Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

Because the Sixers have no chance at winning the Atlantic Division at this point, I’ll cover the remaining schedule for the three teams “fighting” for 7th in the Eastern Conference:

Eastern Conference Standings 7-9

Last Week’s Results

76ers

Knicks

Bucks

Upcoming Schedule

76ers

Knicks

Bucks

Injuries

New York: Jeremy Lin (knee, out for regular season and likely playoffs), Amar’e Stoudemire (back, returning Friday night)

Philadelphia: none

Milwaukee: Ersan Ilyasova (thigh, return likely)

Notes

With Milwaukee’s losses to Indiana and Washington, the Sixers’ magic number sits at two: any combination of two wins by the Sixers and two losses from the Bucks guarantees a playoff spot for the Sixers, with one head-to-head match up left to go. Milwaukee has 2 very winnable games before the Sixers game, home against New Jersey and Toronto. The Sixers have games against Indiana and New Jersey, again, before the showdown. The Sixers-Bucks game next Wednesday could be the decisive game if the Sixers can’t win two other games; Boston will likely rest the squad in the Milwaukee finale.

New York has clinched a playoff spot, holding the tiebreaker over the Bucks and Sixers. They will likely use the rest of the year to integrate Amar’e into the lineup.

Credit: David Butler II-US PRESSWIRE

Hey guys, game preview seems pointless because we played New Jersey a few days ago, so I’m just doing the standings today. Also, I have no time.

Standings

Last Week’s Schedule and Results

76ers

Celtics:

Knicks:

Upcoming Schedule

76ers

Celtics

Knicks

Injuries (info from Basketball-Reference.com)

Sixers: none

Celtics: Jermaine O’Neal (out for year), Ray Allen (out vs. Toronto/likely return soon)

Knicks: Jeremy Lin (out for regular season), Amar’e Stoudemire (out/likely return before end of year)

Notes

Both the Sixers and Celtics have back-to-back-to-back series this week. The Sixers have a tougher stretch in those three games, but the Celtics have three road games and five games in six days. Have fun with that, Boston. I think they still win 3/4 of those 5. I don’t believe the Sixers win more than 2 of their 4 games this week – tonight’s game won’t be too easy, while tired legs might take them out of others.

The Knicks have both Miami and Boston on the slate. This sounds like a statement stretch for them, both in the Atlantic and the East. If they can go 3-1 (and just so you know, I want them to pass us in the standings), that works for me.