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LA Clippers: Understanding Tiebreakers and Who to Root For

By Ryan Snellings

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers shares a laugh with Lou Williams #23 of the LA Clippers against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 31, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers shares a laugh with Lou Williams #23 of the LA Clippers against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 31, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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With only one game left for the LA Clippers, the team will need to take care of business and rely on some help in order to avoid Golden State in the first round.

There are only two nights of NBA regular season basketball remaining. Even so, neither conference has its seeding locked down. This rings especially true in the West, where literally every seed outside of the top one are still up for grabs. No one wants to face the Golden State Warriors in the first round, so what exactly do we need to happen for the LA Clippers to avoid the eight seed?

First off, a win versus Utah has to happen. If they don’t take care of their own business, it’s all but guaranteed that the Clippers will get the Warriors in the first round.

Just to be safe, we should probably review all the tiebreaker rules that the NBA has set in place. If two teams end up tied, per NBA.com:

"Better winning percentage in games against each otherDivision leader wins a tie over a team not leading a divisionDivision won-lost percentage (only if teams are in same division)Conference won-lost percentageBetter winning percentage against teams eligible for the playoffs in own conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position)Better winning percentage against teams eligible for the playoffs in other conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position)Better net result of total points scored less total points allowed against all opponents (“point differential”)"

If three teams are tied, it’s pretty similar.

"Division leader wins tie from team not leading a division (this criterion is applied regardless of whether the tied teams are in the same division)Better winning percentage in all games among the tied teamsDivision won-lost percentage (only if all teams are in same division)Conference won-lost percentageBetter winning percentage against teams eligible for the playoffs in own conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position)Better net result of total points scored less total points allowed against all opponents (“point differential”)"

OKC Loses to Houston

Clipper Nation, get ready to root for James Harden. Everything depends on Tuesday night’s game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets. Seriously.

If OKC is to lose to Houston (who is still fighting for the second seed), the Clippers would just need to beat Utah and they would finish 6th or 7th. Assuming OKC then beats a resting Milwaukee team on Wednesday, this would leave both teams sitting at 48-34.

The teams tied the season series at two wins apiece, but OKC would have one more loss in the conference than the Clippers.

Of course, this is ignoring the Spurs, who only have one game remaining on Wednesday against the Dallas Mavericks. If they win that game, they will be ahead of the Clips due to conference record. (We also tied the season series 2-2).

Assuming the Clippers beat Utah on Wednesday, in short:

  • OKC loss to HOU, SAS win vs. DAL – Clippers 7th seed
  • OKC loss to HOU, SAS loss vs. DAL – Clippers 6th seed

Simple enough, right?

OKC Beats Houston

Now, if the Thunder manage to beat the Rockets on Tuesday, are we completely screwed? Not necessarily.

OKC beating Houston gives them the same conference record (again, assuming we beat Utah) but they have a better record against Western Conference Playoff teams than we do. Because of that, an OKC win over Houston makes things completely dependent on the Mavericks and Spurs game.

In this scenario, if the Spurs beat the Mavericks, we will be stuck in eighth. (That Lakers’ loss is really hurting right now, huh?) If they don’t, the Spurs will drop down to eighth.

  • OKC win vs. HOU, SAS win vs. DAL – Clippers 8th seed
  • OKC win vs. Hou, SAS loss to DAL – Clippers 7th seed

dark. Next. LA Clippers Waive Luc Mbah a Moute Ahead of Playoffs

So remember Clipper Nation, just keep rooting for OKC to lose to Houston tomorrow, for the Spurs to lose to Dallas and for the LA Clippers to pull out a win versus Utah on Ralph Lawler Night and we won’t see Golden State until a later round!

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