Race To the Playoffs (April 5th, 2009)

April 5th, 2009 by Andrew Wamboldt

Today saw three games with a major impact on the Bulls’ playoff race. First, the Bulls beat the New Jersey Nets 103-94 to help out their own cause. Then the Detroit Pistons lost to the Philadelphia 76ers 95 to 90, moving the Bulls into the 7th spot, and bolstering the 76ers hold on the 5th spot. Then in the evening, the Miami Heat defeated the Washington Wizards 118-104, strengthening their hold on the 6th spot, and keeping pace with Philadelphia.

The Bulls chances of securing either the 5th or 6th seed in the Eastern Conference seem very slim now.

Here is how the Bulls playoff race is currently stacking up:

5. Philadelphia 76ers

Record: 40-35
Record Ceiling: 47-35
Record Floor: 40-42
Max Seed: 5th
Minimum Seed: 9th
Tie Breakers: Chicago
Undecided Tie Breakers: Detroit (winner of matchup), Charlotte

Remaining Schedule

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

6. Miami Heat (Clinched Playoff Spot)

Games Back: 0.0 games behind Philadelphia
Record: 41-36
Record Ceiling: 46-36
Record Floor: 41-41
Max Seed: 5th
Lowest Seed: 8th
Tie Breakers: Philadelphia, Chicago, Charlotte
Undecided Tie Breakers Detroit (winner of matchup)

Remaining Schedule:

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

7. Chicago Bulls

Games Back: 4.0 games behind Philadelphia and Miami.
Record: 76-40
Record Ceiling 42-40
Record Floor: 37-45
Max Seed: 5th
Lowest Seed: 9th
Tie Breakers: None
Undecided Tie Breakers: Detroit (winner of matchup)

Remaining Schedule:

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

8. Detroit Pistons

Games Back: 4.5 games behind Philadelphia and Miami, 0.5 games behind Chicago.
Record: 36-40
Record Ceiling: 42-40
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:

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

9. Charlotte Bobcats

Games Back: 6.5 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, Miami

Remaining Games:

@ 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.