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It's the final countdown on the hardwood. Time is ticking for playoff cases to be made and playoff seeds to sprout. The noise is still at a solid high as both conferences await the standings to reach their final form. We have marquee matchups in each facet of the playoff picture, and even a marquee matchup brewin' in the basement. Main focus being on the battle atop the West for the top-3 seeds; the final structure under 1-seed Boston in the East; and the West Play-In as we witness a dark-horse continue to place a leg in the race. The final fifteen games is sure set to bring the noise.
I'll talk those three playoff implications spoken above and will also shine some light in the basement. Before I get started, take a quick peep at the current playoff picture in case March Madness is controlling your attention span:
Bucks are back to playing with confidence in the woods as they take back possession of the 2-seed in the East. Milwaukee has won nine of their last twelve games to spark a positive wave; doing so in the nick of time. The schedule for the Bucks ends on a difficult note, but a note they are happy to take on. Playing the best playoff spotters before the post-season is a major tool of practice for a team to utilize. With the consistent losing seemingly left in February- this is a perfect opportunity for the Bucks. One they need to take seriously, as seeds 2-6 in the East can swap with ease as the teams are packed in close on the track.
Boston might be in the pole position, and quite some distance ahead, but the middle of the pact is touchin' bumpers and scratchin' skirts. Bucks are just 1.5 games ahead of the 3-seed Cavaliers, and 6 games ahead of the 6-seed Pacers. If the Bucks want that 2-seed locked and confirmed come the sprout, then they must play defense on the track to keep the Cavs, Knicks, and Magic in the rearview mirror. Won't be easy. They won a big game against the Suns over the weekend, but still have the Celtics, Thunder, Lakers, and Pelicans coming up in their next five games. After those next five, they have a easy 4-game slate before ending the season against NYK, BOS, ORL, OKC, and ORL (in that order).
The two games against the Magic and final bout against the Knicks, could have big time implications in regards to the seeding. Despite the difficult schedj, Bucks couldn't ask for anything else. Bucks have a chance to lock the 2-seed while playing the best teams prior to do-or-die season beginning. A coach wants that opportunity for a championship aspiring team, all-day-everyday; especially a guy like Doc Rivers who thrives off blowing a season in the playoffs. If we think the confidence is back runnin' strong in the woods now; winning against those teams before the playoffs will give them major confidence in the woods. To a level so high, teams will fear entering their woods to hunt. Hoop fans want that to happen- we don't wish to see the Celtics just run through the East. Raise the comp meter, please.
There is bad, there is Pistons bad, and there is Wizards bad. We now get to experience the Wizards and Pistons duke things out for the honor of being the worst. Wizards have somehow sunk lower than the Pistons with only 11 wins to Detroit's 12 wins. Wizards have been awful in 2024 going 5-30 overall, have faced a franchise worst losing skid, and now are on pace for a top-10 worst NBA regular season ever and the worst in their franchise's 63-year existence (.225 W/L percentage in '61). Battle in the basement is set for the history books.
Both franchises have a major dark cloud looming over. Pistons have just the 12-wins while paying a coach the second-highest salary, and the Wizards have just the 11-wins while sitting -$52M below the cap (26th), payin' 4 of their 5 starters north of $80M (base salary) to be awful. The "prized addition" of Jordan Poole has turned into the benching of Jordan Poole. It's been utter disaster for both squads this season. It could be the first time since 2009-10 that we see two teams end the season with 15 or less wins (Nets & Timberwolves). As I look at their remaining schedules- it can definitely happen.
Pistons play just five of their remaining fifteen against teams not spotted in the playoff picture; same with the Wizards. Doesn't look good. There is a strong chance that neither team can eclipse that 15. Leaving my focus to which team will finish with the least amount of wins. I predict the Pistons due to their schedj coming up. Detroit is about to get punched in the face in their next six games; giving me the feeling the Wiz might get one or two over them. The two playing against each other on the 29th is important to note... we know at least one of these two will win a game before the season ends!
Enough time in the basement; three paragraphs was enough. Back to playoff talk. After having a gander, it seems as if the play-in seeds are locked for the most part. For both conferences. As that may seem true, there is a dark-horse in the West race that just refuses to die. Refuses to give in. All of a sudden the Rockets are coming in hot to try and catch the Lakers/Warriors for the final play-in spot. They have a leg in the race. Can they stay true?
Houston sits just 3.5 games back of the Lakers and Warriors for one of the final two play-in spots. Rockets currently ride a 5-game winning streak, the third time this season winnin' five in a row, and can match their season high streak of 6-games with a win next against the basement Wizards. March has been incredible for the Rockets, who were just 10-20 in 2024 going into the month. Houston flipped their switch after going 3-9 in February to now go 7-1 in March with seven games remaining in the month. The upcoming slate is one that the Rockets can exploit... I just question the legitimacy of them catching the pact with the loss of Alperen Sengun, who is expected to miss the rest of the regular season with a Grade-3 right ankle sprain.
Losing Sengun could be catastrophic. I know the team has won three straight since his injury, including the big weekend win over the Cavs, but man the injury hurts. Houston has to roll out a much smaller lineup, and look for Jock Landale to handle things off the bench/in place for Sengun. Fortunately, the remaining March schedule is one that is ah-so kind to the Rockets. The only games against playoff spotters are against the Thunder (27th) and Mavericks (31st). If the Rockets can go 12-3 or better to end the month, then watch out and circle the April 4th matchup with the Warriors. In order for them to do that; they must rely on consistent scoring from Jalen Green.
Green has stepped up on the winning streak and is on pace to having the best month of scoring in his career (min. 10 games). Green is averaging 24.8 points per eight games, has two 30-burgers, and is averaging just 1.8 turnovers per across the stretch. In the two games he scored less than 20 points, the Rockets were dealt their only L on the month and only beat the Spurs by two points. Rockets' season will rest on his shoulders. The play of the Warriors and Lakers will obviously play the biggest part. Both teams have lost four of their last seven, while the Rockets have won six of their last seven. Keep an eye on this three-way race as we reach the stripped line. A spot in the play-in will come down to who wants the spot the most. Giddy up.
The last two sentences also apply to the heavyweight clash atop the West standings. In the purest form. The top three seeds in the West float in the air with the heavyweight clash remaining a close affair between the Northwest powers as they fight for the top seeds. Who wants the one seed more. Nuggets? Thunder? Timberwolves? We have no idea with 15-games left to go. No idea! Thunder currently sit in the throne alone, with the Nuggets .5 games back and the T-Wolves a full game back of their lead. The lead means no rest for the wicked.
Those two are just ridin' the Thunder's slipstream waitin' to conduct a pass. There can't be any slip-ups. OKC can't let off the gas. Eyes ahead. They have a sharp thorn of comp' waitin' to push them off their line and out of the lead. Eleven of the last fourteen games for the leading Thunder are against playoff spotters (10 plus Rockets). They are 6-3 since February against teams currently seeded in the playoff picture. It's going to be tough for them to maintain the lead. Buckle up.
Activating a slipstream will be difficult for the Nuggets and T-Wolves, however. Barring the Thunder collapsing, of course. Both teams have strong comp' remaining on their schedj as well; starting Tuesday when the two are set for their first of three final wars to end the regular season. Both have games against the Suns, Hawks, and Cavaliers coming up. This race is going to be close, hot, and ultra-electric to the very finish. All three meetings between Denver and Minnesota is considered must-watch TV. Hopefully the action on the hardwood matches the energy of importance in the standings. The two are separated by just one standing point, while being one or less behind of the leading Thunder. Three monster games. OKC takes on the Suns the night of the second DEN/MIN matchup (29th). A lot can change with just one game result. The most electric time of the regular season. I am excited to watch the final rounds of this heavyweight clash.
It's the final countdown. Stakes are high with seeds available and playoff implications activated. The teams comfortable in the standings can use the final stretch to create the best possible wave of confidence going into the playoffs while the playoff hunters have just a little time remaining to secure their spot in the playoffs. Time for the intensity meter to break past it's maximum threshold. Time for the noise on the hardwood to reach a head. It's the time of the year when Hoops take the center stage. March Madness in all realms. Basketball fans rejoice.
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