The NBA’s regular season is rapidly coming to a close.
How rapidly? Well, by this time next week, each team will only have single-digit games left to play in their respective seasons.
Despite the end of the season coming just around the corner, there’s still plenty of intrigue around the league, particularly in regard to each conference’s respective play-in tournaments.
Here’s a look at how we view the league right now.
Clinching scenarios
There’s a good chance that by the end of this week (or earlier), all these teams will have officially clinched a spot in the playoffs.
The Utah Jazz have already done so, the Los Angeles Clippers’ and Brooklyn Nets’ magic number is just one and the Phoenix Suns’ is just two.
How high can the Knicks climb?
The New York Knicks are the hottest team in the NBA. Winners of nine straight and 10 of their last 12, this streak has catapulted them up to fourth place in the Eastern Conference and now only 3.5 games back of the Milwaukee Bucks for the No. 3 seed in the conference.
The Knicks play hard, tough and oftentimes suffocating defence, and thanks to the step forward that Canadian R.J. Barrett has taken in his second season and, of course, the All-NBA performance of Julius Randle this season, this is a team that’s flying high with no signs of coming back down to earth anytime soon.
Of course, the Atlanta Hawks are right there with the Knicks as the story of their season’s turnaround has flown under the radar a little.
It’ll be interesting to see both New York and Atlanta battle each other for home-court advantage in the playoffs down the stretch here.
Two of the league’s best stories right now
If it weren’t for the Knicks’ nine-game heater, then the eight-game winning streak from the Washington Wizards would be among the most-talked-about stories in the NBA right now.
Regardless, thanks to the eight straight Washington has racked off, it has managed to reverse the fortunes of its season, holding a two-game lead for No. 10 in the Eastern Conference. And with Russell Westbrook once again averaging a triple-double and Bradley Beal chasing a scoring title and both playing with more chemistry than they have all season long, you have to like their chances to keep their play-in spot.
The player Beal is chasing for the scoring crown, however, will be tough to catch, though, especially with the tear that he’s been on of late.
Stephen Curry has probably been the best story in the NBA in the month of April as he’s averaged 38.1 points per game on outrageous shooting splits of 52.9/47.2/89.7, helping lead the Warriors to an 8-6 record, helping his Golden State Warriors keep pace with a jam-packed seed Nos. 6-10 fight in the Western Conference.
East’s play-in picture
The Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls are going to have to earn some big wins for themselves this week if they’re going to keep pace with the Wizards, who are pulling away from them in the Eastern Conference’s play-in race.
And elsewhere there, the Indiana Pacers better look out for the Wizards as they’re within striking distance of overtaking Indiana for No. 9, just two games back.
Additionally, the Charlotte Hornets are just 1.5 games back of the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics, who are currently tied for sixth in the East — with Boston holding the tiebreaker advantage.
Plenty could change here with all of these teams this week.
Joining the teams below here soon enough
Though not official, these teams’ seasons are over. It’s just a matter of time before they’re officially knocked out of playoff contention.
Eliminated from playoff contention
Congratulations to the Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves on being the first two teams eliminated from playoff contention. The job isn’t done yet, though. If you truly want to “Fade for Cade” then you must keep up your losing ways.
