The NBA season is reaching its conclusion, with the regular season set to be completed by the 16th of May.
This season, the games were reduced to 72, and the play-in tournament was included for the teams ranked from seventh to tenth in each of the conference standings.
The teams ranked from first to sixth in the conferences will automatically qualify for the post season playoffs scheduled to commence on the 22nd of May after the conclusion of the play-in tournament between May 18th and the 21st of May.
In the Eastern Conference, the Brooklyn Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers have booked their places in the playoffs, with the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knick, Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics completing the playoff places if the season ends today.
The Brooklyn Nets are presently the top ranked side in the conference with the input of their “big three”, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden.
They have qualified for the playoffs for a third consecutive season, and look like they can go all the way this season. With only 10 games left to play in the regular season, all three of the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks look like they can finish as the number 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Brooklyn Nets are ahead of second-placed Philadelphia 76ers by only 1 game. The play in positions are currently filled by the Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers and the Washington Wizards. Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics are currently tied, with the Charlotte Hornets 2 and a half games outside the playoff places, the Indiana Pacers by 3 games and the Washington Wizards by 4 and a half games.
In the Western Conference, Utah Jazz and the Phoenix Suns have booked their playoff spots, with the Suns qualifying for the first time in 11 years thanks in part to the efforts of Chris Paul and Devin Booker, both of whom have been brilliant this season for the Suns.
The automatic playoff places are completed by the Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks if the season ends now.
At the moment, the Western Conference top seed position is open, as all four of the Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets, with the Los Angeles Lakers also dark horses whenever talisman, LeBron James returns from his injury layoff.
The Lakers strolled to top seed last season on their way to victory in the NBA, but have faltered in the extended absence of James this season. Utah Jazz lead second placed Phoenix Suns by just one game.
The play in positions are filled by the Portland Trail Blazers, Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs and the Golden State Warriors.
The Trail Blazers are outside the playoff places by half a game, the Memphis Grizzlies are outside by three games, the San Antonio Spurs are outside by 3 games as well, and the Golden State Warriors are outside of the playoff places by 3 and a half games.
The seventh and eighth teams will face each other in the play in tournament, as will the ninth and tenth teams. The winners of the game between the ninth and tenth teams will face the losses of the game between the eighth and seventh for a chance to be seeded eighth in the playoff tournament, and the winners of the game between seventh and eighth will be seeded seventh in the playoff tournament.
Tonight, 10 top teams return to action as they continue to push for a playoff spot, the Golden State Warriors go to their last road trip of the season New Orleans.
This game and four other would give fans who love betting on Basketball to put their money where their mouths are.
