The NBA’s playoff race is “headed for multiple photo finishes on the final day of the season" today, with 15 of the 20 seeds in the expanded playoff bracket, which includes a four-team play-in tournament in each conference, “yet to be decided.” Only two playoff-bound teams -- the Clippers and Mavericks -- “know whom they will be playing in the first round of the playoffs.” Aside from those two teams, the Eastern Conference’s top-seeded Celtics are the “only team that has secured one of 12 guaranteed playoff spots that knows its seed.” The Bulls are “locked in as the No. 9 seed” and the Hawks are “set as the No. 10 seed for the East’s play-in tournament.” Otherwise, everything is "up for grabs” today. Despite the “seeding chaos, none of the 20 teams eligible for the postseason is at risk of being eliminated” (WASHINGTON POST, 4/14).
The drama the play-in games have "provided in the NBA has been excellent,” and this season is “likely going to be the best play-in tournament yet.” With one day remaining in the NBA’s regular season, the Lakers, Warriors and Heat will "all be in the play-in tournament.” The ratings are “going to be big, and the NBA is going to own the sports news cycle for three nights” (DENVER POST, 4/13).
