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NBA Playoff Picture 2023: Updated standings, bracket, key races to … – Sporting News
Less than two months remain in the NBA season and there is plenty left to be settled.
As the NBA Playoffs near, there are a number of teams that have looked capable of winning an NBA title and a snapshot of the standings reflects that fact.
What races should fans keep an eye on as the season winds down? Based on the standings, here are the key races that could come down to the wire in an entertaining finish to the 2022-23 NBA season.
NBA POWER RANKINGS: Who’s No. 1 following All-Star Weekend?
(Through games played on March 4)
(Through games played on March 4)
Obviously, much can change over the course of the final two months but if the playoffs were to begin today, below represents the matchups:
Play-In Tournament
1st Round Matchups
Play-in matchups
1st Round Matchups
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The Celtics held on to the East’s No. 1 seed since Dec. 23 but the Bucks used a 16-game win streak to overtake first. Last year served as a reminder of the importance of home court advantage in a potential playoff series between the two East rivals.
On the list of priorities, finishing the season healthy is first, but finishing the East’s No. 1 seed shouldn’t be too far behind.
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Denver has essentially run away with the West’s top seed but after that, Memphis barely holds a lead over third. Less than six games separate the fourth and 13th seeds.
The Lakers’ pursuit of a top-six seed might get most of the headlines, but the defending champion Warriors are in the mix, as are the Mavericks, Pelicans, Timberwolves and upstart Thunder.
With names like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, Zion Williamson and Anthony Edwards involved, the star power among these teams will make this race one of the most entertaining to follow.
MORE: Why Russell Westbrook is low-risk bet for Clippers in 2023 title chase
The flip side of sorting out the middle of the pack in each conference is deliberating which teams will compete in the NBA’s Play-In Tournament.
In the East, the Hawks, Wizards, Raptors, Bulls and Pacers are all involved, with one of the Nets, Knicks and Heat likely falling into Play-In Territory as well.
Last year’s Play-In Tournament did not disappoint and this year’s stands to deliver on a similar level, if not better.
While there are a number of teams with a legitimate shot at playoff contention, the Hornets, Pistons, Rockets and Spurs have been all but eliminated.
For those four teams, the focus shifts to the offseason and, more importantly, the NBA Draft Lottery.
No one team is playing to lose but it is worth noting that each of the league’s bottom three teams has a 14.0 percent chance to win the draft lottery while the team with the fourth-worst record has a 12.5 percent chance to win the lottery.
The crown jewel of this year’s draft, of course, is Victor Wembanyama, the consensus projected No. 1 pick, but consensus No. 2 pick projection Scoot Henderson isn’t a bad consolation.
One loser will ultimately be a winner.