2 Week left of Regular Season: Who’s In, Who’s out, and Who’s on the Hunt for the NBA Play-In Tournament
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We are now very much in the homestretch in the NBA regular season, but even as we head into the final couple of weeks, there is still a lot to be decided. Yes, we essentially know which teams are in and out at this point, but there is still the matter of the final seedings to be taken care of, as well as figuring out who will be in the play-in ahead of the actual playoffs. If you haven’t been following the NBA for the past few seasons, you might not be aware of the current postseason format. Simply put, the top 6 teams in each conference get an automatic berth, while the next 4 in the East and West go into the play-in tournament, with 2 teams from each conference moving into the final 8. The reward for those teams is a matchup in Round 1 against seeds 1 and 2, so it may end up being a rather short-lived foray into the playoffs proper. With all that in mind, let’s look at how things currently stand with both conferences.
Eastern Conference
Before we get to the play-in portion of this piece, it might not be a bad idea to look at how things are going above the cut line. The Boston Celtics have basically run away with the #1 seed and now have a 12-game lead at the top. They are the team to beat this season, and you have to wonder who might challenge them in the East. The Bucks are sitting 2nd, but they are highly inconsistent, while the Cavaliers are 3rd, but also winners of just 4 games in their last 10. The Orlando Magic and New York Knicks are both a game and a half out of 3rd, with the Indiana Pacers sitting a game and a half back of those two.
This brings us to the play-in zone, and with the way things look at the moment, we might yet see some changes to the final standings. The Miami Heat are currently sitting in the #7 spot, but they are also just a half game back of the Pacers for the final automatic berth. The Heat have won 3 in a row and 7 of their last 10, so they could eventually move up.
The 76ers are once again showing some signs of life after winning back-to-back games, but they are also still a game and a half back of the surging Heat. The Bulls are in the #9 spot and will be in the play-in, but it will be as the #9 or #10 seed, as they are 5 games back of the 76ers. It looks increasingly as though the Atlanta Hawks will also be in that part of the play-in, as they are now 6 ½ games up on the Brooklyn Nets, the only other team with a shot at getting in, slim as that shot may be.
In short, the top 10 teams in the Eastern Conference appear to be set in stone, although where they will all finally land remains to be seen. The battle for that #6 seed is going to be fun to watch as we head into the final batch of games.
NBA Eastern Conference Odds
- Boston Celtics -130
- Milwaukee Bucks +300
- Philadelphia 76ers +1200
- Cleveland Cavaliers +1300
- New York Knicks +1400
- Miami Heat +1500
- Indiana Pacers +6000
- Orlando Magic +7000
- Atlanta Hawks +30000
- Chicago Bulls +30000
Find all Eastern Conference betting odds to Win
NBA Online Betting | Week 24
Western Conference
Once again, let’s start with a look at the top 6 in the Western Conference before we dive into the play-in zone. Unlike the East, where things are all tied up in a neat little bow at the top of the standings, we have an amazing race going on for the #1 seed in the West. Right now, it is the defending champion Denver Nuggets who have the top spot, but it’s about as tight as it gets, with both the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder sitting just a half game out of the lead. Those 3 teams are officially in, but how they end up seeded is anyone’s guess at this stage of the proceedings.
The Los Angeles Clippers are down in the #4 spot and on a little bit of an island. They are 5 games back of the top 3, which is a gap that they are not going to be able to bridge, whilst being 2 games up on the teams sitting behind them. The #4 seed looks the most likely landing spot for the Clippers, assuming they don’t fall apart coming down the stretch. The Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans are in the #5 and #6 spots, 2 games back of the Clippers, but they are not safe in those spots by any stretch of the imagination.
We could yet see some changes to the top 6 before we get to the start of the playoffs, as things are incredibly tight down by the cut line. The Sacramento Kings are on the move after winning 2 in a row and are now just a game back of the #6 seed. The Phoenix Suns are in the #8 spot, but they are tied with the Kings and also in with a shot at working their way into one of the automatic playoff berths. That is going to be a race to keep an eye on.
The Los Angeles Lakers appear to be finishing strong, winning back-to-back games and 7 of their last 10 to take control of the #9 seed. They are a game and a half back of the 2 teams directly above them, so they will have their work cut out to move up and out of the play-in zone. The Golden State Warriors are in possession of the #10 seed, sitting a game and a half back of the Lakers. They too are playing well, winning 7 of their last 10. The Warriors are now 3 games up on the Houston Rockets, the only other team with a shot at moving into the play-in zone, which is starting to look increasingly unlikely.
NBA Western Conference Odds
- Denver Nuggets +145
- LA Clippers +350
- Oklahoma City Thunder +650
- Phoenix Suns +1000
- Minnesota Timberwolves +1100
- Dallas Mavericks +1200
- Los Angeles Lakers +2000
- New Orleans Pelicans +3000
- Golden State Warriors +3000
- Sacramento Kings +4500
- Houston Rockets +40000
Find all Western Conference betting odds to Win
NBA Online Betting | Week 24
So, there you have it. Those are the current standings with just a couple of weeks left in the season. We will check back in at a later date to see how things might change before the end of the season, so watch out for that one.
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2024 Play-In Tournament Hunt, March 27th Edition
3 Week left of 2024 Regular Season: Who’s In, Who’s out, and Who’s on the Hunt for the NBA Play-In Tournament
MyBookie NBA Playoffs 2024 | NBA Money Line Today
We are heading into the final few weeks of the NBA season, and while the playoff picture is now clearer than ever, there are still some details that need to be ironed out. We are starting to see teams clinch their spots, while others are officially eliminated, but the finals seedings are still very much up in the air. Later this week, we will get into the playoff picture as it pertains to the top 6 in each conference, but for the purposes of this piece, we are going to focus on the play-in. 4 teams in each conference will nab those spots, but which teams will land there? Let’s take a closer look at the current NBA odds and standings and how it all might play out.
Eastern Conference
It does appear as though the play-in picture is quite clear in the Eastern Conference, with the current top 10 teams almost certainly heading to the playoffs. As far as the play-in goes, it is the Atlanta Hawks cling to the #10 seed. They are 5 ½ games up of the Toronto Raptors, who sit below the play-in line, so they look to be comfortably in at this point, but can they climb up?
The Hawks are a game and a half back of the Bulls in the #9 spot, so it is still possible that the Hawks and Bulls could flip spots. It does seem unlikely that either of these two will climb any higher, as the Bulls are 5 games back of the 76ers, who have been on quite the skid of late. The 76ers, though still have a shot at getting back into the top 6, as they are a half game out of the #7 seed and just a game and a half out of the #6 seed.
The Miami Heat are in as the current #7 seed and a game out of the top 6. They are, though, just 4-6 in their last 10, so they need to pick up the pace ASAP.
NBA Eastern Conference Odds
- Boston Celtics -130
- Milwaukee Bucks +275
- New York Knicks +1100
- Cleveland Cavaliers +1300
- Miami Heat +1400
- Philadelphia 76ers +1600
- Indiana Pacers +6000
- Orlando Magic +7500
- Atlanta Hawks +40000
- Chicago Bulls +40000
- Brooklyn Nets +60000
Find all Eastern Conference betting odds to Win
NBA Odds Today | Week 22
Western Conference
Things are a good deal tighter in the Western Conference, and given how things are going right now, I would not be surprised to see things change. The Golden State Warriors are the #10 team right now, but they are just a half game up on the Houston Rockets, who are on a 9-game winning streak. They are both trying to catch the Lakers in the #9 spot, who are 2 ½ games up on the Warriors.
The Lakers are looking to run down the Phoenix Suns, but they are 2 ½ games back, so there is some work to be done. This is where things get really tight, though, with the Suns sitting just a half game back of the #6 and #7 seeds. The Mavericks are in the #7 spot, but they have also won 4 in a row. The Sacramento Kings hold the final automatic playoff spot, but they are only there because of a tiebreaker over the Mavs.
I expect we are going to see some real movement in the Western Conference play-in zone before all is said and done.
NBA Western Conference Odds
- Denver Nuggets +145
- LA Clippers +325
- Oklahoma City Thunder +700
- Phoenix Suns +900
- Minnesota Timberwolves +1300
- Dallas Mavericks +1300
- Los Angeles Lakers +2000
- New Orleans Pelicans +2500
- Golden State Warriors +3000
- Sacramento Kings +3500
- Houston Rockets +40000
- Utah Jazz +60000
Find all Western Conference betting odds to Win
NBA Odds Today | Week 22
2022 NBA Who’s in, Who’s out, On the Hunt, and Clear upsets
Three weeks out from the NBA’s regular-season finale on Saturday, April 10, the league has some heated playoff seeding races. Teams are jockeying for homecourt advantage, avoiding the play-in tournament, securing No. 1 seeds, and more.
With roughly ten to a dozen games remaining for each team, here’s a look at some of the top storylines to watch as the season comes to a close so you can plan your bets against the NBA Playoffs Odds.
Three Weeks Till the End of Regular Season: Who’s in, Who’s out, On the Hunt, and Clear upsets
Who’s in
The Phoenix Suns (58-14) have clinched a playoff spot and have a nine-game lead for the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed. Behind them is the Memphis Grizzlies (49-23), who have a game-and-a-half lead on the Golden State Warriors (47-24) for second. Utah (45-26) has a two-game lead on Dallas (43-28) for the final homecourt slot.
In the Eastern Conference, there are seven teams within seven games of one another battling for playoff seeding. The Miami Heat (47-24) have a three-game lead on the Milwaukee Bucks (44-27) for the conference’s top overall seed and homecourt advantage throughout.
The Bucks, Philadelphia (43-27), and Boston (44-28) are all within a half-game of each other for seeds two through four. Chicago (41-29) is fifth and two games back.
Who’s out
While several teams are fighting for playoff positions, the rest may as well be fighting for draft pick odds. Three teams in the East are looking forward to the draft: Orlando (19-53), Detroit (19-52), and Indiana (25-47).
In the West, it is Houston (17-54), Oklahoma City (20-51), and Sacramento (25-48). Though the Pacers and Kings aren’t yet mathematically eliminated, they are longshots to make the play-in tournament.
In the hunt
The Los Angeles Lakers (30-41) and New Orleans Pelicans (30-41) take up the final two spots of the West’s play-in tournament. Both the Spurs (28-44) and Trail Blazers (26-44) are still in the hunt.
But Portland appears to be tanking without star Damian Lillard. Additionally, Minnesota and Denver are tied at 42-30 for the sixth seed in the playoffs.
The Timberwolves have a 2-1 season series tiebreaker with one game to play. They would avoid the play-in with a win in the final game and force Denver to advance to make the eight-team field.
There is a little more certainty of who will make the postseason in the East. Atlanta (35-36) has a four and a half-game lead on Washington (30-40), which is without star Bradley Beal due to injury, and a five-game lead on a disappointing Knicks (30-41) team. Though both those teams are trending toward being lottery picks instead of playoff contenders.
What isn’t decided is seeding. The Bulls, Cavaliers, and Raptors are within one and a half games of one another in determining who gets the fifth through seventh seeds. Two teams will avoid the play-in tournament while the other won’t. Right now, Toronto (40-31) is low man on the totem pole.
Similarly, Brooklyn (37-34) has a one-game lead on Charlotte and a two-game lead on Atlanta to host the second play-in game. But with COVID-19 protocols, it may benefit the Nets to be the visitors so Kyrie Irving can play.
Upset specials?
At full strength, the Nets are one of the best teams in the league, with Kevin Durant and Irving forming one of the best two-man games in the NBA. They’re hoping to add Ben Simmons to the mix in time for the playoffs, and even with playing half the games on the road, they have enough talent to win the play-in and upset any higher seed in a seven-game series.
The Bulls have gotten Alex Caruso back, are expecting Patrick Williams’ season debut, and hope to get Lonzo Ball back in time for the playoffs. That would give them some of the best depth in the league. They also have the second-best offense in terms of efficiency.
Cleveland has been one of the better teams out East for most of the season but, due to injuries, have slid in the playoff chase. With All-Star Darius Garland adding Caris LeVert and frontcourt depth with Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Lauri Markkanen, and Kevin Love, the Cavs can build continuity and pose matchup problems.
Out west, Dallas is surging at the right time, and with Luka Doncic and the addition of Spencer Dinwiddie, the Mavericks could take a series.
The Denver Nuggets may not avoid the play-in game, but Nikola Jokic may be the league’s back-to-back Most Valuable Player. He alone is a mismatch for any team, and Denver still has depth and strong guard play to pose a threat.
Lastly, can the Lakers ever be counted out with LeBron James? Playoff LeBron is a different beast with his refuse-to-lose play. Chemistry aside, if Anthony Davis can get healthy, not only will the Lakers have their big three, they will have the rim-protecting piece they need.
It may not be enough to be a title contender but to score a postseason upset? Don’t count them out.
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