ON TODAY'S SCORECARD
Bracket Busting NBA Style

The NBA playoff picture will come into clearer view each day between now and the end of the regular season on April 12. Let’s take a look at where we are now... 

EASTERN CONFERENCE RACE

In the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers, in some order, appear bound for the top four playoff seeds and home-court advantage in the opening round. The Pistons, who hold a four-game lead on the Celtics, are almost certain to capture the East’s No. 1 seed, barring a complete meltdown in the absence of injured Cade Cunningham (collapsed lung).

Who, exactly, those four teams will play in the opening round is entirely up for grabs, as just two wins separate the fifth seed from the 10th seed. The Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat are all jockeying for position down the stretch of a season that has surpassed 70 games.

Technically, the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls are still alive for postseason contention, though they are locked in a different kind of race — one for lottery odds.

WESTERN CONFERENCE RACE

Oklahoma City and San Antonio are bound for the top two seeds, with OKC holding a two-game lead for the league’s No. 1 overall seed.

The Los Angeles Lakers, with their recent nine-game winning streak, moved in as heavy favorites to capture the conference’s No. 3 seed. Beyond them is anyone’s guess.

Denver, Minnesota, and Houston, are all but guaranteed the West’s final three guaranteed playoff spots, with just one loss separating them. Only one of those three teams will earn home-court advantage in the first round.

The four teams for the conference’s play-in tournament field is almost set with the Memphis Grizzlies’ elimination on Wednesday. The Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors appear headed for the Nos. 7-10 seeds.

CURRENT PLAY-IN BRACKET

Eastern Conference

(7) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (8) Miami Heat
(9) Charlotte Hornets vs. (10) Orlando Magic

Western Conference

(7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) LA Clippers
(9) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors

CURRENT PLAYOFF BRACKET

Eastern Conference

(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) play-in winner
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) play-In winner
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Toronto Raptors
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks

Western Conference

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) play-In winner
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) play-In winner
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Houston Rockets
(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Minnesota Timberwolves

Miami @ CLEVELAND ‘Over’

Miami: 10-2 ATS on Fridays, 5-1 OU away with 1-day rest vs. foe with 1-day rest situations rest sit / Cleveland: 5-0 Over on Fridays, 5-0 Over before the Jazz

From Victor King’s Day To Day Trends in this week’s Playbook Hoops Newsletter

The Will Wade era for NC State ended this yesterdday in dramatic fashion.

Despite denying rumors about him returning to Baton Rouge, Wade agreed to a deal to become LSU’s head coach. He’s leaving NC State behind after just one season where he led the program to a 20-14 record, which included a spot in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament.

Wade called the LSU job “deeply personal” and “a chance to go home.”

“This was not an easy decision, because of how much respect and appreciation I have for this program and this university,” Wade said in a statement. “But the opportunity to return to Louisiana State University is deeply personal. It’s a chance to go home — to a place that means a great deal to me and my family.”

During this press conference, NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan addressed Wade’s departure. He told reporters that he was surprised by Wade’s decision to return to LSU.

“There was no reason for me in my job not to believe the words that I was hearing coming back to me from coach Wade,” Corrigan said. “And I believe everyone here saw it, wrote about it. Whatever it is that I want to be at, NC State, that’s where I want to be. I look forward to growing it. I was as surprised and shocked as anyone else as this occurred based on the previous conversations that we had.”

Corrigan then had a mic-drop moment when discussing the future of NC State’s basketball program.

“I think Philip Rivers said it … the Wolfpack ain’t for soft people,”

Ouch. I’d say he was pissed.