With the NBA playoffs beginning in just under a month, teams are worrying about what they need to do to contend for a championship. For many teams, it will be a dogfight to reach a playoff spot. But first, here are the teams that seem sure to reach the playoffs.
The Cavaliers are the only team that has officially clinched a spot. The Cavs have a 55-10 record, with Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland leading the way. A team that has had two 15-game winning streaks will be a nightmare to face in the postseason.
Joining the Cavs in the East, the Celtics (47-18) and Knicks (41-23) are leading the way. The Bucks, Pacers, and Pistons are all in close contention with each other but are currently in the playoff picture.
For the West, the Thunder (53-12) are leading the way by over 10 wins on anyone in the conference. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the team’s star and was only recently passed by Nikola Jokić for the leading spot in the MVP race.
The Nuggets (42-23) and Lakers (40-23) are the next two teams up. The Grizzlies, Rockets, and Warriors are the other teams currently in the West bracket.
The first through sixth seeds are currently in the playoff picture. However, the seventh and eighth seeds have not lost hope. This year’s NBA Play-In Tournament looks like it will be close, with even matchups in every slot. It will run from April 15 to 18.
The Timberwolves (37-29) are neck-and-neck with the Warriors, who currently have a playoff spot. The Timberwolves are likely to knock the Warriors down to the Play-In Tournament, since they have the same number of wins and just one more loss. However, if Stephen Curry of the Warriors can stay on his game, that would be a challenge.
If everything stays on track, the Kings will play the Mavericks, and the Timberwolves will play the Clippers in the West. In the East, the Heat will play the Bulls, and the Hawks will play the Magic.
The winner of each conference will play the winner of the other game to earn a spot in the playoffs.
As for the rest of the playoffs, the Cavaliers and the Thunder are the favorites to match up in the finals. The Celtics, being the reigning champs, will most likely be a tough matchup for the Cavaliers in the semifinals. The Thunder’s road to the finals is much clearer and should not be a challenge.
