NBA Perfect Ten (Week of April 10)

With less than a week to go in the season, let’s take a look at the standing in each conference and how things could shake out that might impact the playoff picture.

Perfect Ten (Week of April 10)

Eastern Conference Playoff Standings (April 10th)

1. Boston Celtics 62-17 (clinched homecourt throughout playoffs)

2. Milwaukee Bucks 48-31 (3 games- vs Magic, at Thunder, at Magic)

3. NY Knicks 47-32 (at Boston, vs. Nets, vs. Bulls)

4. Orlando 46-33 (vs Bucks, at 76ers, vs Bucks)

5. Cleveland 46-33 (vs. Grizzlies, vs. Pacers, vs. Hornets)

6. Indiana 46-34 (at Cavs, vs. Hawks)

7. Philadelphia 45-35 (vs. Magic, at Nets)

8. Miami 44-35 (vs. Mavs, vs. Raptors, vs. Raptors)

9. Chicago 37-42 (clinched play-in spot)

10. Atlanta 36-43 (clinched play-in spot)

The Celtics are locked into the first spot but every other spot is still very much up for grabs. The Bucks may have to finish the regular season without Giannis Antetonkounmpo (calf). With three tough games, the Bucks could easily drop as much as three spots if they lose out. The Knicks should win at least two if not all three games remaining given that Boston doesn’t need that game this week vs. the Knicks. The Pacers’ game in Cleveland vs the Cavs could be huge, flip-flopping those two teams should the Pacers win. The Heat have to have this win over the Mavs at home tonight or they’ll be back in the play-in round yet again.

Western Conference Playoff Standings (April 10th)

1. Minnesota Timberwolves 55-24 (at Denver, vs. Hawks, vs. Suns)

2. Denver Nuggets 55-24 (vs. Minnesota, at Spurs, at Grizzlies)

3. OKC Thunder 54-25 (vs. Spurs, vs. Bucks, vs. Mavs)

4. LA Clippers 52-28 (vs. Suns, vs. Jazz, vs. Rockets)

5. Dallas Mavericks 49-30 (at Heat, vs. Pistons, at OKC)

6. New Orleans Pelicans 47-32 (at Kings, at Warriors, vs. Lakers)

7. Phoenix Suns 46-33 (at Clippers, at Kings, at Timberwolves)

8. Sacramento Kings 45-34 (vs. Pels, vs. Suns, vs. Blazers)

9. LA Lakers 46-35 (at Grizzlies, at Pelicans)

10. Golden State Warriors 44-35 (at Blazers, vs. Pels, vs. Jazz)

The Western Conference is even more jumbled and up in the air than the Eastern Conference with all ten spots still to be sorted out. The Timberwolves and Nuggets play tonight. The Nuggets can all but clinch the first spot with a win with only games against the Spurs and Grizzlies to close the season. Even with a win tonight, the Wolves still have games with playoff teams Atlanta and Phoenix to close the season, both at home. The Thunder benefit the most from tonight’s clash in Denver. OKC is locked into a top-three spot but they still have a shot at #1, especially if Minnesota wins tonight. The Clippers have one tough game left, vs. the Suns at home tonight. A win tonight and the Clippers are all but assured of the 4th-seed. The Mavs can lock down the fifth spot with one win in their last three which seems assured with a game with the Pistons at home still to come. The Pelicans, Suns, and Kings all are fighting for that final non-play-in spot with the Warriors and Lakers having outside shots as well. The Suns and Pels have the toughest schedule remaining while the Kings might have the easiest.

Game of the Week, Season Record 11-10: The Suns brought us back over .500 with a victory over the T-Wolves on Friday night.

Milwaukee at OKC on Friday at 8:00 PM EST

With Antetonkounmpo likely out for Milwaukee, the Thunder should roll big on Friday night. The Thunder were crushed by the Bucks in Milwaukee last month and will only be happy to pay back the fading Bucks here while clinging to their hopes of earning the #1 seed in the Western Conference. Take OKC.

• In parenthesis, conference odds and finals odds. Player MVP props are also in parenthesis. All odds Courtesy of Draftkings.com.

By Mark Ruelle