NBA: Where Playoff Seeding Happens.

In the Eastern Conference, all 8 teams have clinched the playoffs.

• Miami has clinched home court advantage throughout the playoffs as well as their matchup against Milwaukee, the 8^th seed.
• NY is 3 games ahead with 3 left games to play. They will likely clinch the 2^nd seed as well as their matchup against the Celtics who are currently the 7^th seed.
• Indiana is 2 games ahead of Brooklyn for the third seed. Both teams have clinched home court in the first round.
• Atlanta is only a half-game ahead of Chicago for the 5^th seed.

The 4^th and 5^th seeds matter heavily because the team that wins this match will play against Miami in the second round which all of the teams in the East would prefer not to do.

In the Western Conference, only the 8^th seed remains.

• OKC is a half-game ahead of the Spurs, and they own the tie breaker against them.
• Denver is a half-game ahead of both the Pacific Division Champion Clippers and the Memphis Grizzlies. The better 2 of the 3 teams will have home court advantage.
• Golden State is a half-game ahead of Houston for the 6^th spot.
• The most talked about race has been the Lakers-Utah death match for the 8^th spot. Currently, the Lakers are a game ahead of the Jazz.

Sunday

CHI @ MIA ABC 11PM – potential 2nd rounder but the Miami heat starters have been “hurt” and will probably not play much if at all.

IND @ NYK LP 1:30 – If the Knicks win, they clinch the 2^nd seed and home court for the 1^st two rounds.

SAS @ LAL NBATV 7:30PM – the Spurs could put a major dent in the Lakers hopes with a victory. They also could put themselves in a better position to get the 1^st seed.