We're down to the final game of the regular season and the playoff seeds are still up in the air for the Celtics . . . and a number of other NBA teams.
The NBA has released its playoff scenarios, and here are the ones with the local connections:
Boston will be seeded:
- #4 if Celtics and Hawks win
- #5 if Celtics and Hornets lose OR if Celtics win and Hawks lose
- #6 if Hornets win and Celtics lose
Miami will be seeded:
- #3 if Heat win OR if Hawks lose
- #5 if Hawks win and Heat and Hornets lose
- #6 if Hawks and Hornets win and Heat loses
Atlanta will be seeded:
- #3 if Hawks win and Heat lose
- #4 if Heat win OR if Hawks lose
Charlotte will be seeded:
- #5 if Heat and Hornets win OR if Hornets, Celtics and Hawks win
- #6 if Hornets lose OR if Hornets and Celtics win and Hawks lose
Got that?
Boston Celtics
Here's what it looks like in the West:
Portland will be seeded:
- #5 if Blazers win OR Grizzlies lose one game and Mavericks lose
- #6 if Blazers lose, Mavericks win and Grizzlies do not win both games OR Blazers lose, Grizzlies win both games and Mavericks lose
- #7 if Blazers lose, Mavericks win and Grizzlies win both games
Memphis will be seeded:
- #5 if Grizzlies win both and Blazers lose
- #6 if Blazers win and Grizzlies win both OR if Grizzlies split two games and Mavericks lose
- #7 if Grizzlies lose both games OR Grizzlies split two games and Mavericks win
Dallas will be seeded:
- #5 if Mavericks win, Blazers lose and Grizzlies lose at least one game.
- #6 if Blazers win, Mavericks win and Grizzlies lose at least one game OR Mavericks win, Blazers lose and Grizzlies win both OR if Mavericks lose and Grizzlies lose both games
- #7 if Blazers win and Grizzlies win both OR if Mavericks lose and Grizzlies win at least once
Houston will be seeded:
- #8 if Rockets win OR Jazz lose
Utah will be seeded:
- #8 if Jazz win and Rockets lose
Phew!
Two playoff series are set, both in the Eastern Conference.
- 1-8: Cavaliers-Pistons
- 2-7: Raptors-Pacers
The West’s top four seeds are also set:
1. Warriors
2. Spurs
3. Thunder
4. Clippers
Should be an interesting night.
(Thanks to our friends at NBC's Pro Basketball Talk.)