March 29 East playoff picture with Sixers on a three-game losing skid
While the Philadelphia 76ers were idle on Tuesday night as they returned home from a four-game road trip and a grueling stretch where they played seven of eight games on the road, the playoff picture in the East saw some more movement.
Until the conclusion of the regular season on April 9, we are going to regularly update the Eastern Conference standings and where the Sixers are at on an everyday basis while also taking a look at who they could possibly face in the Eastern Conference.
Tuesday's prominent games (March 28)
With the Sixers off, they did gain half a game on the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics. The Cs fell to the Washington Wizards 130-111 on the road which keeps Philadelphia alive for the No. 2 seed even if those hopes are fading.
The No. 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers, who are nipping at the heels of the Sixers for third in the East, did get tripped up by the Atlanta Hawks 120-118. The Cavs are still two games back of the Sixers for No. 3 in the Eastern Conference.
Possible playoff opponents moving around
The Miami Heat fell to the Toronto Raptors 106-92 on Tuesday which dropped them to half a game back of the Brooklyn Nets for No. 6 in the East. If the season ended at this moment, the Sixers would face the Nets in Round 1 of the playoffs.
At this stage, the Sixers will likely defeat whoever they face in Round 1 rather easily. The Heat would offer a tough matchup just because of the Jimmy Butler factor, but Miami’s shooters have regressed and they wouldn’t be able to keep up with the Sixers in a seven-game series. The Nets are scrappy, but don’t have the size, and the No. 5 seed New York Knicks are a possible opponent, but the Sixers would dispose of them quickly as well.
Wednesday's most prominent games (March 29)
The Sixers return home on Wednesday to take on the Dallas Mavericks looking to end a three-game losing skid. Granted, they have been severely short-handed, but three losses in a row is not good at this stage of the season. The hope is that Joel Embiid and James Harden will rejoin the team on Wednesday against the Mavs.
Along with Philadelphia’s contest with Dallas, fans should keep on eye on Nets vs. Rockets and Heat vs. Knicks. If Brooklyn defeats Houston, then they will remain at No. 6. If they get tripped up by the Rockets and the Heat get a win over the Knicks, then they’ll drop to No. 7 with the Heat moving up to 6. That would make the playoff matchup Sixers vs. Heat in Round 1.
Also, the No. 1 seed Milwaukee Bucks face the Indiana Pacers. However, Philadelphia is currently five games back of the Bucks with seven to play making the No. 1 seed very unlikely at the moment.
Important matchups:
Nets vs. Rockets (7:30 p.m. EDT)
Heat at Knicks (7:30 p.m. EDT)
March 29 East playoff standings
X-Milwaukee Bucks 54-21 -GB
X-Boston Celtics 52-24 2.5 GB
X-Philadelphia 76ers 49-26 5 GB
X-Cleveland Cavaliers 48-29 7 GB
New York Knicks 43-33 11.5 GB
Brooklyn Nets 40-35 14 GB
Miami Heat 40-36 14.5 GB
Atlanta Hawks 38-38 16.5 GB
Toronto Raptors 38-38 16.5 GB
Chicago Bulls 36-39 18 GB
X- denotes clinched playoff berth
