Brace yourselves, basketball fans. The 2021 NBA playoffs are practically here.

There is an included level of intrigue this year with the league carrying out a new version of the play-in competition, which we first saw inside the Florida “bubble” amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of the standard eight-team fields in each conference, an overall of 20 teams will participate in the postseason.

With several contenders fighting for playoff positioning, the final stretch of the regular season ought to provide lots of entertainment.

Here’s an overview of the present NBA playoff picture, consisting of the full standings for each conference.

NBA standings 2021: Eastern Conference

Seed	Team	Record	Games back
1.	76ers*	47-23	—
2.	Nets*	46-24	1
3.	Bucks*	45-25	2
4.	Hawks*	40-31	7.5
5.	Heat*	39-31	8
6.	Knicks*	39-31	8
7.	Celtics**	35-35	12
8.	Hornets**	33-37	14
9.	Pacers**	33-37	14
10.	Wizards	32-38	15
—	Bulls	30-40	17
—	Raptors	27-43	20
—	Cavaliers	22-48	25
—	Magic	21-49	26
—	Pistons	20-50	27

*clinched playoff berth
**clinched play-in berth
Eliminated from playoff contention: Cavaliers, Magic, Pistons, Raptors

NBA standings 2021: Western Conference

Seed	Team	Record	Games back
1.	Jazz*	50-20	—
2.	Suns*	49-21	1
3.	Clippers*	47-23	3
4.	Nuggets*	46-24	4
5.	Mavericks	41-29	9
6.	Trail Blazers	41-30	9.5
7.	Lakers	40-30	10
8.	Warriors**	37-33	13
9.	Grizzlies**	37-33	13
10.	Spurs**	33-37	17
—	Pelicans	31-39	19
—	Kings	31-39	19
—	Timberwolves	22-48	28
—	Thunder	21-49	29
—	Rockets	16-54	34

*clinched playoff berth
**clinched play-in berth
Eliminated from playoff contention: Kings, Pelicans, Rockets, Thunder, Timberwolves

How does the NBA play-in tournament work?

• The play-in tournament will be held after the conclusion of the 2020-21 routine season and before the start of the preliminary of the 2021 NBA playoffs. The teams that end up Nos. 1-6 in the standings of each conference will be ensured playoff spots and teams Nos. 7-10 will go into the play-in competition.
• The No. 7 team will face the No. 8 teams, and the winner will make the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The loser will still have another opportunity to reach the playoffs.
• The No. 9 team will deal with the No. 10 groups, and the winner will advance to play against the loser of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 video games. The loser of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 competitions will be eliminated from playoff contention.
• The loser from the No. 7 vs. No. 8 games and the winner from the No. 9 vs. No. 10 games will then play against each other. The winner of that video game will be the No. 8 seed in the playoffs, and the loser will be removed from playoff contention.

NBA playoff picture: Seeding breakdowns

Eastern Conference

1. 76ers

Staying video games: 2

Remaining Strength of schedule:.300.

Playoff possibility: In.

2. Nets.

Remaining games: 2.

Staying Strength of schedule:.371.

Playoff possibility: In.

3. Bucks.

Staying games: 2.

Remaining strength of schedule:.493.

Playoff likelihood: In.

4. Hawks.

Staying games: 1.

Staying strength of schedule:.229.

Playoff possibility: In.

5. Heat.

Remaining video games: 2.

Staying strength of schedule:.464.

Playoff probability: In.

6. Knicks.

Staying games: 2.

Remaining strength of schedule:.486.

Playoff likelihood: In.

7. Celtics.

Remaining video games: 2.

Remaining strength of schedule:.436.

Playoff probability: 93 percent.

8. Hornets.

Remaining games: 2.

Staying strength of schedule:.507.

Playoff possibility: 39 percent.

9. Pacers.

Remaining video games: 2.

Remaining strength of schedule:.479.

Playoff likelihood: 30 percent.

10. Wizards.

Remaining video games: 2.

Remaining strength of schedule:.393.

Playoff likelihood: 38 percent.

Western Conference.

1. Jazz.

Remaining games: 2.

Staying strength of schedule:.371.

Playoff probability: In.

2. Suns.

Remaining video games: 2.

Staying strength of schedule:.471.

Playoff probability: In.

3. Clippers.

Staying video games: 2.

Remaining strength of schedule:.264.

Playoff possibility: In.

4. Nuggets.

Staying video games: 2.

Remaining strength of schedule:.433.

Playoff probability: In.

5. Mavericks.

Staying games: 2.

Remaining strength of schedule:.350.

Playoff likelihood: 99 percent.

6. Trail Blazers.

Remaining games: 1.

Staying strength of schedule:.657.

Playoff likelihood: 99 percent.

7. Lakers.

Remaining games: 2.

Remaining strength of schedule:.457.

Playoff probability: 97 percent.

8. Warriors.

Staying games: 2.

Staying strength of schedule:.486.

Playoff probability: 61 percent.

9. Grizzlies.

Remaining games: 2.

Remaining strength of schedule:.486.

Playoff probability: 36 percent.

10. Spurs.

Remaining video games: 2.

Remaining strength of schedule:.700.

Playoff probability: 9 percent.

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