The Knicks' play-in chances are almost dead. Strength of schedule doesn't favor the Celtics, either

A Knicks run at the play-in tournament will only get more difficult from here.

With each loss, the playoffs are becoming more and more unlikely for the New York Knicks. They dropped their fifth straight Sunday against the Philadelphia 76ers—and ninth in 10 games—and have the fifth-toughest remaining schedule in the NBA, according to Tankathon.

At 4.5 games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference and final spot in the play-in tournament – with 21 games left – the Knicks will need a major run to keep the hope alive.

Knicks futures as of Feb. 28 at Tipico Sportsbook

The team currently outside the playoff picture with the best chance to get in is probably the Washington Wizards, who are two games behind the 10th seed and have the fourth-easiest schedule remaining. But if they do make a run, it’s not the Hawks they’re likely to catch.

The Charlotte Hornets are ninth in the conference, slightly ahead of the Hawks by percentage points but in a freefall. Charlotte has dropped 10 of its last 12 games, and while its remaining schedule isn’t incredibly difficult (12th toughest), Atlanta has the fifth-easiest schedule left and can gain some separation soon.

The Hornets also have the worst odds of the teams currently in play-in position to win the Eastern Conference at +7000 at Tipico Sportsbook. The Brooklyn Nets, who are eighth still hold the best odds in the conference at +280, reflective of what expectations are for them once fully healthy.

Looking at the top of the East, it’s hard to see any of the top five teams falling out of playoff position with how good they’ve been, but it’s conceivable that the No. 6 Boston Celtics slip into the play-in tournament.

Though they’re 8-2 in their last 10 and just five games out of first place, the Celtics were just blown out Sunday by a bad Indiana Pacers team and have the fourth-toughest schedule left in the NBA. 

Celtics futures as of Feb. 28 at Tipico Sportsbook

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Just as easily as the Celtics could pass the Milwaukee Bucks, who are only a game ahead of them, they could be caught by the Toronto Raptors who are only two games back — or the Nets who are three games back.

Of those three teams vying for that sixth seed, strength of schedule is in favor of the Raptors who have the seventh-easiest schedule left. Optimism is in favor of the Nets, who expect to have Kevin Durant back soon and will also add Ben Simmons at some point. Brooklyn also has the 11th-easiest schedule left.