NBA standings based on average point differential

The NBA playoffs are simply six weeks away, and lots of groups have fewer than 20 video games remaining. That is when groups make their playoff push whereas others bow out and stay up for the offseason. Nonetheless, with the play-in event, extra groups stay aggressive, which ought to make for an thrilling finish to the season.

With standings altering nightly, let’s look past wins and losses and study level differential. Level differential is a staff’s cumulative margin of victory or defeat in every of their video games divided by the variety of video games performed. Whereas not the top all be all, it’s an essential stat that reveals how good a staff is or whether or not they’re enjoying as much as their full potential. Subsequently, listed below are the standings primarily based on average point differential.

NBA Jap Convention:

Cleveland Cavaliers- 5.6
Boston Celtics – 5.4
Milwaukee Bucks- 4.0
Philadelphia 76ers-3.8
New York Knicks- 3.1
Toronto Raptors- 0.6
Chicago Bulls- 0.4
Brooklyn Nets-0.4
Atlanta Hawks-0.1
Washington Wizards-0.0
Miami Warmth- -0.7
Indiana Pacers- -2.4
Orlando Magic- -2.8
Charlotte Hornets- -5.9
Detroit Pistons: -7.9

Level differential paints a special image of the Jap Convention standings. Though the Cavaliers are fourth within the East, they really have the most effective level differential within the NBA by a large margin. That implies that they’ve underperformed in regard to wins and losses this season, although it may imply that they’re sleeping giants within the East too.

Moreover, whereas the Bucks are first within the East, Boston is effectively forward of them in differential. That implies that the Celtics have possible had extra decisive wins in addition to nearer losses. It’s to not say that they’re higher than Milwaukee, however the Bucks have possible performed extra shut video games with fewer blowout wins.

The Bulls are eleventh within the East however have the Seventh-best differential, which suggests they haven’t performed as much as their full potential, Bulls followers may inform us that a lot. Nonetheless, they’ve an excellent likelihood of righting the ship thanks to a cakewalk schedule, in contrast to the Toronto Raptors.

The Raptors are barely higher than their report would recommend, however they might fail to make the play-in event resulting from a troublesome schedule. Lastly, the Heat have a horrible differential and have truly overperformed relative to it. Though they’re Seventh within the standings, they’ve the eighth worst differential within the NBA.

NBA Western Convention:

Denver Nuggets-4.5
Memphis Grizzlies-4.0
Sacramento Kings-2.7
Phoenix Suns-2.0
OKC Thunder-1.4
Golden State Warriors- 1.0
Dallas Mavericks- 0.9
New Orleans Pelicans- 0.8
Utah Jazz- 0.0
Minnesota Timberwolves- 0.0
Los Angeles Clippers- -0.3
Portland Path Blazers- -0.9
Los Angeles Lakers- -0.8
Houston Rockets- -9.0
San Antonio Spurs: -9.9

As for the West, the present prime 4 seeds stay in the identical order when level differential is utilized. Nonetheless, the Thunder, who’re presently eighth within the West, even have the fifth-best differential. That suggests that they’ve been unfortunate in shut video games.

In the meantime, the Jazz, Wolves, Clippers, and Blazers every have a web zero differential or perhaps a unfavourable one, hinting that the again finish of the West playoff image is much worse than the East’s. Then once more, the West has extra parity, with solely Denver retaining tempo with the Bucks and Celtics.

On the backside of the standings are the Rockets and Spurs, the 2 worst groups within the NBA. That’s one thing we already knew, however each groups are on tempo to have the worst differentials of any staff within the final 5 seasons. Most likely not coincidentally, the prize on this yr’s draft is Victor Wembanyama, a generational prospect.

Total, level differential is a helpful stat that may illustrate simply how good (or unhealthy) a staff is. Nonetheless, a number of groups have exceeded or underperformed their differential this season, which has made for an unpredictable playoff race.