Eleventh Hour NBA Playoff Scenarios

If you're like me, you love the game of basketball but need some help sorting out the playoffs picture. With one night left, and many things yet to be settled, here's how things stand:

The West

Golden State Warriors: Currently sitting on the eighth seed, they've got the Blazers tonight. If they win, they lock up #8 and we get that vaunted Mavs/Warriors explosion. If that happens and the Lakers lose to the Kings, they move up to #7 and draw the Suns. Which would also be perfectly awesome.

Los Angeles Clippers: As of today, they're out. But if the Clippers can defeat the Hornets, and the Warriors fall to the Blazers, they slide in as #8 and face Dallas. Remember, the Hornets are kind of good. And proud.

Los Angeles Lakers: Your seventh seed in the West. Unless they lose to Sacramento, and Golden State wins, in which case they become #8. That's the difference between Phoenix and Dallas in round one. I think we all know which one's worth watching.

The East

Chicago Bulls: Tied with Cleveland for second in the conference. They've got the Nets tonight, the Cavs have the Bucks. In the event of a tie, the spot goes to Chicago. This matters because it would mean not dealing with the Pistons, Heat, or Cleveland until the Finals.

Cleveland Cavaliers: See Chicago.

New Jersey Nets: Right now, they're at #6--tied with the Wizards in record, but holders of the all-mighty tie-breaker. If they lose to Chicago, and what's left of the Wizards can overcome the sorry Pacers, they drop down to #7. That means Cleveland/Chicago, as opposed to Toronto.

Orlando Magic: The Magic are at #8 and play Miami tonight. If they take this, and the Wizards lose, and the Nets lose, Orlando moves up to #7. Which, sadly, does not make first round success any more likely for them.

Washington Wizards: As mentioned earlier, they're now at #7 and slated to play Chicago/Cleveland. That's right, the Gilbert-less Wizards are, ironically, set to revisit his two signature playoff moments. But if NJ falls, and they dispose of Indiana, they'll be sitting ugly at #6 and primed to get eaten up by bird-like dinosaurs.

Special, special thanks to Henry at True Hoop, who figured this all out and saved me from having as many headaches with this. Here are his slightly more detailed West and East rundowns.