Ranking the 8 NBA Play-In Teams: Second Chance or Season Over

1. Philadelphia 76ers

Outside of the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers are the best team in the Eastern Conference right now, and I don’t think it’s close. With Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey on the court together, this team has been unequivocally the second-best team in the East, and compared to past postseason runs, they have legitimate depth and a real head coach in Nick Nurse. The 76ers should beat the Heat on Wednesday, then should be able to get the job done against the New York Knicks based on talent alone. A crash course with the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals is starting to feel inevitable.

7. Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls are in the same boat as the Atlanta Hawks as they immediately need to enter a rebuild as soon as their season ends, likely on Friday against the Miami Heat. DeMar DeRozan and Coby White can tear up the Hawks’ flaws, but I question if they’ll be able to meet the Heat’s defensive intensity in a win-or-go-home. Still, a date with the Boston Celtics would be a bloodbath.

6. Sacramento Kings

Nothing about the Sacramento Kings sparks excitement as they go through the motions nightly. We can’t discount De’Aaron Fox putting the team on his back if he gets hot from deep for a single game, but judging the other Western Conference Play-In teams, the Kings look like the worst of them while also wanting to earn a top-eight seed the least. The Golden State Warriors had the Kings’ number last postseason, so I expect more of the same on Tuesday night.

5. Miami Heat

We know the entire narrative of the Miami Heat being a playoff juggernaut is picking up steam again, but I can’t get there. For the first time in his career, Jimmy Butler has lacked a spark for what feels like the entire regular season, and I question if the supporting cast has enough offensive firepower to compete this postseason. Erik Spoelstra can work up some magic, but I can’t see them having the same luck they had last postseason this time, as they appear to be on a first-round collision course with the Boston Celtics.

4. Golden State Warriors

Even though the Golden State Warriors could not ultimately climb out of the tenth seed, this team is playing the best basketball of their season. They’ve won 10 of their last 12 games heading into Tuesday’s clash with the Sacramento Kings, a matchup they certainly like their chances in with everything on the line. Having Stephen Curry on your sideline certainly helps, so if this Warriors team can ultimately claim the eighth seed, a matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder in round one would be a blast.

3. New Orleans Pelicans

For a while, it seemed like the New Orleans Pelicans had a real chance at claiming the No. 5 seed in the West. Still, thanks to the Dallas Mavericks' surge and a gauntlet of a schedule, the Pelicans have a pretty unfavorable Play-In matchup against the hot Los Angeles Lakers. It’s been a promising development season in the Big Easy, but seeing how strong the West was this season, the Pelicans need just one more piece for 2025.

2. Los Angeles Lakers

Do we think it’s possible that the Los Angeles Lakers could lose Tuesday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans on purpose to avoid the Denver Nuggets? It’s been proven that the Lakers can beat anyone in the West in a seven-game series except for Denver, so who is to say they won’t? Still, I doubt the Lakers want their season to come down to a win-or-go-home game against a peaking Warriors squad. I expect the Lakers to handle their business, but at least they’ll be playing the best basketball of their season heading into the Rocky Mountains.

1. Philadelphia 76ers

Outside of the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers are the best team in the Eastern Conference right now, and I don’t think it’s close. With Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey on the court together, this team has been unequivocally the second-best team in the East, and compared to past postseason runs, they have legitimate depth and a real head coach in Nick Nurse. The 76ers should beat the Heat on Wednesday, then should be able to get the job done against the New York Knicks based on talent alone. A crash course with the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals is starting to feel inevitable.