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NBA standings based on strength of remaining schedule

By Cal Durrett

Kawhi Leonard, NBA (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) looks on in the second half against the Chicago Bulls at United Center on January 31, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
Kawhi Leonard, NBA (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) looks on in the second half against the Chicago Bulls at United Center on January 31, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /
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The NBA’s regular season is winding down, with most teams having 22 games or fewer left to play. With so few games remaining and both the Eastern and Western Conference’s standings tightly packed, each team’s strength of schedule (SOS) will come into play down the stretch. The harder the schedule, the harder the path to a higher seed or even the postseason.

Of course, the easier the schedule, the greater the chances that a team will have a higher seed entering the playoffs and potentially easier opponents throughout the postseason. With this in mind, let’s take a look at the NBA standings based on strength of schedule.

*Schedule of strength based on games prior to 2/28

NBA Eastern Conference:

  1. Cleveland Cavaliers: .467
  2. Detroit Pistons: .475
  3. Charlotte Hornets: .482
  4. Indiana Pacers: .482
  5. Chicago Bulls: .494
  6. Washington Wizards: .501
  7. Milwaukee Bucks: .505
  8. Atlanta Hawks: .508
  9. Boston Celtics: .508
  10. New York Knicks: .511
  11. Orlando Magic: .511
  12. Miami Heat: .515
  13. Brooklyn Nets: .517
  14. Toronto Raptors: .527
  15. Philadelphia 76ers: .530

As far as the East playoff picture is concerned, the Bucks and Celtics are separated by a game in the standings. That said, they also have identical SOSs, meaning the battle for the number one seed could go down to the wire. Meanwhile, the 76ers have the toughest remaining schedule in the NBA, which could cause them to fall from third to fourth in the East. This is especially true with the Cavs having the league’s easiest remaining schedule.

Rounding out the East playoff picture are the Bulls and the Raptors. The Raptors are tied for 9th in the standings at the moment but they have the second-hardest SOS remaining. That could pave the way for the Wizards to move up to ninth and the Bulls to sneak into the play-in tournament.

As for the bottom of the East, the Hornets, who have the fourth-worst record in the NBA, have won five straight games. While the Hornets have a cakewalk schedule to close out the season, they did just lose All-Star LaMelo Ball for the rest of the season.

NBA Western Conference:

  1. Memphis Grizzlies: .467
  2. New Orleans Pelicans: .471
  3. Los Angeles Lakers: .479
  4. Oklahoma City Thunder: .479
  5. Denver Nuggets: .481
  6. Dallas Mavericks: .482
  7. Houston Rockets: .503
  8. San Antonio Spurs: .504
  9. Utah Jazz: .508
  10. Phoenix Suns: .511
  11. Los Angeles Clippers: .512
  12. Golden State Warriors: .513
  13. Portland Trail Blazers: .513
  14. Sacramento Kings: .520
  15. Minnesota Timberwolves: .522

Based on the aforementioned standings, the Grizzlies have the easiest remaining schedule, which should allow them to make up ground against the number-one-seeded Nuggets. The Grizzlies are 5.5 games behind the Nuggets, though they also have a fairly easy schedule.

The struggling 9th-seeded Timberwolves, on the other hand, have the toughest schedule among West teams. That potentially opens the door for the Trail Blazers and the now shorthanded Lakers, who are within a game of the Wolves and Pelicans for the final two spots in the playoff tournament.

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Overall, each team’s remaining strength of schedule will play a big role in how they close out the season. With less than 22 games left and the standings closely packed, expect a lot of shuffling as teams try to position themselves for the playoffs.