The Nets are mathematically eradicated from the East’s No. 5 seed.
Even when they win every of their last three video games, beginning with Wednesday’s matchup towards the Detroit Pistons, the NBA’s tiebreaker guidelines are clearly outlined.
Three straight wins for the Nets and three season-ending losses for the fifth-seeded Knicks would tie town’s two professional basketball groups at 46 wins and 36 losses apiece. When that occurs, the staff with the higher head-to-head document claims the upper seed.
The Nets and Knicks, in fact, are tied of their season sequence at 2-2.
Assuming the Nets additionally beat the Philadelphia 76ers within the season finale, town’s two groups would even be tied of their division document at eight wins and eight losses every, the following set of tie-breaking standards to determine playoff pecking order.
Right here’s the place the Nets draw the quick finish of the stick: higher document towards groups within the playoffs or tied for a playoff spot. The Knicks have an 18-16 document towards the highest 10 seeds within the Japanese Convention.
The Nets are available at 17-17, cementing their ceiling because the sixth and last assured playoff spot to lock in a date with the No. 3 seeded Philadelphia 76ers.
There’s much more draw back, nonetheless, to the final leg of the season than there may be wiggle room to maneuver up the standings.
Whereas profitable out merely helps Brooklyn stand pat at six, shedding out might have vital implications on the Nets’ odds at making the playoffs altogether.
And with the seventh-seeded Warmth just one recreation behind within the standings, the Nets can ill-afford to drop any of their remaining video games — even when they’ve swept the season sequence towards the Warmth, 4-0.
Pleasant reminder: If the Nets drop beneath the sixth seed, they are going to be pressured to combat for No. 7 within the sudden-death play-in event. Right here’s what occurs primarily based on the variety of wins or losses to shut the season:
TWO WINS
That’s the magic quantity. If the Nets defeat the Pistons on Wednesday, they'll solely have to safe one further victory to make sure a playoff berth. As a result of the Nets maintain the tiebreaker over the Warmth and lead them within the standings by one recreation, there is no such thing as a situation the place two wins and one loss doesn’t assure Brooklyn the sixth seed.
Even when the Warmth win all three of their video games.
The Nets play their last two regular-season video games of the season at Barclays Middle. They host the Orlando Magic on Friday earlier than closing out towards Joel Embiid and the championship-contending 76ers on Sunday.
A number of notes right here, nonetheless: The Sixers are two video games behind the Boston Celtics for the No. 2 seed, but solely 2.5 video games forward of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Experiences have already surfaced out of Cleveland suggesting the Cavaliers would favor to play the Nets within the first spherical of the playoffs. In the event that they catch the Sixers within the standings, and the Nets maintain onto the sixth seed, it might occur.
Orlando additionally isn’t a staff to miss, even when its standing at thirteenth within the East suggests in any other case.
The Magic began the season 5-20 and have gained 29 of their final 54 video games. The truth is, they beat the Nets, albeit within the second recreation of a again to again, on March 26.
ONE WIN, TWO LOSSES
If the Nets lose two of their final three video games, and if the Warmth win three in a row, Brooklyn will fall to the seventh seed into the play-in event — however will retain home-court benefit and won't face elimination except it loses to the eighth seed within the seven-eight recreation.
The Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors entered Wednesday tied for the eighth seed at 40-39 with three video games remaining on the schedule. If the Nets fell to seven and misplaced within the opening play-in event recreation, they might then play towards the winner of the sport between seeds No. 9 and 10 (Chicago Bulls).
The winner takes the eighth and last playoff seed. The loser is eradicated.
THREE LOSSES
The Nets statistically can’t fall any decrease than seventh within the standings. That’s as a result of they maintain the tiebreaker over each the Raptors and the Hawks of their respective season sequence this season.
The Nets swept the season sequence towards the Raptors this season and beat the Hawks thrice of their 4 matchups.
Because of this, Brooklyn will retain home-court playoff benefit even when they lose out.
Shedding out, nonetheless, wouldn’t give the Nets a lot confidence getting into a combat for his or her playoff livelihood. Each recreation counts as Brooklyn continues the combat to make the playoffs this season.
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