SAN ANTONIO – UPDATED: The Spurs have been one of the surprise teams in the NBA bubble, but in order for them to advance to the playoffs they will need help.
Memphis, Portland, San Antonio and Phoenix all remain in contention for the 8th and 9th seeds.
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Two of those teams will meet in a play-in series for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
The question now is what does San Antonio need to have happen in order to qualify for what would be a record-setting 23rd straight playoffs appearance?
First thing. The Spurs needed to win their last two games of the regular season. They beat Houston on Tuesday afternoon and play Utah on Thursday.
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If the Spurs win their last game, they can get the 8th seed if:
- Memphis loses its final two games
- Portland and Phoenix lose one of their remaining games
San Antonio can get the 9th seed if:
- Spurs win last game
- Memphis, Portland and Phoenix lose one of its remaining games
Phoenix can still leapfrog the Spurs if both teams win out. The Suns would have then gone 8-0 in the bubble and would surpass San Antonio on winning percentage points.
Head coach Gregg Popovich has said from the start of the NBA bubble play that a major focus for the organization would be to use these games to develop the young talent on the roster. The Spurs have done just that with breakout performances from Derrick White and Keldon Johnson.
Popovich said Sunday that getting into the playoffs would be “fantastic” and he’s thrilled with the way the team has come together in Orlando.