The 6th Seed

For the first time ever at Third Quarter Collapse, the showcased fanpost for this week is authored by the same person, 3QC member RussL, for a second consecutive week. It's widely known that the Magic, with their recent struggles this past week, have fallen to the #3 seed for good. So, now the question is? Who will be the #6 seed? Below are all the scenarios and tiebreakers for the teams in the hunt (Chicago, Detroit, and Philadelphia). Before I conclude, don't forget to check out Eyriq the Red's excellent write-up on the "go-to players" for Orlando. Enjoy. - ER

As we know, the Magic will finish 3rd, and will play the 6th seed, whomever that may be.

As of now, Philly and Chicago are tied for 6/7, with Detroit one game back.  Here are our scenarios:

• Detroit wins out, Philly loses out, Chicago finishes 1-1.  Detroit and Chicago are tied, and the season series is 2-2.  Both have the same division record.  Detroit has the better conference record, and wins the #6.
• Detroit wins out, Philly and Chicago finish 0-2.  Detroit wins outright.
• Philly finishes 1-1, Detroit finishes 2-0, Chicago finishes 1-1:  all three are tied.  The team with the best combined record against both the other two teams wins.  Philly is 4-3.  Detroit is 3-4.  Chicago is 4-4.  Philly wins.  This scenario implies Detroit won tonight's game.
• Philly finishes 0-2, Detroit finishes 1-1, Chicago finishes 0-2:  all three teams are tied.  Again, the team with the best combined record against both of the other two teams wins.  Philly remains 4-3.  Detroit is 3-4. Chicago is 4-4.  Philly wins.  This scenario implies Detroit beat Chicago in tonight's game.
• Detroit finishes 2-0, Philly finishes 1-1, and the Bulls finish 0-2.  Philly won the season series 2-1 against Detroit, and wins the tiebreaker between those two teams
• Chicago and Philly finish 2-0 each.  The teams split the season series.  The team with the best conference record wins, which will be Philadelphia.
• Chicago and Philly finish 1-1, Detroit finishes 1-1 or 0-2.  The same result as the scenario above, Philly wins the tiebreaker against Chicago and the #6 seed
• Detroit finishes 0-2, Chicago finishes 2-0, Philly loses at least once - Chicago wins.
• Detroit finishes 0-2, Chicago finishes 1-1, Philly finishes 0-2 - Chicago wins
• Detroit finishes 0-2, Philly finishes 2-0, Chicago loses at least once - Philly wins.

But wait, there's more!

• Miami finishes 0-2, Chicago and Philly finish 2-0.  All three teams are tied.  The team with the best record against the other two wins.  Miami is 5-3.  Chicago is 3-5.  Philly is 4-4.  Miami remains #5, and Philly the tiebreaker over Chicago.
• Miami finishes 0-2, Chicago finishes 2-0, and Philly loses at least one.  Chicago is 1-3 against Miami, so Miami remains #5, and the Bulls finish 6th.
• Miami finishes 0-2, Philly finishes 2-0, Chicago loses at least one.  Miami and Philly split the season series.  Miami has the better conference record and remains #5, and Philly finishes 6th.

So really Miami can't actually move down at this point.  But I figured I'd throw them in there since its possible they could tie for 5/6/7.  :)

I *think* that covers all the possibilties :)  Tonight's game between the Bulls and Pistons is critical as we knew it would be.  If Detroit loses tonight, they cannot possibly win the #6 seed. 

The only way Detroit can possibly win the #6 is by going 2-0 and Philly going 0-2.
Philly holds the inside track for #6 at the moment.