Highest and lowest potential finishes for postseason contenders

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This article was pulled from our Starting 5 Newsletter, a daily look at all things NBA. To get the newsletter in your inbox every morning, subscribe here.

The 20-team postseason field is set.

But, outside of Boston, the seeds for the other 19 teams — with the top six reaching the Playoffs and 7-10 seeds in the Play-In — will be determined this week.

So how high can each team climb? And how low can each team fall? Here’s a team-by-team look, starting in the East.

Key Takeaways

• Boston and Milwaukee are the only two teams guaranteed a playoff spot entering tonight
• Orlando, New York, Cleveland and Indy enter the week in the top 6 and can climb as high as No. 2 or drop into the 7 vs. 8 Play-In
• Philly and Miami enter the week in the Play-In field. Not only can they reach the top six for a guaranteed playoff berth, they can reach as high as No. 3
• Chicago and Atlanta will meet in the 9 vs. 10 game in the SoFi Play-In Tournament. But home-court advantage is still up for grabs in that win-or-go-home game
• Strength of schedule rankings (highest opponent win% to lowest): Milwaukee (.663), Orlando (.562), New York (.534), Atlanta (.514), Indiana (.455), Miami (.429), Boston (.406), Cleveland (.387), Chicago (.383) and Philadelphia (.383)

Key Takeaways

• Minnesota, Denver and Oklahoma City will all have home-court advantage in at least the first round of the Playoffs regardless of what happens in the final week
• LA Clippers and Dallas can fall no further than the 7 vs. 8 Play-In game, which gives teams two opportunities to secure a Playoff berth. The winner of the 7 vs. 8 game earns the No. 7 seed, while the loser plays the winner of the 9 vs. 10 game for the No. 8 seed
• Phoenix and New Orleans both have an outside shot of the No. 4 seed and home-court in the first round, but can also fall all the way to the 10 seed
• Sacramento, L.A. Lakers and Golden State all still have a chance to earn a guaranteed Playoff spot with a top six finish, but also can end up as low as the 10 seed
• Strength of schedule rankings (highest opponent win% to lowest): Phoenix: (.638), Sacramento: (.532), LA Clippers: (.510), OKC: (.510), L.A. Lakers: (.496), New Orleans: (.492), Minnesota (.482), Golden State: (.450), Denver: (.413), Dallas: (.410)