Starting 5 Daily Newsletter

Highest and lowest potential finishes for postseason contenders

Besides Boston, the seeds for all other 19 teams will be determined this week for postseason play.

Download the NBA App
Full playoff bracket
Full playoff schedule
Playoff clinching scenarios
Playoff seeding updates

This article was pulled from our Starting 5 Newsletter, a daily look at all things NBA. To get the newsletter in your inbox every morning, subscribe here.


The 20-team postseason field is set.

But, outside of Boston, the seeds for the other 19 teams — with the top six reaching the Playoffs and 7-10 seeds in the Play-In — will be determined this week.

So how high can each team climb? And how low can each team fall? Here’s a team-by-team look, starting in the East.

Key Takeaways

  • Boston and Milwaukee are the only two teams guaranteed a playoff spot entering tonight
  • Orlando, New York, Cleveland and Indy enter the week in the top 6 and can climb as high as No. 2 or drop into the 7 vs. 8 Play-In
  • Philly and Miami enter the week in the Play-In field. Not only can they reach the top six for a guaranteed playoff berth, they can reach as high as No. 3
  • Chicago and Atlanta will meet in the 9 vs. 10 game in the SoFi Play-In Tournament. But home-court advantage is still up for grabs in that win-or-go-home game
  • Strength of schedule rankings (highest opponent win% to lowest): Milwaukee (.663), Orlando (.562), New York (.534), Atlanta (.514), Indiana (.455), Miami (.429), Boston (.406), Cleveland (.387), Chicago (.383) and Philadelphia (.383)

Key Takeaways

  • Minnesota, Denver and Oklahoma City will all have home-court advantage in at least the first round of the Playoffs regardless of what happens in the final week
  • LA Clippers and Dallas can fall no further than the 7 vs. 8 Play-In game, which gives teams two opportunities to secure a Playoff berth. The winner of the 7 vs. 8 game earns the No. 7 seed, while the loser plays the winner of the 9 vs. 10 game for the No. 8 seed
  • Phoenix and New Orleans both have an outside shot of the No. 4 seed and home-court in the first round, but can also fall all the way to the 10 seed
  • Sacramento, L.A. Lakers and Golden State all still have a chance to earn a guaranteed Playoff spot with a top six finish, but also can end up as low as the 10 seed
  • Strength of schedule rankings (highest opponent win% to lowest): Phoenix: (.638), Sacramento: (.532), LA Clippers: (.510), OKC: (.510), L.A. Lakers: (.496), New Orleans: (.492), Minnesota (.482), Golden State: (.450), Denver: (.413), Dallas: (.410)

Latest