It's that time again! I'm going to start updating our playoffs seeding outlook everyday until the playoffs. This year, there's a TON of variability in who we might end up playing in the first round. Here's the current standings:
Team Record Games Back
1. Cleveland 40-17 0
2. Boston 38-21 3
3. Washington 34-23 6
4. Toronto 35-24 6
5. Atlanta 32-26 8.5
6. Chicago 30-29 11
7. Indiana 30-29 11
8. Detroit 28-31 13
9. Miami 27-32 14
10. Milwaukee 26-31 14
Remaining Schedules -
Boston:
vs. Atlanta
vs. Cleveland
@ LAL
@ Phoenix (B2B)
@ LAC (B2B)
@ Golden State
@ Denver
vs. Chicago
vs. Minnesota
@ Brooklyn
@ Philadelphia (B2B)
vs. Washington (B2B)
vs. Indiana
vs. Phoenix
vs. Miami
vs. Milwaukee
vs. Orlando
@ New York
vs. Cleveland (B2B)
@ Atlanta (B2B)
@ Charlotte
vs. Brooklyn
vs. Milwaukee
So other than that West Coast trip with games against the Clippers, Warriors, and Denver and our two games against Cleveland at home, we have a rather easy schedule the rest of the way, including a 6 game home stretch toward the end of the year that we should sweep, along with ending 9 of our last 12 games at home and 13 of our final 23 at home with only 10 of those 23 against current playoff teams.
Catching up to the Cavs might actually be possible, because they have a rather difficult schedule the rest of the way. Highlights:
16 of their remaining 25 games are against current playoff teams, including 8 games against the Celtics (x2), Rockets, Jazz, Clippers, Spurs, Wizards, and Raptors, along with 3 more games against the Hawks;
What's more, 15 of their remaining 25 games are on the road, so as long as we play good ball there's a good chance that we can catch them with their difficult schedule and injuries and the fact that we play them twice at home.
Washington has a pretty rough schedule the rest of the way, so don't be surprised to see them fall. Highlights:
12 of their remaining 25 against current playoff teams, including 8 against the Warriors (x2), Jazz, Clippers, Cavs, Celtics, and Raptors (x2).
But a whopping 16 of their remaining 25 games are on the road, which is major.
The Raptors have an easier schedule than the Wizards, but with Lowry's injury, they shouldn't challenge us for the 2 seed. Highlights:
11 of their remaining 23 games are against current playoff teams, including 3 against Washington and the Cavs.
13 of their remaining 23 games are on the road.
The Hawks also have a decently tough schedule the rest of the way, so don't be surprised to see them battle with Washington for the 4 seed. Highlights:
14 of their remaining 24 games are against current playoff teams, including 11 against the Celtics (x2), Cavs (x3), Wizards, Memphis (x2), Spurs, Raptors, and Warriors.
11 of their remaining 24 games are on the road.
Ultimately, unless Lowry's injury really hurts the Raptors, they should take over the 3 seed pretty easily with Washington and Atlanta having significantly more difficult schedules the rest of the way.
Where it gets really interesting is our potential first round matchup:
Right now we're matched up with Indiana, but they're ultimately in danger of falling out of the playoffs with how tough their schedule is the rest of the way. Highlights:
Just started a 5 game road trip with a L to Miami followed by the Rockets, Spurs, Hawks, and Hornets;
13 of their remaining 23 games are against current playoff teams, including 8 against the Celtics, Cavs, Raptors, Rockets, and Spurs;
13 of their remaining 23 games are on the road.
The Bulls are in a bit better shape going forward, though it still remains to be seen how much losing Gibson will hurt them, and they still have a pretty tough schedule. Highlights:
13 of their remaining 23 games are against current playoff teams, including 9 against the Celtics, Cavs, Raptors, Rockets, Clippers, Grizzlies, Wizards, Jazz, and Warriors;
11 of their remaining 23 games are on the road;
They end with a soft schedule with their final 6 games against NO, New York, Philadelphia, Brooklyn (x2), and Orlando.
The Pistons are also in a bit better shape going forward. Highlights:
11 of their remaining 23 games are against current playoff teams, including 8 against the Celtics, Cavs, Raptors, Jazz, Rockets, Grizzlies, and Wizards;
12 of their remaining 23 games are on the road.
The Heat have a difficult schedule coming up, as well. Highlights:
12 of their remaining 23 games are against current playoff teams, including 9 against the Celtics, Raptors (x3), Cavs (x3), and Wizards (x2).
But only 10 of their remaining 23 games are on the road.
Finally, the Bucks have a really difficult schedule coming up, as well. Highlights:
15 of their remaining 25 games are against current playoff teams, including 8 against the Celtics (x2), Clippers, Warriors, Grizzlies, Raptors, and Cavs.
Further, 14 of their remaining 25 games are on the road.
So it looks doubtful that the Bucks could ultimately climb into the playoffs, but the Heat could very well do so, meaning we will more than likely play one of the Pacers (2-0), Bulls (1-2), Pistons (3-1), or Heat (3-0), depending upon injuries and who actually plays well the rest of the way. The Heat and the Pacers are probably our best matchups, but we should ultimately beat the Pistons and the Bulls in a 7 game series, especially with the Bulls losing Gibson, who always seemed to kill us on the boards.
Several relevant games tonight for our seeding:
Toronto at New York
Milwaukee at Cleveland
Atlanta at Boston
Miami at Dallas
Indiana at Houston