Race To the Playoffs (April 4th, 2009)

April 4th, 2009 by Andrew Wamboldt

Last night, there was only one game with implications in the Bulls playoff race, and it was an important one. The Miami heat defeated the Charlotte Bobcats. This Bobcats’ loss really helps the Bulls out.
Here is how the Bulls playoff race is currently stacking up:

5. Philadelphia 76ers

Record: 39-35
Record Ceiling: 47-35
Record Floor: 39-43
Max Seed: 5th
Minimum Seed: 9th
Tie Breakers: Chicago
Undecided Tie Breakers: Detroit (winner of matchup), Charlotte (Leans Charlotte)

Remaining Schedule

vs. Detroit
@ New Jersey
@ Charlotte
@ Chicago
vs. Cleveland
@ Toronto
vs. Boston
@ Cleveland

6. Miami Heat

Games Back: 0.0 games behind Philadelphia
Record: 40-36
Record Ceiling: 46-36
Record Floor: 40-42
Max Seed: 5th
Lowest Seed: 8th
Tie Breakers: Philadelphia, Chicago, Charlotte
Undecided Tie Breakers Detroit (winner of matchup)

Remaining Schedule:

@ Washington
vs. New Orleans
@ Boston
vs. New York
@ Atlanta
vs. Detroit

7. Detroit Pistons

Games Back: 3.5 games behind Philadelphia and Miami
Record: 36-39
Record Ceiling: 43-39
Record Floor: 36-46
Max Seed: 5th
Lowest Seed: 9th
Tie Breakers: Charlotte
Undecided Tie Breakers: Philadelphia, Detroit (winner of matchup), Chicago (winner of matchup),

Remaining Schedule:

@ Philadelphia
vs. Charlotte
@ New York
vs. New Jersey
@ Indiana
vs. Chicago
@ Miami

8. Chicago Bulls

Games Back: 4.0 games behind Philadelphia and Miami, 0.5 games behind Detroit.
Record: 36-40
Record Ceiling 42-40
Record Floor: 36-46
Max Seed: 5th
Lowest Seed: 9th
Tie Breakers: None
Undecided Tie Breakers: Detroit (winner of matchup)

Remaining Schedule:

vs. New Jersey
vs. New York
vs. Philadelphia
vs. Charlotte
@ Detroit
vs. Toronto

9. Charlotte Bobcats

Games Back: 5.5 games behind Philadelphia and Miami, 2.0 games behind Detroit, 1.5 games behind Chicago
Record: 34-42
Record Ceiling: 40-42
Record Floor: 34-48
Max Seed: 6th
Lowest Seed: 9th
Tie Breakers: Chicago
Undecided Tie Breakers: Philadelphia (leans Charlotte), Miami (heavily leans Miami)

Remaining Games:

vs. Miami
@ Detroit
vs. Philadelphia
@ Oklahoma City
@ Chicago
@ New Jersey
@ Orlando

*Note on lowest seeds - some teams could potentially be lower than the 9th spot depending how they finish and how Indiana and Milwaukee finish, but for the purpose of the playoff race, we only put through the 9th spot.