The Celtics gained’t be within the Play-In Event. With a 61-16 document, they’ve clinched the general #1 seed with residence courtroom benefit assured for a possible Finals run and quest to lift Banner 18.
However that’s burying the lede. With Boston prioritizing relaxation, restoration, and well being with the additional benefit of a home-heavy schedule subsequent week, all eyes will likely be on their doable first spherical opponent coming down the stretch of the 2023-2024 common season.
With a handful of video games remaining, right here’s how the standings stand with their remaining schedule and the related tiebreakers courtesy of CBS Sports activities:
#6 44-34 Indiana Pacers: Warmth, at Raptors, at Cavaliers, Hawkstiebreaker with Warmth: tied 1-1 heading into tonight’s gametiebreaker with 76ers: Pacers
#7 43-34 Miami Warmth: at Pacers, at Hawks, Mavericks, Raptors, Raptorstiebreaker with Pacers: tied 1-1 heading into tonight’s gametiebreaker with 76ers: Warmth (present convention document)
#8 43-35 Philadelphia 76ers: at Spurs, Pistons, Magic, Netstiebreaker with Pacers: Pacerstiebreaker with Warmth: Warmth (present convention document)
That’s proper. The Celtics may very well be dealing with the Warmth or 76ers in Spherical 1. For Celtics followers, it’s a look ahead to the inevitable. After a historic season, they gained’t get a plucky, younger eighth seed to begin their postseason loaded with championship expectations. As a substitute, they’ll face a battle-tested rival that they’ve confronted loads of occasions within the Jayson Tatum-Jaylen Brown period.
However earlier than Boston’s workers can begin scouting and planning, Miami and Philadelphia have every week’s value of video games till a doable matchup on April sixteenth within the 7 vs. 8 opener of the Play-In Event. If Indiana can maintain courtroom, it’s only a matter of whether or not that tet-a-tet Jimmy Butler vs. Joel Embiid sport will likely be performed down in South Seaside or the Metropolis of Brotherly Love. As of as we speak, the winner will face the Bucks and the loser faces the survivor of Hawks-Bulls with a possibility to be the primary spherical opponent of the Celtics within the opening spherical.
The jockeying of playoff place begins later this afternoon when the Pacers host the Warmth in Indianapolis at 5 pm. A win for the Pacers wouldn’t solely clinch the tiebreaker, however give Indiana just about a two-game result in Indiana with simply three video games remaining on their schedule.
For Philly, they appear fated for that eighth seed. Three out of their 4 remaining video games are in opposition to sub-.500 groups that aren’t enjoying for something, however they’ll want loads of assist from Miami and Indiana in the event that they wish to end top-6 within the East.
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