As we approach the final two days of the NBA regular season, very few things are left to sort out. The final playoff spot in the West between the Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz, the 3-4-5-6 seeding in the East between the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets and Atlanta Hawks, and something similar in the West between the Portland Trail Blazers, Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks.
Solving the 3-4-5-6 mess in the East
The basics here? The Hawks no longer control their own destiny to finish third, it’s up to Miami, who finish the season playing the Boston Celtics. The Hornets can’t finish higher than 5th, the Celtics can’t finish higher than 4th. Charlotte play Orlando on the final day of the season, Atlanta play Washington.
If Atlanta wins, Miami beats Detroit, Boston beats Miami, and Charlotte wins:
3. ATL 4. BOS 5. MIA 6. CHA
If Atlanta wins, Miami beats Detroit, Boston beats Miami, and Charlotte loses:
3. ATL 4. BOS 5. MIA 6. CHA
If Atlanta wins, Miami beats Detroit, Miami beats Boston, and Charlotte wins:
3. MIA 4. ATL 5. CHA 6. BOS
If Atlanta wins, Miami beats Detroit, Miami beats Boston, and Charlotte loses:
3. MIA 4. ATL 5. BOS 6. CHA
If Atlanta wins, Miami loses to Detroit, Boston beats Miami, and Charlotte wins:
3. ATL 4. BOS 5. CHA 6. MIA
If Atlanta wins, Miami loses to Detroit, Boston beats Miami and Charlotte loses:
3. ATL 4. BOS 5. MIA 6. CHA
If Atlanta loses, Miami beats Detroit, Boston beats Miami, and Charlotte wins:
3 MIA 4. ATL 5. BOS 6. CHA
If Atlanta loses, Miami beats Detroit, Boston beats Miami, and Charlotte loses:
3 MIA 4. ATL 5. BOS 6. CHA
If Atlanta loses, Miami beats Detroit, Miami beats Boston, and Charlotte wins:
3. MIA 4. ATL 5. CHA 6. BOS
If Atlanta loses, Miami beats Detroit, Miami beats Boston, and Charlotte loses:
3. MIA 4. ATL 5. BOS 6. CHA
If Atlanta loses, Miami loses to Detroit, Boston beats Miami, and Charlotte wins:
3. ATL 4. BOS 5. CHA 6. MIA
If Atlanta loses, Miami loses to Detroit, Boston beats Miami and Charlotte loses:
3. ATL 4. BOS 5. MIA 6. CHA
Western positional battles
This is about finishing 5-6-7 in the West. Portland, Memphis and Dallas. The Grizzlies have two games left, at Clippers and Warriors. Mavericks finish the season at home against San Antonio. Portland play Denver in the finale.
If Portland goes 1-0, Memphis goes 2-0, and Dallas goes 0-1, Portland is five, Memphis is six, Dallas is seven.
If Portland goes 1-0, Memphis goes 1-1, and Dallas goes 1-0, Portland is five, Dallas is six, Memphis is seven.
If Portland goes 1-0, Memphis goes 1-1, and Dallas goes 0-1, Portland is five, Memphis is six, Dallas is seven.
If Portland goes 1-0, and Memphis goes 0-2, Portland is five, Dallas is six, Memphis is seven.
If Portland goes 0-1, Memphis goes 2-0, and Dallas goes 1-0, Memphis is five, Dallas is six, Portland is seven.
If Portland goes 0-1, Memphis goes 1-1, and Dallas goes 1-0, Dallas is five, Portland is six, Memphis is seven.
If Portland goes 0-1, Memphis goes 1-1, and Dallas goes 0-1, Portland is five, Memphis is six, Dallas is seven.
If Portland goes 0-1, Memphis goes 0-2, and Dallas goes 1-0, Dallas is five, Portland is six, Memphis is seven.
If Portland goes 0-1, Memphis goes 0-2, and Dallas goes 0-1, Portland is five, Dallas is six, Memphis is seven.
And the final playoff spot goes to…
The Mavs are in. It comes down to Houston or Utah. The Rockets have the advantage (currently sitting at 8th) and will play the Sacramento Kings in Houston to finish the season. The Jazz are on the road against the Lakers. The only way Utah get into the postseason? They win, Rockets lose. It’s that simple.