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With the 2020 All-Star Weekend officially in the books, the race for the postseason has picked up serious steam. The Milwaukee Bucks recently clinched a playoff berth and became the fastest team in league history to do so.
While many teams are on course to punch a ticket for the playoffs in the coming weeks, some are gearing up for a final push. The contest to secure the 8th seed is projected to get more intense in the Western Conference, considering that the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th spots are only separated by 5 games.
In such a crunch scenario, every matchup becomes that much more important and the schedule for these final few games starts to assume a major role. Let's take a look at the five squads who will have a relatively easier ride down the stretch.
#5 Portland Trail Blazers
After making it to the Western Conference Finals last year, the Portland Trail Blazers are scrambling to attain a playoff seeding this year around. With Zach Collins (shoulder), Jusuf Nurkic (leg fracture) and Rodney Hood (Achilles) missing considerable time this year, the Blazers have found it really hard to keep the offense rolling smoothly all year long.
Now that they have just 24 games left in the regular season, their remaining schedule strength stands at just 0.471, which should spark hope for the ailing Portland side. They are just 2.5 games behind the 8th seed Memphis Grizzlies, currently sitting at the 9th spot on the Western Conference leaderboard.
However, Damian Lillard - who is their leading scorer with 29.5 PPG - recently went down with a groin injury and is slated to miss at least 3-4 games. The Blazers will host the Celtics next, before leaving for a three-game road trip.
#4 Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic didn't really need luck on their side for this final stretch, seeing how the other sub 0.500 teams in the Eastern Conference have fared so far. But nevertheless, they have the fourth easiest remaining schedule (0.458), which could basically aid them in improving their playoff seeding to as high as the 7th spot realistically. Eight of their next ten clashes are against sub 0.500 teams.
Having lost four of their last ten games, the Magic hold an underwhelming 25-32 (0.439) win-loss record so far. With only 25 matchups remaining in their 2019-20 regular season, they stand 4.5 games clear of the 9th seed Washington Wizards and hope to make the playoffs comfortably.
#3 New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans are scheduled to face the Los Angeles Lakers twice in the coming week, and outside of those two crucial games, their late-season schedule is expected to be a breeze.
With Zion Williamson stacking up 20+ point games effortlessly, the Pelicans playoff push is legit. They have only 25 regular season matchups left on their plate, with a remaining schedule strength of just 0.457 to show.
Sitting at the 10th spot on the West leaderboard, just 3 games outside the playoff picture, NOLA has a genuine chance of squeezing through to the playoff window at the very last moment. With all their firepower in place, they have won seven of their last ten games, including two vital wins over Portland, who stand between them and the 8th seed Grizzlies.
#2 Philadelphia 76ers
With all that talent on paper, the Philadelphia 76ers have failed to make a big splash in the Eastern Conference this season. While many might argue that they should go all out to improve their playoff seeding in these last few games. But in reality, the Sixers are not playing like would-be NBA champs right now.
They are holding on to the 5th spot in the East, with an uncharacteristic 36-22 (0.621) win-loss record so far. And for what its worth, 13.5 games separate Embiid and Giannis' team on the East standings.
Moreover, the Sixers can only thank the Basketball gods for a super-easy remaining schedule (0.448 schedule strength) as the team expects to miss Ben Simmons for an extended period of time, due to his back issues.
#1 Atlanta Hawks
As is the norm, the Atlanta Hawks will miss yet another postseason. Despite being led by Trae Young's All-Star year, this team still hasn't found a way to register meaningful wins regularly.
They have the easiest remaining schedule (0.444) of all teams in the league, but it does them no good whatsoever. They are down at the 14th spot in the Eastern Conference, 9 games outside of the playoff picture. All they can do now is to collect consolation wins and disrupt other teams' momentum.
Their current 17-42 (0.288) record is a sheer reflection of how the franchise has failed miserably in surrounding an All-Star with the right pieces. It is high time that the front office grabs hold of its senses and realizes that what they have in Trae Young might not last for long.
