NBA news: Analysis of the Eastern Conference play-off race
With most teams having just 10 games left in the NBA regular season, the race for the play-offs is heating up considerably.
Under the current format, the top six teams from each conference are guaranteed a spot in the play-offs, while 7th through 10th qualify for a play-in tournament that will determine the two remaining play-off spots.
First up, 7th and 8th do battle, with the winner going through to face the second seed in the play-offs, before the loser gets another crack at qualification against the victor between 9th and 10th.
Sports News Blitz writer Dylan Richardson analyses the Eastern Conference play-off race and predicts which sides will qualify.
Eastern Conference state of play
The Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards are already mathematically ruled out of contention for the play-in tournament, with both having accrued fewer than 20 wins across the season.
In contrast, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics have booked their places in the play-offs, while the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons, and Milwaukee Bucks are all guaranteed to at least make the play-in.
It is likely that the 23-50 Brooklyn Nets will be the next team to be knocked out of contention, and the same can be said of the Philadelphia 76ers who have the same record.
With four teams out of the equation and the top six essentially guaranteed to make the play-offs, the Eastern Conference is left with five teams battling it out for the four play-in places.
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Chicago Bulls
Chicago are in the best form of the five, having a record of 8-2 over the last 10 games.
In that time, guard duo Coby White and Josh Giddey have averaged around 50 points between them each game, with the latter averaging a healthy 9.5 rebounds and 9.7 assists too.
The Bulls still have to face the Oklahoma City Thunder and Cavaliers – the two teams with the best records in the NBA – as well as face off with the in-form Los Angeles Lakers.
However, Chicago have favourable match-ups against the Wizards, Hornets, and 76ers and also play two key games against fellow play-in chasers the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat, so the last 10 games of the season for the Bulls should be an entertaining watch.
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Atlanta Hawks
Another team with a positive record in the last 10 games, Atlanta could guarantee their spot in the play-in tournament as early as Friday night.
Despite question marks over his future at the Hawks, All-Star guard Trae Young has helped the team to a 7-3 run of late, averaging almost 27 points and 11 assists in that period.
The Hawks also have Dyson Daniels averaging 3.4 steals per game and shooting 50% from the field.
Similarly to the Bulls, Atlanta have a mixture of games left to play, with there multiple key match-ups that could shape their play-in status.
In the next 10, the Hawks have to play the Orlando Magic twice and Heat once as well as face off against the Bucks in Milwaukee.
Toronto Raptors
Toronto have snuck back into play-in contention over the last few weeks, having racked up a 5-5 record.
While it is a long shot – the Raptors are five wins behind Miami – a remarkable run could well make it interesting.
The main issue for the Raptors towards the end of the season has been the availability of their key players, with Immanuel Quickley, Jakob Poeltl, and RJ Barrett all playing just five of the last 10.
When fit and available, though, the three stars along with 24-year-old forward Scottie Barnes have averaged a promising 64 points between them, role players AJ Lawson and Orlando Robinson combining for 24 a night at the same time.
A favourable end-of-season schedule for Toronto sees them face Charlotte, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia as well as having to play the Portland Trail Blazers, an injury-riddled Dallas Mavericks, and a Victor Wembanyama–less San Antonio Spurs.
It is thus definitely worth keeping an eye on the Raptors as they make a late push for the play-ins.
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Orlando Magic
The Magic have a 6-4 record in the last 10 games, with star forward duo Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner dominating, averaging 50 points and 14 rebounds per game during that time.
The concern for the Magic, however, is that only Anthony Black has played over 50% of those matches and averaged over 10 points.
Orlando still need to travel to Boston to face the Celtics before facing an in-form LA Clippers.
Their two games against the Hawks could be key in determining the 7th seed, with both teams having 35 wins so far this season.
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Miami Heat
The Heat may have won two games in a row to sit five wins clear of the Raptors, but before that Miami went on an 11-game losing streak, which saw them plummet down the ranks in the Eastern Conference standings.
While stars Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo have averaged a combined 37 points over the last 10 games, the two would need to up their game to get to the level of other duos chasing play-off qualification.
Miami still have to play the Hawks, Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies, Bulls, and Bucks, but favourable match-ups against the 76ers, Wizards (twice), and New Orleans Pelicans could help get them over the line.
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Play-off predictions
Predicted Eastern Conference final standings:
Cleveland Cavaliers
Boston Celtics
New York Knicks
Indiana Pacers
Milwaukee Bucks
Detroit Pistons
Atlanta Hawks
Orlando Magic
Chicago Bulls
Miami Heat
Predicted Eastern Conference play-off spots: Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons
Predicted Eastern Conference play-in spots: Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat
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