With less than a remaining month in the regular season 2024-25 of the NBA, the image of the playoffs will soon begin to clarify as the teams reserve their postseason points.
The six best teams of each conference will ensure the playoff places, while the NOS team. 7-10 in the classification will enter the game tournament (April 15-18). Then two teams will emerge at each conference to complete the field of eight teams, with the first round of the playoffs as of April 19.
At the East Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers have a dominant advantage over defending champion Boston Celtics for the best seed. They are the only East teams to officially book Playoffs.
At the Western Conference, Oklahoma City Thunder has achieved first position for the second consecutive season. But it is still a tight race for seed number 2 with four teams: the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, the Grizzlies of Memphis, all within two games of each other.
Consult the more teams ensure the playoffs and places to play.
Who has secured in the east: Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks*, Milwaukee Bucks*, Indiana Pacers*, Detroit Pistons*
Who has secured in the West: Oklahoma City Thunder (1)
Who is eliminated in the east: Washington Wizards
Who is eliminated in the West: Utah Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans
* They have assured at least one place for the game tournament, but not the playoffs yet
Jump to: Static equipment | West teams
Eastern Conference
What they have assured: At least a playoff place; Central division won
The CAVS are the first team to ensure a place in the playoffs and are in the target to ensure seed number 1 at the ESE conference for the first time since their winning season in 2015-16.
The remarkable season of Cleveland has been highlighted by two winning gusts separated from at least 15 games, which has led them to the fifth best start in the NBA history.
The cavs arrived at the playoffs last season like seed number 4, needing seven games to eliminate magic in the first round. They were then expelled by the Celtics in the semifinals of the conference in five games.
What they have assured: At least a playoff place
The defending champions of the NBA finals are looking for their title 19, although they will probably end how seed number 2 in the east this season.
The Celtics ended as the best sown in the east last season on their way to defeat the Mavericks in the NBA finals. Boston has reached the playoffs during 11 consecutive seasons (the longest active streak in the league), and reached at least the finals of the conference in four of the last five campaigns.
What they have assured: At least a game place
The Knicks have advanced to the semifinals of a conference each of the previous two seasons, with the departure of last year at the hands of the Pacers in seven games. The Knicks have not reached the finals of the conference since 2000.
What they have assured: At least a game place
Bucks will seek to avoid another early departure from the playoffs, two consecutive first round losses, after guaranteeing a place in the postseason. The dynamic duo Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard will aim to stay healthy this time to make a deep career.
What they have assured: At least a game place
After arriving at the conference finals last season, the Pacers are back in the postseason. With one of the easiest hours that remain in the east, they will seek to hold on to a planting among the top six to guarantee a place in the playoffs.
What they have assured: At least a game place
After finishing 14-68 last season, the worst record in the history of the franchise, the Pistons now go to the postseason. The last time they played the game in 2019, but they were swept in four games by the Bucks in the first round.
West Conference
What they have assured: No. 1 seed of the west; He won the Northwest Division
OKC has achieved the western seed number 1 for the sixth time in the history of the franchise (which dates back to the Era of Seattle Supersonics) and the first instance in consecutive seasons. Even more impressive is Thunder’s record against East teams this season (24-1).
Last season, the Mavericks eliminated them in the semifinals of the West Conference, who finally reached the NBA finals.
