The Chicago Bulls are combating for a spot within the NBA play-in match, a battle for the final two playoff seeds in every convention. Here’s an explainer concerning the historical past of the occasion and the way it works — and the place the Bulls stand.
When did the play-in start?
The NBA launched the thought after the restart of the pandemic-delayed 2019-20 season, with a crew needing to be inside 4 video games of the No. 8 seed to drive a play-in for the final playoff spot within the convention.
The Memphis Grizzlies completed a half-game behind the No. 8 seed Portland Trail Blazers within the Western Conference, and the Blazers received the primary sport of a play-in, thus incomes the ultimate playoff spot. In the East, the ninth-place Washington Wizards completed 7½ video games behind the eighth-place Orlando Magic, which means a play-in was pointless.
How has the match developed?
The subsequent yr, the NBA expanded its play-in guidelines, with solely the top-six seeds in every convention assured of a playoff spot and the Nos. 7-10 seeds battling for the ultimate two berths.
No. 7 would play host to No. 8, with the winner incomes the No. 7 seed. Then the winner of host No. 9 versus No. 10 would face the loser of the 7-8 matchup, with that winner incomes the No. 8 seed. The NBA has saved this format since then.
For the report, not one of the play-in groups has received a first-round playoff collection.
Where do the Bulls stand?
The Bulls beat the Hornets 121-91 on Friday in Charlotte, N.C., and their lead over the Washington Wizards for the No. 10 seed is at three video games. With 5 video games remaining, the Bulls (37-40) are one sport behind the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors, each of whom are 38-39.
The Bulls presently personal the tiebreaker towards the Wizards and Hawks, however the Raptors have the sting on the Bulls.
Bulls remaining schedule
- Sunday: vs. Memphis Grizzlies, NBCSCH
- Tuesday: vs. Atlanta Hawks, 7 p.m., NBCSCH
- Wednesday: at Milwaukee Bucks, 6:30 p.m., NBCSCH, ESPN
- Friday: at Dallas Mavericks, 7:30 p.m., NBCSCH
- April 9: vs. Detroit Pistons, midday, NBCSCH
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Source: www.bostonherald.com