and then the Knicks lose out, and the Nets win out, we’ll be tied on record (46-36 vs 46-36), so we go to the first tiebreaker, H2H. 2-2, tied again. Then the second, division leader — same division, neither leading, tied again. Then the third, division record.. 8-8 vs 8-8, tied again. The fourth, conference record.. you guessed it, 31-22 vs 31-22, tied again.
Which leaves the fifth: record against in-conference playoff eligible teams — which is confusing now that the play-in tournament exists, but presumably is the record against the other 7 playoff teams, including the two that qualify through the play-in tournament.
The Nets would be 6-13 against the solidified top 6, the Knicks 10-9.
The Nets’ most favorable play-in winners would be the Heat and the Raptors, whom they hold a 7-0 record against, pushing their in-conference playoff eligible record to 13-13 overall. But the Knicks are 4-4 against the same two teams, pushing theirs to 14-13.
So, unless I’m missing something, and contrary to [this NYPost article](https://nypost.com/2023/04/03/knicks-nets-complicated-nba-playoffs-tiebreaker-explained/):
> Brooklyn’s game against the Timberwolves on Tuesday night does not factor into the tiebreaker, as it’s neither a division or conference game.
> Rather, the Knicks’ magic number of one means a win or a Nets loss to the Pistons, Magic or 76ers.
**with a Nets loss tonight, they cannot possibly finish with a better overall record, and cannot possibly finish with an equal or better in-conference playoff eligible record, so we clinch 5th.** Go Wolves.
Edit: am an idiot, if the Hawks and Raptors make it through the play-in we can potentially have equal 13-14 records against eastern conference playoff teams, courtesy of /u/According-Site-3415
by SchmidhuberDidIt
12 Comments
Yep one more Knicks win or Nets loss and the 5th seed is ours
All this tiebreaker stuff is complicated. Instead of the in season tournament stuff and boring all star games all they need is make the tie break as a 1on1 match, first to 11 baskets get to pick their opponents. Or hell a game of horse. Guaranteed to get better viewership ratings than the all star weekend.
Solid work OP.
fuck man if they finish tied with the Durant-less Nets I’m gonna pull my fuckin hair out
Let’s go 🐺
We’re Minnesota fans tonight
We just need to keep it simple and win.
Technically the Post is correct, for once, in paragraph 1. If the nets lose tonight, then go 3-0 + knicks 0-3, the tiebreak is 4-way-tied.
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If the nets win tonight then go 3-0 + knicks 0-3, the tiebreak remains 4-way tied. The tiebreak is rendered unnecessary because the nets would be a game ahead but it would remain the same – 4 way tied
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As for the second paragraph you can assume a post writer got correct info from the team and didn’t figure it out themselves. Maybe playoff eligible means all teams ranked 1-10 and that makes the magic number quote true. Even Orlando can mathematically still make the playin and knicks record vs ORL is crahp
Now explain like I’m 5 years old
Not quite sure this is 100% accurate. If the hawks and the raptors end up being the playoff eligible teams (assuming they don’t count all play-in teams as playoff eligible) both the nets and Knicks would be 13-14 in which case it would move onto records against western playoff eligible teams.
Nets:
Mil 1-3
Bos 1-3
Phi 1-3
Cle 1-2
Nyk 2-2
Atl 3-1
Tor 4-0
Knicks:
Mil 0-3
Bos 3-1
Phi 2-2
Cle 3-1
Nets 2-2
Atl 2-2
Tor 1-3
Both are 13-14
Idk bout you but I’m rooting for a wolves L. They got to let the Mavs catch up to them
thanks for clarifying OP but man the league needs a better system because this is confusing as hell