This is an interesting time of year as not only are teams playing for their own position but they also they can affect other teams positioning that they aren't even playing, which to me is a very cool high end chess match.
The 2 concrete seedings I feel confident in is that Cavs want to maintain their #4 seed no matter what and same for Lakers at #3 seed. Cavs control their destiny as 4 of their last 6 games are winnable games against bottom feeders. We may just get another chance where Cavs will be favored but they will no show again to lock in #4 seed.
For tonight's games, the East 5-10 is wide open. My initial thought is Celtics can help position Heat to get #8 seed and play Pistons 1st round possibly. Heat almost swept season series against Detroit and would run them ragged. If I were Cs, I'd want a Pistons/Heat 1st round match-up. So do Cs lay down a bit tonight. take the L and let Miami strengthen it's hold on #8 which is tenuous at best? heat lost season series to Orl, won series against 76ers and won series against Char...something to keep in mind in case of ties. It may be too early for Cs to make this move but def something to keep an eye on as no team gave Detroit more fits than the Heat so if I'm Knicks/Celtics/Cavs I want to see a Heat/Pistons match-up. The rest of the lower East is tough to call as it's easy to sometimes believe that every team will go all out to make the playoffs but in reality, a team is in 8-10 for a reason, sometimes they're just not that good. If you land in 6 or 7 more than likely you are getting your ass handed to you as your path is at Boston and/or at Knicks, oy.
Detroit has some gamesmanship coming up as they won't be caught for #1 seed and they can help position other teams for their path. I guarantee GMs/coaches/owners are strategizing what is their best path in the playoffs and if a L gets them on that path they will take it. We may get Pistons as a fav in a game where they want to take the L.
The West is just as tricky if not more. I have a gut feeling Spurs make a run at OKC for #1 seed as they own the tiebreaker. I feel OKC is more concerned w rest and health as they realize no matter what, to win the championship again it takes 16 wins. Here's a crazy thought: if I were OKC, I'd actually make health my priority as my last 6 games are brutal. I'd give a hint that Spurs can catch me so Spurs go all out last 7 games expending a lot of energy to nab #1 seed. In allowing Spurs to catch OKC, Thunder grab #2 seed and most likely host Phx (easy win) then host Lakers and avoid Nuggets and Wolves and Spurs until Finals...think about that path, sign me up. The other option is fight to maintain #1 seed in a very tough sched, then host possibly Clips then Nuggs/Wolves then Lakers/Spurs, no thank you. They'd lose home court in Finals if they meet Spurs but I'd take that any day of the week. I think we get a few OKC losses coming up and that will be good + money honey.
It seems like Warriors and Blazers are destined to meet in the play-in and I will hammer my Blazers. GS look like they want to get this season over w as quick as possible but knowing this League they'll provide some excitement until the end.
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