Raptors’ playoff scenarios: Seeding, tiebreakers, standings in Eastern Conference race

The Toronto Raptors are clawing to stay out of the Play-In Tournament in the Eastern Conference.

Riding a three-game win streak, the Raptors have helped their own cause to jump up to a tie for fifth place in the East, but only one game separates them from falling out of a top-six seed.

With fewer than two weeks remaining in the 2021-22 season, the Raptors, Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls are in a three-team race for the final two solidified playoff spots, while the outlier will be destined to play their win in the playoffs .

For more information on the Raptors playoff scenarios – including seeding, tiebreakers and the current Eastern Conference standings – we have you covered below.

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What are the Raptors’ NBA Playoff and Play-In Tournament odds?

According to FiveThirtyEight’s projection model, as of March 28, the Raptors have a 98 percent chance of making the NBA Playoffs. Not the Play-In Tournament – ​​the playoffs.

That is a higher mark than both of their nearest competitors, the Bulls (96%) and Cavaliers (62%).

According to The Ringer’s Odds Machine, the Raptors only have a 25 percent chance of falling into the Play-In Tournament. While the Bulls only have an 11 percent chance of being a Play-In team, the Raptors’ odds are better than the Cavaliers, who have a 68 percent chance of landing in the Play-In Tournament.

NBA standings 2022: Eastern Conference

(Current through March 28 games)

Raptors tiebreakers and head-to-head records

Head-to-head record is the first tiebreaker. If teams split the season series, the next tiebreaker is higher winning percentage within the division if teams share a division. If they do not share a division, the tiebreaker is winning percentage in conference games.

Here is how the Raptors have fared against teams around them in the standings:

• vs. Bulls: 1-3; Lost the season series
• vs. Riders: 1-3; Lost the season series

Since the Raptors don’t own either tiebreaker, they will have to finish a full game ahead of both Chicago or Cleveland to jump them in the standings.

In case you were wondering, the Bulls have the tiebreaker over the Cavaliers as well, winning the season series 3-1.

Raptors remaining schedule

According to Tankathon, the Raptors have the sixth-easiest remaining schedule. For comparison, the Bulls have the third-hardest remaining schedule, while the Cavaliers are right in the middle of the pack at 13th.

The Bulls’ toughest remaining games are matchups with the Heat, Bucks, Celtics, Timberwolves and Hornets.

The Cavaliers’ toughest remaining games are matchups with the Bucks, 76ers, Mavericks, Nets and Hawks.

You can find the Raptors’ remaining schedule: