8 teams have already qualified
Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphie Sixers, Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors et Dallas Mavericks.
The first four of each Conference have nothing more to fear. It’s even been a while since the Suns validated their ticket to the playoffs in addition to their first place in the NBA. They will have home advantage throughout the competition. Their runners-up, the Grizzlies, are guaranteed to finish second in the West. The Warriors and the Mavericks should fight for the last place on the podium. Slight advantage for Golden State for now: 50 wins against 49.
NBA
Embiid militates for his MVP, the Lakers almost eliminated
–
YESTERDAY AT 05:05
–
Places are not yet completely defined in the East. The Heat prances in the lead and has two more successes (51) than the Celtics (49), its first pursuer. The Bucks and Sixers have the same record (48 wins, 30 losses) but the defending champions have won 2 of the 3 meetings between the two teams this season.
Chicago and Toronto on favorable waivers, Cleveland will probably go through the play-in
Surprise candidates for the playoffs with a young and growing group, the Cavaliers (43-36) have long occupied a place in the top-4 in the East before taking a break in recent weeks. Suddenly, Darius Garland and his partners are almost condemned to finish seventh. It’s already a real step forward compared to the previous three exercises – concluded with 19, 19 and 22 victories – but it would be a shame to miss the event so close to the goal.
Darius Garland (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Credit: Getty Images
The Bulls also tumbled from the podium to fifth place. It benefits the Raptors, sixth with the same record as Chicago (45-33), whose second half of the season cannon should ensure a place in the right car.
Utah plummets, Denver rebounds, Minnesota in ambush
First last season, the Jazz lost control. Rudy Gobert and his teammates have just been overtaken by Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets. Three teams stand in a pocket handkerchief: 47 wins for Denver, 46 for Utah and 45 for Minnesota. The Jazz, however, has one game less and should, a priori, keep its place in the top-6, thus avoiding the play-in.
Quin Snyder’s players will face Phoenix and Memphis, the two already qualified ogres (who are likely to rotate), before challenging the first draft pick candidates of Oklahoma City and Portland. It’s already a little more complicated for the Nuggets, who will play the Lakers and the Spurs, two teams fighting for tenth place and therefore determined to win, but also the Grizzlies. The Wizards, Spurs and Bulls will be on the program for the Timberwolves.
Nets almost sure not to do better than eighth?
Rule changes in New York — which made Kyrie Irving a full-time player — and the return of Kevin Durant weren’t enough to pull the Nets out of their bad patch. The Brooklyn squad, first in the East a few months ago, completely scuttled and they are still struggling to recover from their fall in the standings. For now, Steve Nash’s men are tenth! With 40 wins and 38 losses, the same record as the Hornets, ninth.
Kyrie Irving
Credit: Getty Images
The Hawks took the lead with 41 wins and 37 losses. Space can matter. Indeed, if all these teams are sure to play the play-in, finishing ninth or tenth means winning two games in a row to grab their ticket to the playoffs. Well, it’s obviously in the ropes of KD and company. Except they don’t make it easy.
And if the Nets were to finish ninth or tenth before winning the two knockout clashes, they would then finish in the eighth spot in the Conference … and would therefore find themselves forced to face the Heat in the first round of the playoffs.
The Lakers on the verge of humiliation
Returning with revenge and full of ambitions following the elimination in the first round of the playoffs last year, the Lakers will probably do even worse this season. They are on the verge of missing the play-in and therefore currently occupy eleventh place in the Western Conference with two fewer wins than Spurs! The worst is that the schedule is not even necessarily lenient for the Californian team, which faces Phoenix, Golden State and Denver to end the season. With a duel a priori easier against Oklahoma City. And again, nothing is easy for Los Angeles at this stage. Especially in the absence of LeBron James, uncertain after a new physical glitch.
San Antonio will also challenge playoff teams this past week: Denver, Minnesota, Golden State and Dallas. It may leave a small hope for the Lakers to finish tenth. The Wolves, Clippers and Pelicans will also go through the play-in. The mission therefore promises to be very complicated for Frank Vogel’s men. What a fiasco.
NBA
Nets defeated despite Durant’s 55 points, Heat and Warriors solid
–
04/03/2022 At 05:38
–
NBA
The Sixers recover thanks to Embiid
–
04/02/2022 At 9:10 PM
—
