How stretch schedule could affect OKC Thunder final seeding

Both conferences have a group of teams trying to get the bottom playoff berth.

East Chase Pack:

In the East the Nets, Magic and Wizards are the likeliest to land those berths. Although the Bulls and Hornets could technically go on a run it’s unlikely and therefore hasn’t been included in this analysis.

Nets:

Games remaining: 27
Home: 13
Road: 14
Teams over .500: 12 plus three games versus seeded Magic
Top 10 offenses: Nine
Top 10 defenses: 14
Back to back sets: Four
Games versus EC seeds 1-8: Nine

Magic:

Games remaining: 26
Home: 12
Road: 14
Teams over .500: 10 plus three games versus the seeded Nets
Top 10 offenses: Five
Top 10 defenses: 10
Back to back sets: Two
Games versus EC seeds 1-8: 10

Wizards:

Games remaining: 27
Home: 14
Road: 13
Teams over .500: 15 plus two games versus seeded Nets
Top 10 offenses: 10
Top 10 defenses: 14
Back to back sets: Five
Games versus EC seeds 1-8: 13

Of the three clubs, the Magic have by far the easiest route to landing one of the playoff berths and a great shot of moving up to seventh. The Nets have one of the hardest stretch schedules and won’t have Kyrie Irving back to help.

For as good as the Wizards can perform at times they have by far the hardest schedule of this trio. Five back to back sets, 24 games against top 10 offenses or defenses and 13 versus the seeds above them.

Tankathon ranks Washington fourth while the Nets and Magic are ranked 15th and 27th respectively.

West Chase Pack:

Memphis, Portland, and San Antonio are vying for the eighth seed and have been joined by the Pelicans.

Although technically the Suns and Kings are still in the mix I’m ruling them out since they would have to jump over four teams and both are 4.5 games behind Memphis.

Grizzlies:

Games remaining: 26
Home: 12
Road: 14
Teams over .500: 15 plus one game each against the Nets and Magic
Top 10 offenses: 12
Top 10 defenses: 12 – Grizzlies play every team ranked top 10 plus Raptors and Lakers twice
Back to back sets: Four
Games versus WC seeds 1-8: 10

Blazers:

Games remaining: 24
Home: 13
Road:11
Teams over .500: 11 plus one game each versus the Nets and Magic
Top 10 offenses: Seven
Top 10 defenses: Seven
Back to back sets: Three
Games versus WC seeds 1-8: Seven

Spurs:

Games remaining: 26
Home: 15
Road: 11
Teams over .500:12 plus one game each versus Magic and Nets
Top 10 offenses: Eight
Top 10 defenses: Six
Back to back sets: Five
Games versus WC seeds 1-8: Nine

Pelicans:

Games remaining: 25
Home: 13
Road: 12
Teams over .500: Nine plus one versus the Magic
Top 10 offenses: Six
Top 10 defenses: Five
Back to back sets: Three
Games versus WC seeds 1-8: Seven

At the start of week 18 the Pelicans were ranked with the easiest schedule. But with week 19 beginning the Spurs (25th), Blazers (26th) and Pelicans (28th) all rank in succession with easy strength of schedules. By far, the Grizzlies (4th) have the hardest itinerary.

Injuries to core players will also play a role as Damian Lillard (groin) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) will each miss significant time.

San Antonio has the most back to back sets remaining but have the most home games versus the Grizzlies who play on the road the most.

Just a week ago Memphis seemed to have a firm grasp on the eighth seed but that thinking has shifted. The most harrowing part of their schedule is the 24 games versus the top 10 offenses and defenses compared to the trio who’ll play between 11 and 14 of those opponents.