Current standings as of April 9th:
1) Cleveland 56-23
2) Toronto 53-26
3) Atlanta 47-32
4) Boston 47-32
5) Miami 46-33
6) Charlotte 46-33
7) Detroit 43-37
8 ) Indiana 42-37
9) Chicago 39-40
Tonight is another big night for us. Ultimately, we have to win tonight in Atlanta in order to take the third seed. If we don't win, then by virtue of tiebreaker Atlanta would have to lose their remaining two games (@ Cleveland, @ DC who has been eliminated from playoff contention) and we'd have to win our remaining two games to still take third, which isn't happening. So we must win tonight to realistically be the frontrunners for the third seed.
Also, if we win tonight, then Miami should no longer be a threat to overtaking us. Their remaining games are vs Orlando (who they just lost to), @ Detroit (1-2 vs them this year), and @ Boston (0-2 vs them this year), and they've been absolutely terrible on the road. The Hornets play a back to back @ Washington (2-1 vs them this year) and then @ Boston (0-2 vs them this year), so as long as we take care of Charlotte at home they won't be a problem for us. Don't be surprised to see Miami in the 6th seed for the playoffs.
Cleveland is also playing in Chicago tonight, which is important for our seeding chances, too. If Chicago can pull an upset, which they owe us one after laying an egg in Miami the other night, then Chicago is still in the playoff race and Cleveland will still not have secured the first seed in the East. So if Chicago can pull an upset at home and Toronto takes care of business against the Knicks tomorrow, then Cleveland will still be playing for something when Atlanta goes to Cleveland on Monday, which could give us some further cushion on the third seed if we win tonight, though we'll still have to most likely win out for the third seed since the division-leading Hawks have the tiebreaker over us.
Phoenix is playing New Orleans tonight, too, which doesn't affect our seeding but does affect the Brooklyn pick. So it's another good NBA night for C's fans that all starts with our most important game of the year so far in Atlanta starting at 7:30!
If we happen to lose tonight, we're very, very likely to be the fourth seed in the East, as long as we don't implode in the final two games. And more than likely we'll be playing the Hornets, which is a good matchup for us.