnesota in the standings, would run the risk of possibly having to play the Lakers in a do or die for the 8 seed, and if AD is healthy, Bubble flashbacks will haunt Jokic and the Nuggets. Denver's front office is weary of bringing back Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. this year because it may mess with the flow and chemistry the team has going on, but it's hard to imagine the Nuggets ruling out their recovering stars in a do or die.

The Clippers have proved that their spree of comebacks wasn't a fluke, and are 5 games up on the Pelicans and Lakers for the 8 seed, which they can be cautiously optimistic of holding until the regular season ends. They should like their chances against the Pels or Lakers in a do or die, but can quite possibly avoid it altogether if they take the 7 seed away from Minnesota, Denver, or Dallas. The Mavericks are probably hoping to match up with someone other than the Clippers from a historical perspective, as they've been bounced out of the first round by LA in back to back seasons.

Brandon Ingram and C.J. McCollum have started off this month strong, and have their Pelicans above the Lakers in the standings, a welcome surprise to NOLA fans. A possible Zion return hasn't been ruled out, but there is a fog around the team on whether it's worth it. The Pelicans only have 12 games remaining, so his return might be pushed to the play-in, but even that is questionable considering his situation and recovery process. If McCollum stays with the team next season and Zion, if healthy, doesn't leave, the Pelicans can take the next step forward in competing in the West. Their chances of making noise in the postseason this year seem slim to none.

The Lakers' record speaks for itself, and the only thing that can save their season is a healthy AD come play-in time. That is, if the Spurs or Blazers don't catch them.

In the Eastern Conference playoff race, things are much tighter. The 6th seeded Cavs are now only one game up of Toronto, and are in danger of falling into the play-in with the loss of All-Star Center Jarrett Allen.

The Raptors are a formidable squad that will be a tough out in the first round if they advance, but the seeding will determine their fate.

It's unclear whether the Nets can escape the play-in, but they probably don't want the 7 seed because Kyrie Irving still can't play in home games. Steve Nash might have a calculus on which games they need to win/lose to ensure the optimal outcome if New York's vaccine mandate remains in effect.

The Hawks and Hornets seem to be the likely 9 and 10 seeds in either order, and it would take a miraculous run by the Knicks or Wizards to catch them. If we do see an Atlanta/Charlotte play-in, expect the over/under to be north of 260.

Standings aside, how have the listed squads and the true contenders done on both ends of the floor this season?

Below is a breakdown of PPG and Opp. PPG:

Boston's defense has been second to none for an extended period of time, as they are a frightening matchup come playoff time. The reeling Bulls don't want to deal with them as a first round opponent, but that's how things would play out if the season ended today.

If we continue on the praise Minnesota route, it's clear that their wins have come from their high-octane offense, with over 115 points per game.

The Memphis Grizzlies continue to impress, and their success is a balanced effort on both ends of the floor. Making it to the second round and putting up a real fight can be considered a success for them, but it's evident that they're hungry for much more than that.

The Clippers and Mavericks have been good on defense, but will need to pick up their offensive scoring ability as defenses get even tighter in the postseason.

As for the rest of the contenders, (Phoenix, Milwaukee, Miami, Golden State, Utah) they've been here before, but it don't mean a thing without the ring.