3-way tie?

[jdrake10]

It is possible for a 3-way tie between Chicago, Cleveland, and Toronto. (Bulls lose last game, Cavs 1-1, Raptors 2-0) So I looked up the tie-breaker rules for this on NBA.com:

http://www.nba.com/statistics/playoff_picture.html#tb

Tiebreaker Basis: Three Teams
(1) If applicable, division champions must be determined first.
(2) Better winning percentage in all games among the tied teams.

It is not completely clear to me how this would work? It says that division needs to be determined first? So I think that means Chicago beats out Cleveland as Div champ and still gets #2? Hence, you only go to the 3-way tie-breakers if you have 3 teams and none of them are in contention for division title. If not, the Cavs would be the #2 due to having the best 3-way head to head record: they beat Raptors 3-1 (Cavs 5-3, Bulls 4-4, Raptors 3-5).

[pup]

Detroit is the division champion, so you can just skip over that one.

Just don't lose to the Sixers or Bucks and don't worry about the 3 way tie.

[consigliere]

Holy shit, good catch on the Raptors.

If the Raptors win out, and the Bulls stumble on the road in their final game and the Cavs finish 1-1....if I have it right the Raptors could be the #2 seed and the Bulls #3 (Cavs #5).

[leadpipe]

Toronto has a nice team. Probably a year or so away, but teams in the East should be thankful Bargani isn't healthy.

[consigliere]

Toronto has a nice team. Probably a year or so away, but teams in the East should be thankful Bargani isn't healthy.

Read somewhere where he is supposed to be back for the playoffs.

Toronto could be a sleeper in the EC this year to get to the Finals.

[Guest]

Looks like that game at Boston is going to cost us the #2 seed after all.

[consigliere]

Looks like that game at Boston is going to cost us the #2 seed after all.

We'll see, but it is starting to look like it. Cavs need help, but wouldn't need help if Lebron, cough, doesn't sit that game.

[Mr. MacPhisto]

Holy shit, good catch on the Raptors.

If the Raptors win out, and the Bulls stumble on the road in their final game and the Cavs finish 1-1....if I have it right the Raptors could be the #2 seed and the Bulls #3 (Cavs #5).

The Raptors would be the #2 seed in that situation because a division winner will take precedence over a wildcard.

Toronto could make some noise in the postseason.

And I agree that that Boston game really hurts, but it's not the only one. Losses to Atlanta, Charlotte, and other teams we should have beaten also hurt. If the Cavs would have taken all games equally seriously then they'd be fighting Detroit for the #1 seed.

The way I see it, the Eastern Conference is wide open. Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, Miami, and Toronto are each viable candidates to make runs.

[Guest]

The Boston game wouldn't bother me so much if he took other games off or didn't play 50 minutes a night.
It came out of nowhere and he only missed that game.
I still think they beat the Heat having the home court.

[neoleo]

I swear they said on Sportscenter that the Cavs would get the three way tie breaker. I know SC has been plenty wrong before though.

[Mr. MacPhisto]

I swear they said on Sportscenter that the Cavs would get the three way tie breaker. I know SC has been plenty wrong before though.

Actually digging into the language, I think they're right. Toronto is not in a tie for their division and that's what the language meant - if there was a tie to determine who won the division then it would need to be settled first.

Toronto has clinched the Atlantic. That means the tie-breaker would be the overall record of the three teams against each other.

Chicago is 2-2 vs. both the Raptors and Cavs, so 4-4 is their record.

Cleveland is 2-2 against the Bulls and 3-1 against Toronto, making their record 5-3. Toronto is 3-5 but cannot drop below the third seed due to their winning the Atlantic division.

So I guess I was wrong, there is a way for the Cavs to secure the #2 seed if they split the last two games. I'd rather they just win them both and have Chicago lose.