Boston's Wildcard Bid Hangs in Balance
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 30 Nov 2024
Boston Celtics defeated the Chicago Bulls 138-129 early today to force a double tie with Atlanta Hawks for the lead in Group C of the Eastern Conference's group play for the Emirates NBA Cup in-tournament competition.
But the Hawks which also earlier beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 117-101 clinched the group on the strength of their earlier win over the Celtics even as the two ended the single round group play at 3-1. Atlanta thus advanced to the KO round to determine the Eastern Conference top team for the Emirates NBA Cup Finals versus the Western Conference top team.
The Hawks beat Boston and lost to the Bulls but since Chicago did not figure in the tie, the loss did not matter in breaking the Celtics-Hawk tie for first which went in favor of Atlanta on the merit of the winner over the other rule.
However, Boston still has the chance to qualify as the wildcard fourth team with its plus 29 points differential. However it will depend on the results of the final games in Groups A and B on December 4 between Orlando Magic and New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons, all currently toting 3-0 records, losers of which should not have higher aggregate point differentials than Boston at the end of group play for the Celtics to advance.
After three games, the Magics have +60 points differentials, the Knicks +15, the Bucks +30 and the Pistons +29. This means the Celtics' chance of getting the wildcard fourth spot depends on who among these pairings lose and by how many points.
Meanwhile, the qualifiers in the West are almost clear as Houston has clinched Group A and joined Golden State in their half of the KO round. The winner of Group A is still being contested by Phoenix Suns, OKC Thunder and San Antonio Spurs which may also have bearing on which team will get the wildcard spot in the next round. The Dallas Mavericks currently lead in that respect with their + 41 pd after three games in Group C.
The final eight teams, four each from the East and West including the wildcard qualifiers will be known hopefully by next week.
Aside from cash prizes, the Finalists get to figure in the playoffs for the 7th and 8th places in this season's post season playoff for the NBA championship as main incentive particularly for teams not doing well in the current standings.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
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