Garrett Ellwood/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
The Los Angeles Lakers picked up a vital win over the Indiana Pacers 150-145 Sunday evening to assist them maintain their spot within the Western Convention standings.
The Lakers nonetheless sit a couple of video games again from incomes a top-six seed to keep away from the Play-In match, however a convincing win over the Pacers may assist spark a late push because the season nears an finish.
Here’s a have a look at the place the Lakers and different groups stand within the playoff image after Sunday’s matchup:
- Denver Nuggets, 50-21
- Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, 49-21 (0.5 GB)
- Minnesota Timberwolves, 49-22 (1 GB)
- Los Angeles Clippers, 44-26 (5.5 GB)
- New Orleans Pelicans, 44-27 (6 GB)
- Phoenix Suns, 42-29 (8 GB)
- Sacramento Kings, 41-29 (8.5 GB)
- Dallas Mavericks, 41-29 (8.5 GB)
- Los Angeles Lakers, 39-32 (11 GB)
- Golden State Warriors, 36-34 (13.5 GB)
- Boston Celtics, 57-14
- Milwaukee Bucks, 46-25 (11 GB)
- Cleveland Cavaliers, 43-28 (14 GB)
- New York Knicks, 42-28 (14.5 GB)
- Orlando Magic, 42-29 (15 GB)
- Indiana Pacers, 40-32 (17.5 GB)
- Miami Warmth, 39-32 (18 GB)
- Philadelphia 76ers, 39-32 (18 GB)
- Chicago Bulls, 34-37 (23 GB)
- Atlanta Hawks, 31-39 (25.5 GB)
Western Convention Prediction: Thunder deal with enterprise in first spherical
The Oklahoma Thunder are one of many youngest groups within the league and definitely lack playoff expertise, as their final journey to the postseason was within the 2019-20 season when Chris Paul, Steven Adams and a younger Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misplaced within the first spherical to the Houston Rockets.
4 seasons later, Gilgeous-Alexander is an MVP candidate and Oklahoma Metropolis has a powerful roster that has led them to one of many prime spots within the West because the season nears an finish.
The Thunder have been pegged as a staff that may very well be upset by a Play-In staff just like the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors or Dallas Mavericks due to their age and lack of expertise, however Oklahoma Metropolis may flip some heads within the first spherical.
Gilgeous-Alexander has been the mannequin of consistency this season, going for 30+ factors seemingly each evening. Jalen Williams is a dependable second choice and Chet Holmgren’s dimension and talent to house the ground make the Thunder a matchup nightmare.
On protection, Holmgren clogs the paint together with his 7’1″ body and makes any shot near the basket a troublesome one, averaging 2.4 blocks per recreation. Issues do not get simpler on the perimeter, as Gilgeous-Alexander leads the league in steals with 2.1 per recreation. Williams additionally will get 1.1 steals per recreation and Lu Dort has proved to be one of many hardest perimeter defenders within the league.
The Thunder have the third-best offensive score and fifth-best defensive score within the league, per NBA.com, and people numbers present the makings of a playoff-ready staff.
There’s a good probability Oklahoma Metropolis shall be taking over a confirmed staff just like the Lakers or Warriors, however the Thunder shall be seeking to present why they earned one of many prime seeds within the West.
Jap Convention Prediction: Celtics, Bucks get robust first-round matchups
The Boston Celtics are on the cusp of clinching the highest seed within the East and can get it barring any late-season collapse. The Milwaukee Bucks are possible trying on the No. 2 seed with a 53.8 % probability, per Basketball Reference.
The seeding place within the East may make for some fascinating matchups within the first spherical.
For the Philadelphia 76ers, being with out reigning MVP Joel Embiid has put them in eighth place within the East, so there’s a possible probability they should earn their approach into the playoffs by the Play-In match. The Miami Warmth, presently in seventh place within the East, are one other staff possible going through a Play-In match look.
Each of these groups ought to finally maintain enterprise of their respective Play-In video games, however issues get far more troublesome within the precise playoffs.
The Celtics and Warmth have a rivalry that dates again to LeBron James and Dwyane Wade vs. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. The brand new period of Jayson Tatum vs. Jimmy Butler has been simply as fascinating, with the 2 groups taking part in one another in three of the final 4 Jap Convention Finals. If the 2 groups meet within the first spherical, issues will not be simple for both aspect.
The Bucks and 76ers can be simply as thrilling because the Celtics vs. Warmth. Assuming Embiid is again on the ground by the playoffs (he’s set to return earlier than then), a collection between Milwaukee and Philadelphia may decide who reaches the Jap Convention Finals.
Flipping the situation to the 76ers getting the No. 8 seed and the Warmth getting the No. 7 seed by the Play-In match, issues are simply as fascinating. Embiid and Philadelphia can be searching for revenge after getting bounced from the playoffs by the Celtics a 12 months in the past, and Milwaukee can be in search of redemption after its upset loss within the first spherical to Miami final season.
Both approach, anticipate to see star-studded, heavy-weight matchups within the first spherical this 12 months.