(Translator's note: The author of this article is CBS reporter Jasminn Wimbish, the content of the article does not represent the views of the translator, and the data in the article is as of March 29, 2022 Beijing time.) ）
With only two weeks left until the playoffs begin, the 2021-22 NBA regular season is only two weeks away, and only three teams have locked up playoff spots so far. The Suns and Grizzlies are the only two teams to know their ranking in the playoffs as they lock in the top two spots in the West. In addition to this, only the Heat in the East have locked up a playoff spot. With less than 10 games left per team in the league, the battle for playoff spots will be fierce.
As teams compete for the regular season deadline of April 10 approaches, there are plenty of intriguing things to see in the closing stages of the regular season. From which team will be the number one seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, to figuring out whether the Los Angeles Lakers will completely miss the playoffs, here are five highlights of the final stage of the NBA regular season.
The scramble for first place in the East
At the time of writing, the Celtics and Heat are tied for first place in the East, and the 76ers and Bucks are only half a win behind. So it's safe to say that the scramble for the top seed in the East will go into a white-hot pitch. Of the four teams since the All-Star Game, the Celtics have played the best basketball, and in the entire NBA, they set the league's best 13-2 record. During this time, the Celtics ranked first in offensive efficiency and third in defense, which is the result of Tatum's overall improvement of the Celtics with MVP-level performance after overcoming the slow heat at the beginning of the season.
But in terms of the difficulty of the remaining schedule, the Celtics are the most difficult of the top four seeds in the East, playing against the Grizzlies, Heat, Bucks, Bulls and Raptors. However, considering that the Celtics have been crushing opponents since late February, it may not matter who they play against. That's their dominance.
The 76ers, on the other hand, have the rest of the schedule the most relaxed of the four teams, with four games against the Pacers and Pistons. Since the trade to Get Harden, the 76ers have looked like everyone expected, becoming a terrible championship-winning team. So they have the same chance as any team to take first place in the East. Then there's the defending champion Bucks, who have remained steady throughout the season despite key players plagued by injuries and currently look like they're making strides towards the no. 1 seed.
Ironically, the team most likely to exit the East first race at the moment is currently the first place in the East. After a month of firmly holding the top spot in the East, the Heat have been underperforming lately, winning 4 and losing 6 in their last 10 games. They have a favorable remaining schedule, but recent losses to the Knicks in the lotto zone and the Warriors, who are missing three stars, suggest that the Heat are not necessarily guaranteed to win an easy opponent at this stage.
The Nets, who returned full-time, were even more terrifying
New York City Mayor Eric Adams revised vaccine regulations to exempt New York performers and athletes who play for the New York home team, giving Irving his first home game of the season on Sunday night. Irving's full-time form will help Brooklyn battle for a playoff spot in the final two weeks of the season, and it all becomes more elusive after Sunday's loss to the Hornets.
After losing to the Hornets on Irving's home debut, the Nets tied for eighth place in the East with the Hornets. That also put the Hawks with just 1.5 wins from the Nets and Hornets, making the battle for a place in the next playoffs even more intense. Although the Nets lost to the Hornets in a pivotal game, giving the Hornets an edge, Irving played in the final seven games instead of the remaining two away games, which would have a major impact on the Nets.
In March alone, we've seen Irving cut 60, 50 and 43 points, and his performance will help ease some of Durant's scoring pressure and upgrade the Nets' guard rotation in the backcourt. Looking ahead to the playoffs, if the Nets do win one of the last two playoff spots in the East, the Nets with full-time Irving will be a no match that any team in the East would be willing to touch. Keep in mind that the Nets were a favorite to win titles at the beginning of the season, and despite some bumps along the way, it was still a team with Durant and Irving, and that alone was enough to scare opponents.
Scramble for Seeds 3-6 in the West
The situation in the Western Conference playoffs is just as crazy as in the East, especially the 3-6 seeds. The Lone Rangers beat the Jazz on Sunday to give them a one-win lead in fourth place and put them within two wins of the third-place Warriors. Then there's the Nuggets, who are now just one win behind fifth-place Jazz, followed by the Timberwolves, who are just 1.5 wins behind sixth place.
Curry's foot injury will ultimately determine the Warriors' position in the West, and in his absence, the Warriors achieved a 1-3 record. He's expected to be out of the game for at least a week with injury, which is not a good time given the tough game against the Grizzlies, Suns and Jazz. The Jazz lost their fourth place in the West and are now facing a four-game losing streak, with a back-to-back game against the Suns and Grizzlies.
Perhaps the most intriguing of these teams is the Lone Ranger, who made them one of the hottest teams in the league since the All-Star Game with an 11-5 record. The Lone Ranger's recent success can be attributed to Doncic, who got out of the slump of the start of the season and returned to All-Star status. Dinwiddie's addition is also a good sign for the Mavericks, who constantly provide offensive firepower whenever he's on the court. It looks like the Lone Rangers will have the initiative in the remaining games, as they have one of the easiest schedules in the league and have a lead against the Warriors, Nuggets and Timberwolves. The Lone Ranger is in a vantage point and can climb to third place in the West or drop to fifth place.
The Lakers are in danger of missing out on the playoffs
After losing to the Pelicans on Sunday night, the Lakers fell to tenth place in the West. To make matters worse, the Eleventh-ranked Spurs are just one win away from the Lakers. No one could have expected the Lakers to be in this position at the beginning of the season, struggling for a playoff spot, but we see that now.
On the bright side, Davis' return could help the Lakers turn things around in the final stages. Davis has not played since Feb. 16 due to a right foot sprain, but ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported that the All-Star big man could make his comeback in the first week of April. For the Lakers, who have never really gained a foothold this season, it will be a silver lining in a cloudy sky.
If Davis is fully healthy, he could get the Lakers to about 23 points and 10 rebounds, which would be a huge offensive boost for a team that ranks 23rd in the league in offensive efficiency. There's also the fact that this team also has James, who, at this age, has once again created an unprecedented season. If healthy Davis and LeBron (unfortunately, the injury he's dealing with could be a hidden danger) play as before, the Lakers will still be a tough opponent in the playoffs... The premise is that they can do it.
Fierce MVP battle
This season seems to be one of the most competitive seasons for MVP for quite some time. There is no clear front-runner, because you can ask a few people and you can get different answers from Jokic or Embiid. Jokic may be the one at the top of the line as he takes the Nuggets to sixth place in the West without two best players. And at the same time, almost all the data this season is in the lead.
However, looking at Embiid's fight for MVP, he is following a similar path to Jokic. Embiid also carried the 76ers, who were missing second-best player Simmons, who were eventually traded before the deadline. Despite having a stronger partner like Harden now, Embiid remains Philadelphia's star of honor, and if they manage to win the Eastern Conference one, that would increase Embiid's stakes in winning the award.
Just as the 76ers climbing to the top of the Eastern Conference would benefit Embiid, will the Nuggets' fall in the playoffs be bad for Jokic? Both teams are still battling for playoff specific rankings, and the final few games could be a key factor in deciding who will spend the award.
Originally written by Jasmyn Wimbish
Compilation: Poetic