With the NBA stepping apart for an evening to offer Monday’s basketball stage solely for the NCAA championship recreation, the league’s newest spherical of outcomes provided the Miami Heat a sobering reminder of what’s gone, what’s slipping away and the work that also stays.
For instance, with the New York Knicks’ Sunday victory over the Washington Wizards, the Heat have been blocked from the chance to complete increased than No. 6 within the Eastern Conference.
And with the Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls additionally successful Sunday, it means Erik Spoelstra’s staff might must work all the best way into Sunday’s season finale in opposition to the visiting Orlando Magic to find out when and the place their postseason begins.
At 41-37 and No. 7 within the Eastern Conference, the Heat shut out their common season Tuesday night time in Detroit, Thursday night time in Philadelphia, Friday night time in Washington after which Sunday’s finale at Miami-Dade Arena in opposition to the Magic.
The high six seeds advance on to the best-of-seven first spherical that opens April 14. Seeds Nos. 7-10 play in a play-in bracket to find out the convention’s ultimate two groups in that opening spherical.
So what are the eventualities forward? Basically every little thing stays in play.
If Heat go 4-0: If the Heat win out to shut at 45-37, they might nonetheless shut at No. 6 if the Nets shut 1-3 or 0-4. At 43-35, the Nets personal the playoff tiebreaker over the Heat.
At 45-37, the Heat can be assured of no worse than seventh place, which might imply as much as two probabilities within the play-in spherical to safe one victory to advance to the primary spherical.
In the play-in spherical, No. 7 hosts No. 8 for the No. 7 first-round seed. The loser of that recreation hosts the winner of the Nos. 9-10 recreation for the No. 8 first-round seed.
If the Heat go 3-1: If the Heat go 3-1 to shut 44-38, the one means they might get to No. 6 can be if Brooklyn loses all 4 of their remaining video games. The Nets have a comparatively tender shut: dwelling in opposition to Minnesota, at Detroit, dwelling in opposition to Orlando, dwelling in opposition to Philadelphia.
At 44-38, the Heat nonetheless can be assured of no worse than seventh place, on the high of the play-in tier.
If the Heat go 2-2: If the Heat go 2-2 to shut at 43-39, the Heat can end no increased than seventh place within the East.
With a 2-2 end, the Heat might fall to the No. 8 spot within the play-in spherical if Toronto wins out, with the Raptors proudly owning the tiebreaker. Toronto closes at Charlotte, two video games in Boston, then at dwelling in opposition to the Milwaukee Bucks.
If the Heat end tied with Atlanta at 43-39 (requiring a 4-0 Hawks shut) or in a three-way 43-39 tie with the Hawks and Raptors, the Heat can be No. 7, due to holding the tiebreaker over Atlanta (thereby giving the Heat the Southeast Division title, one other tiebreaker).
The Hawks shut on the Bulls, dwelling in opposition to the Wizards, dwelling in opposition to the 76ers and on the Celtics.
If the Heat go 1-3: If the Heat go 1-3 to shut at 42-40, they nonetheless might retain seventh place if the Raptors go no higher than 2-2, the Hawks no higher than 3-1 and the Bulls no higher than 3-1.
The Heat might fall no decrease than No. 9 with a 1-3 end.
If the Heat go 0-4: If the Heat lose their remaining 4 video games to complete at 41-41, they might place anyplace from No. 7 to No. 10.
At 38-40, the Bulls not not solely nonetheless might cross the Heat within the standings, but additionally personal the tiebreaker. The Bulls shut dwelling in opposition to the Hawks, on the Bucks, on the Mavericks and residential in opposition to the Pistons.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com