Eastern Conference playoff picture heading into 2021 NBA Playoffs

The 2021 NBA Playoffs are scheduled to begin on May 22 following the play-in tournament, which begins on May 18. The play-in tournament was expanded to include seeds 7-10, so after that is decided, we’ll have the usual 1-8 matchups in the Eastern Conference.

The landscape in the East has changed a bit throughout the regular season. It’s looking like it’ll be a three-man race for first place with the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks all with a shot to grab the No. 1 overall seed. Behind those three is a jumble of newcomers and teams that have underperformed. The New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks are among the teams to get back into the postseason if all goes well. The Boston Celtics are also in this group along with the Miami Heat — two teams many expected to be toward the top of the conference.

Here we’re going to be tracking the standings in the Eastern Conference and providing a look into how the playoff picture is shaping up.

* represents teams who are currently in position to participate in the play-in tournament.
X represents teams who have clinched a playoff berth.