RELATED: At Stake Tonight For Eastern Conference Playoff Seeding
The West has been a pugilistic parade wedged between Dallas comfortably ensconced at No. 7, and Golden State sitting pretty at No. 1. Only one game separates four teams, with the Blazers getting the No. 4 seed after winning the Northwest Division. But Memphis, Los Angeles, San Antonio and Houston are in a scramble for the 2-seed and a date with Dallas.
Whomever Portland faces in the first round in the No. 5 spot will have home-court, despite the fact they locked up the division already. Portland would be No. 6 in the Conference if division titles no longer existed. At the other end of the Western Conference playoff pack, we’ve got the Thunder and Pelicans in a pair of scraps for No. 8.
ALL ASKEW FOR NO. 2
The West is so entangled at the moment, let’s first note who is playing tonight and at what time:
The Spurs play the Pelicans in New Orleans at 8PM ET.
The Rockets play the Jazz in Houston at 8PM ET.
The Grizzlies play the Pacers in Memphis at 9:30PM ET.
The Clippers already finished their season at 56-26.
If the Spurs lose, the Rockets can clinch the No. 2 seed with a win. The Clippers would get the No. 3 seed. The Grizzlies would get the No. 5 seed if they won, and the Spurs would fall to No. 6. The Grizzlies would be No. 6 if they lose, and the Spurs would be No. 5.
If the Spurs win, they earn the No. 2 seed and the Clippers would be No. 3. Houston would earn the No. 5 seed with a win, or if the Grizzlies lose. The Grizz would then be No. 6.
If the Spurs lose and so do the Rockets, the Clippers take the No. 2 seed. If the Grizzlies then win, they’d be the No. 3 seed. The Spurs would be the No. 5 seed and the Rockets would be No. 6. If the Grizzlies then lose, the Spurs would be No. 3, the Rockets get No. 5 and the Grizzlies No. 6. Got all that?
THE FINAL PLAYOFF SPOT
We’re putting on a Spurs cap in this section just for Russ. The No. 8 seed comes down to Oklahoma City’s game in Minnesota (8PM ET) and New Orleans welcoming San Antonio to town (8PM ET). Because both games are going on at the same time, it’ll be fun to see if anyone is sneaking a peak at the NBA scores flashing in the arena.
If the Pelicans beat the Spurs, which is no small task since San Antonio is in a cutthroat battle for the No. 2 seed, they’re in. If the Pelicans lose, but Oklahoma City also loses, they’re in. New Orleans controls their own fate. Oklahoma City has to beat Minnesota, and hope San Antonio can beat the Pels.
Around 10:30PM ET, we’ll know for sure which team is moving on and which is done for the season. We’ve got goosebumps and the playoffs don’t even start until Saturday. This is awesome.
