The tiebreaker situation between Lakers, Warriors, Clippers and Pelicans explained
The NBA Play-In Tournament throws up a complicated picture as the fifth through eighth seeds are still a moveable feast.
While the mathematical possibilities leave the door open for the Lakers, Clippers, Warriors, and Pelicans to tie, some of the best movement might be downward rather than up.
As things stand, the Clippers are seeded fifth, the Warriors sixth, the Lakers seventh, and the Pelicans eighth. Normally you would want to finish as high as you can, but there could be some recompense for finishing a little lower.
The fifth seed will have to face the Suns, and that could be something that the Clippers would rather avoid. Particularly when the sixth seed looks so sweet, not having to participate in the Play-In Tournament and starting the first round with the Kings.
The seventh and eighth seed will have to go via the Play-In route and while seven will draw the Grizzlies, the eighth will have to get through two Play-In games and then try and overcome the Nuggets.
In the case of ties, the Lakers have the edge on the Warriors by virtue of having won three out of four meetings head-to-head this season. This is also true of the other two teams, who all fell to the Lakers in the season.
The Clippers would also top the Warriors on division record, with LA’s 8-7 besting Golden State’s 6-9.
Likewise the Pelicans, who would get the nod over the Warriors based on conference record, with New Orleans finishing 29-22 over the Warriors’ 28-22.
With the West so muddied, it will be a complicated affair but then that is what makes this part of the NBA calendar so juicy.