2025 Playoff Seeds - Play-in Edition

[Douglar]

As of today, March 17th, with 4 weeks left in the season, and the Cavs are a neat lock for the number 1 seed.

Here's the playoff seeding odds from basketball reference--



Looks like the 4 play-in teams getting clearer.

Here's the play in tournament rules: https://www.nba.com/news/nba-play-in-tournament



Cavs will face the winner of the 3rd play-in game which will take place on April 18th. That game will feature the loser of 7v8 and the winner of 9v10.

Which team will the Cavs face?

 

[CBBI]

Atlanta and Orlando still play each other twice in April, so that’s probably going to determine the 7 seed in the play in and ultimately the winner of that game gets the 7 seed.

So I’ll guess Atlanta gets the 8 seed.

 

[Douglar]

Atlanta and Orlando still play each other twice in April, so that’s probably going to determine the 7 seed in the play in and ultimately the winner of that game gets the 7 seed.

So I’ll guess Atlanta gets the 8 seed.

Miami has enough talent left that a one game series against Spoelstra is going to be touch-n-go for any team structural defects. And every team has some sort of defect if you look hard enough.

 

[CBBI]

Miami has enough talent left that a one game series against Spoelstra is going to be touch-n-go for any team structural defects. And every team has some sort of defect if you look hard enough.

Miami has motivation to not win the play in. They keep their pick if they finish in the lottery and lose it otherwise.

Right now they're slotted 11th and could lose their way down to 8th if they really go hard into the tank.

Even if they're not expecting to get a great player with that pick, it's still a trade asset.

 

[guitarguy]

Personally if the Cavs don't go 4-0 in first series regardless of the matchup. It's a failure imo. They need to grow up.

 

[-Akronite-]

Personally if the Cavs don't go 4-0 in first series regardless of the matchup. It's a failure imo. They need to grow up.

Seems a bit harsh but when a team performs at this level in the regular season, you want to see it translate in the playoffs. That means dominating your early matchups. Still have the ability to hold home court through the Finals, and OKC is the only team that can challenge that (we'll see if they live up their expectations as well on their end of the bracket).

Orlando is the team I'd least like to face in Round 1, as they've underperformed and can grind things down defensively. Would prefer their physicality rough up Boston (even though they would lose a short series).

The Hawks were a matchup problem before, but without Johnson and Hunter coming to us I am not at all worried about them. Not sure if I'd enjoy playing against Caris and Georges.

Bucks v Pacers for Round 2 is a tougher call. Pacers have a more balanced roster and Carlisle is a more dangerous coach, but the Bucks have the best player between all 3 teams. Barring significant injuries, there should only be one real roadblock between us and the Finals, and that's the Celtics. I wish them nothing but the worst in the meantime.

 

[Douglar]

The Hawks were a matchup problem before, but without Johnson and Hunter coming to us I am not at all worried about them. Not sure if I'd enjoy playing against Caris and Georges.

Such a time savings though! You get to watch the Cavs and you get to watch Caris and Georges all in one game.

 

[Cement]

Bucks v Pacers for Round 2 is a tougher call. Pacers have a more balanced roster and Carlisle is a more dangerous coach, but the Bucks have the best player between all 3 teams. Barring significant injuries, there should only be one real roadblock between us and the Finals, and that's the Celtics. I wish them nothing but the worst in the meantime.

The Bucks are not very good and I hope we get them in the conference semis.

 

[Jscc]

The Bucks are not very good and I hope we get them in the conference semis.

I don't even care. Them and Orlando are going to beat the $#!+ out of any team that plays them. Would prefer to avoid.

 

[PIP]

Rather play Orlando than Atlanta... Want no parts of Atlanta...

I can just picture Georges on the floor after game 7...

 

[Jscc]

Heat [best coach in the East] -> Bucks [best player in the East] -> Celtics [defending champs] would be a brutal gauntlet.

I guess if we want to be the best, we have to beat the best? That run checks all the boxes.

 

[CBBI]

Heat [best coach in the East] -> Bucks [best player in the East] -> Celtics [defending champs] would be a brutal gauntlet.

I guess if we want to be the best, we have to beat the best? That run checks all the boxes.

The Heat are really bad and tanking. They will no be getting out of the play in.

 

[Jscc]

The Heat are really bad and tanking. They will no be getting out of the play in.

I hope so. I think we can out-talent anyone in the first round, but an experienced coach like Spoelstra would make it more interesting than we would like.

 

[Cement]

Pistons and Pacers (miraculously) win tonight so creeping up on the Bucks, who start their own 5 game West coast road trip tomorrow at GS.

4 Milwaukee 38-29
5 Indiana 38-29
6 Detroit 38-31

Indiana has a very favorable schedule down the stretch.

 

[eChameleon]

Here's hoping it's the Hawks so we can smoke them again like we did the last time we won a title.