What Are We Fighting For? A Look at the Final Sim's Playoff Implications
Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2026 10:08 am
All right, tomorrow is the day. The final sim of the season, before we launch into the playoffs for half the league and a few weeks of "are we running the lotto yet" for the other half. But before we get to the playoffs, we do need to look at the last few playoff seeds that aren't set in stone yet, and see how likely it is that those seeds change after tomorrow's sim.
First we're going to look at the teams who have their spot locked up and don't have to worry about anything tomorrow. Good for you. We're happy for you, truly. Congrats. Yay.
Boston Celtics - 1st seed in the East
Milwaukee Bucks - 2nd seed in the East
New Jersey Nets - 3rd seed in the East
Cleveland Cavaliers - 6th seed in the East
San Antonio Spurs - 1st seed in the West
All of these teams will be in the same position tomorrow that they are today. Even if the Nets finish with a better record than the Bucks, as they have currently, they will still remain the 3 seed because of how far they are behind their division rival Celtics. Divisions are silly. Let's do away with them. YES I KNOW THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS ARTICLE IS ABOUT BUT WHERE ELSE AM I SUPPOSED TO GET ON MY SOAP BOX???
Now let's look at the seeds that are open, the teams vying for them, and the schedule each team faces in the last sim.
4th/5th seed in the East
Right now the Bulls are a half game in front of the Pistons, but there is a glaring difference in these two teams: the Bulls have played three fewer games than the Pistons. While Detroit only has three games left on their schedule, the Bulls have 6: and one of those games is a pivotal matchup between the two teams.
Bulls schedule: Celtics, Pistons, @Hawks, @Pacers, Knicks, Suns
Pistons schedule: @Bulls, Knicks, @Lakers
My prediction: Bulls have the tougher schedule, not just because of opponents but by sheer number of games. Pistons can win two of their three and put the Bulls in a tough position to win 4 of 6. NOTE: I don't know what the tiebreakers are in any of these matchups. I also don't care.
2nd/3rd seed in the West
This is not just for the 2nd seed in the West, but for the Pacific Division crown as well. The Sonics held the lead for most of the year, but typical Wig has gone through multiple injuries and still perseveres to the top. The Blazers hold a half game over the Sonics, and they have 6 games opposed to the Sonics having 5 left.
Blazers schedule: @Nets, Rockets, @Jazz, @Warriors, Lakers, Warriors
Sonics schedule: @Mavs, @Kings, Suns, Rockets, @Nuggets
My prediction: The Sonics have a tougher schedule, facing more people who are fighting for something. The Blazers play the four games against the bottom three teams in the West. I think Wig hangs onto his division lead. NOTE: There is a very slight chance that the Sonics lose all of their games and the Wolves win all of theirs and the Wolves can leap to the 3rd seed, but it's so unlikely that I won't seriously acknowledge it.
Speaking of the Wolves!
4th/5th seed in the West
Sorry about the image I chose, my impatient decision to move my team has caused so many problems for the index. Hopefully it doesn't give me bad karma. The Wolves are currently a game ahead of the Suns, and only have 4 games left to play while the Suns have 6. I know for a fact the Suns have the tiebreaker in this series, since I've lost to them a ton.
Wolves schedule: Nuggets, Mavs, @Mavs, Celtics
Suns schedule: @Nuggets, @Pacers, @Sonics, @Lakers, @Hornets, @Bulls
My prediction: pain. Mostly because the tiebreaker, but also because the Suns get to play the Lakers, Pacers, Hornets and Nuggets. Those four likely wins get them to 50, which would mean the Wolves need to win 3 of 4, which can happen but isn't guaranteed. All of the Suns' games are on the road, though, so it's a toss up. I still predict Suns for the reverse curse.
6th seed in the West
This is another fun battle. Despite quitting at least sixteen times this season, the Kings are in position to make the playoffs. They're currently behind the Rockets by one game, and each have five left to play. Kevin McHale will be available during this sim, so it'll be interesting to see if his return can put the Kings into the playoffs. The Rockets are currently on a 3 game slide, which if it continues will be very bad for their chances to make the playoffs for the third year in a row.
Rockets schedule: @Jazz, @Blazers, Nuggets, @Sonics, @Mavs
Kings schedule: Spurs, Sonics, @Jazz, @Nuggets, @Spurs
My prediction: Hoo boy, this is tough. Both teams have some tough competition: the Rockets face the two teams battling for 2-3 in the West, and the Kings have to play the Spurs twice. This in combination with the fact that the Rockets currently have the lead and I like messing with Chad causes me to say the Rockets will get the last seed.
Word count: 1051
First we're going to look at the teams who have their spot locked up and don't have to worry about anything tomorrow. Good for you. We're happy for you, truly. Congrats. Yay.
Boston Celtics - 1st seed in the East
Milwaukee Bucks - 2nd seed in the East
New Jersey Nets - 3rd seed in the East
Cleveland Cavaliers - 6th seed in the East
San Antonio Spurs - 1st seed in the West
All of these teams will be in the same position tomorrow that they are today. Even if the Nets finish with a better record than the Bucks, as they have currently, they will still remain the 3 seed because of how far they are behind their division rival Celtics. Divisions are silly. Let's do away with them. YES I KNOW THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS ARTICLE IS ABOUT BUT WHERE ELSE AM I SUPPOSED TO GET ON MY SOAP BOX???
Now let's look at the seeds that are open, the teams vying for them, and the schedule each team faces in the last sim.
4th/5th seed in the East
Right now the Bulls are a half game in front of the Pistons, but there is a glaring difference in these two teams: the Bulls have played three fewer games than the Pistons. While Detroit only has three games left on their schedule, the Bulls have 6: and one of those games is a pivotal matchup between the two teams.
Bulls schedule: Celtics, Pistons, @Hawks, @Pacers, Knicks, Suns
Pistons schedule: @Bulls, Knicks, @Lakers
My prediction: Bulls have the tougher schedule, not just because of opponents but by sheer number of games. Pistons can win two of their three and put the Bulls in a tough position to win 4 of 6. NOTE: I don't know what the tiebreakers are in any of these matchups. I also don't care.
2nd/3rd seed in the West
This is not just for the 2nd seed in the West, but for the Pacific Division crown as well. The Sonics held the lead for most of the year, but typical Wig has gone through multiple injuries and still perseveres to the top. The Blazers hold a half game over the Sonics, and they have 6 games opposed to the Sonics having 5 left.
Blazers schedule: @Nets, Rockets, @Jazz, @Warriors, Lakers, Warriors
Sonics schedule: @Mavs, @Kings, Suns, Rockets, @Nuggets
My prediction: The Sonics have a tougher schedule, facing more people who are fighting for something. The Blazers play the four games against the bottom three teams in the West. I think Wig hangs onto his division lead. NOTE: There is a very slight chance that the Sonics lose all of their games and the Wolves win all of theirs and the Wolves can leap to the 3rd seed, but it's so unlikely that I won't seriously acknowledge it.
Speaking of the Wolves!
4th/5th seed in the West
Sorry about the image I chose, my impatient decision to move my team has caused so many problems for the index. Hopefully it doesn't give me bad karma. The Wolves are currently a game ahead of the Suns, and only have 4 games left to play while the Suns have 6. I know for a fact the Suns have the tiebreaker in this series, since I've lost to them a ton.
Wolves schedule: Nuggets, Mavs, @Mavs, Celtics
Suns schedule: @Nuggets, @Pacers, @Sonics, @Lakers, @Hornets, @Bulls
My prediction: pain. Mostly because the tiebreaker, but also because the Suns get to play the Lakers, Pacers, Hornets and Nuggets. Those four likely wins get them to 50, which would mean the Wolves need to win 3 of 4, which can happen but isn't guaranteed. All of the Suns' games are on the road, though, so it's a toss up. I still predict Suns for the reverse curse.
6th seed in the West
This is another fun battle. Despite quitting at least sixteen times this season, the Kings are in position to make the playoffs. They're currently behind the Rockets by one game, and each have five left to play. Kevin McHale will be available during this sim, so it'll be interesting to see if his return can put the Kings into the playoffs. The Rockets are currently on a 3 game slide, which if it continues will be very bad for their chances to make the playoffs for the third year in a row.
Rockets schedule: @Jazz, @Blazers, Nuggets, @Sonics, @Mavs
Kings schedule: Spurs, Sonics, @Jazz, @Nuggets, @Spurs
My prediction: Hoo boy, this is tough. Both teams have some tough competition: the Rockets face the two teams battling for 2-3 in the West, and the Kings have to play the Spurs twice. This in combination with the fact that the Rockets currently have the lead and I like messing with Chad causes me to say the Rockets will get the last seed.
Word count: 1051