The Detroit Pistons are guaranteed a spot in this year’s playoffs, but their seed is still up in the air with a week to go and four games to play.
Detroit currently holds the 6th seed, one game behind the Milwaukee Bucks, who have suddenly won four games in a row, and four games behind the Pacers, who the Pistons can no longer catch (more on that in a second).
With the Knicks now out of reach as well, the last thing left for the Pistons to play for is the 5th seed.
There are advantages and disadvantages to any of their potential first-round opponents, but claiming the 5th seed would potentially allow the Pistons to avoid the Celtics in the second round if both teams were to get there.
The final seeding question in the Eastern Conference will come down to the last two games of the season for the Pistons and Bucks and there are some wild scenarios at play when it comes to tiebreakers.
Pistons’ tiebreaker vs. Pacers
The Pacers have already sewn up the tiebreaker with the Pistons by winning the head-to-head matchups this season which is the first measure used to break a tie.
Even if the Pistons won out and the Pacers lost out, it wouldn’t matter when it comes to the tiebreaker.
Pistons’ tiebreaker vs. Bucks
When it comes to the Bucks, there is still a chance the Pistons could claim the tiebreaker, though it is a long shot.
The Bucks currently own the tiebreaker due to a superior 2-0 record against the Pistons this season, but the Pistons could tie that by beating the Bucks twice to end the season.
The next measure is division record, and these two teams would be tied at 7-9 if the Pistons won both games against the Bucks, but if the Pistons lose either of the games to Milwaukee, the Bucks will own the tiebreaker.
The next measure is conference record, and the Pistons would be one game better than the Bucks in that regard, but only if they win both games against Milwaukee.
The Pistons have a chance to pick up a half game tonight against the Kings, and with the Bucks playing Minnesota tomorrow, we could see a tie between the two teams heading into those final two games.
The Pistons may have clinched, but they still have things at stake in these final games, and it would be a powerful statement to beat the Bucks twice heading into the playoffs.