quick update before the last day of the season is played with final postings tomorrow:
Starting with the C's as the worst pick we have. C's will either have the #22 or #21 pick depending on what OKC does tonight. Currently they're #22 and OKC would have to win to tie them.
Clips -- currently in a 3-way tie with SAS and Indy for spots 18-20 and each are playing tonight. if all 3 win and OKC loses, it's a 4-way tie for spots 18-21. a lot of possible outcomes based on tonight's games but the optimal scenario is that Clips lose while SAS and Indy win.
Sac -- in a 3-way tie for spots 12-14 with Miami and Charlotte. If all 3 win and Detroit loses, there's a 4-way tie for 12-14 still because Charlotte would take Detroit's spot as the 8 seed in the East. a lot of possible outcomes based on tonight's games but the optimal scenario is that Sac loses while Char, Miami and Det win.
Mem -- alone in 7th slot. A loss ties them with Wash (who's done for the season) for #6-7. A win ties them with NO for #7-8 (NO is also done for the year). Extra twist, if Mem wins and Dallas loses, There's a 3-way tie for spots 7-9. I believe the lottery offers each of them the combined total of balls for those three slots going into the lottery but if none jump up, tiebreakers get real interesting real quick for this pick.
remaining games for tonight that matter to the picks:
Indy at Atl --> figuring an Indy win.
Miami at Brooklyn --> figuring a Brooklyn win although Miami may make a real effort to send Wade out a winner.
Orl at Char --> Orl is hot and likely looking to go into the playoffs with a win to build confidence. Char is also hot and needs the win to get into the playoffs. should be the best game of the night - thinking a Char win here.
Det at NY --> Det is struggling but they get the Knicks so figuring a Det win
GSW at Mem --> would think GSW would rest their stars here but even then, they should be good enough to beat Mem
OKC at Mil --> Mil likely to rest their stars and OKC would likely want to hang on to the #6 seed and need a win to clinch that. OKC could pull out a win here if Mil does indeed rest Giannis and Middleton
Dal at SAS --> SAS playing for seeding so looking at a SAS win
Utah at Clips --> Utah's hot so even though Clips need a win for seeding (try to get 7th alone to avoid GSW in round 1), I think Utah beats out the Clips barring a resting of their top players
Sac at Port --> Port can tie Houston for 3rd with a win. not sure about tiebreakers but if Port owns it, they'll want the win to avoid GSW in round 2.
outlook:
Indy 1-0, Miami 0-1, Char 1-0, Det 1-0, Mem 0-1, OKC 1-0, Dal 0-1, SAS 1-0, Clips 0-1, Sac 0-1.
end result:
C's tied with OKC for 21-22
Clips alone in #18
Sac tied with Miami for #12-13
Mem tied with Wash for #6-7