No. 3/4/5 seeds: The whole big mess starts with Denver, which clinched home-court advantage in the first round with its win vs. Milwaukee on Monday.
Denver holds the tiebreaker over the Grizzlies via head-to-head, but the Clippers hold the tiebreaker having won their division. Denver's magic number for the 3-seed is one. If they fall to the four and face the Grizzlies, they are ensured home-court advantage.
The Clippers clinched the Pacific Division title, their first division title in franchise history. They are 1 1/2 games back of Denver and a half-game back of Memphis. But should they tie, thanks to the rules about division leaders, they maintain a lead over Memphis for the fourth and home court due to the division-leader/winner tiebreaker.
If the playoffs started today, the 4-5 Clippers-Grizzlies matchup would begin in Memphis by that half-game.
Memphis has clinched no worse than fifth.
If the Clippers lose Tuesday or Wednesday, the Nuggets are the third seed. If that happens and the Clippers win Wednesday and the Grizzlies lose Wednesday, the Clippers have home court. If the Clippers lose Tuesday or Wednesday and the Grizzlies win, the Grizzlies have home court.
If the Clippers lose both games, the Nuggets are third, the Clippers are fourth, the Grizzlies are fifth and Memphis has home court.
If the Nuggets win Wednesday and the Clippers win Tuesday and Wednesday, the Nuggets are third, the Clippers are fourth, the Grizzlies are fifth and the Clippers have home court advantage.
If the Clippers win Tuesday and Wednesday and the Nuggets lose Wednesday, the Clippers are the third seed, the Nuggets are the fourth seed, the Grizzlies are fifth and Denver has home court.
If the Clippers win Tuesday and Wednesday and the Nuggets win Wednesday, the Nuggets are the third seed, the Clippers fourth and the Grizzlies fifth, with the Clippers having home court.
The Grizzlies cannot finish higher than fifth, but they can have home court.
Got it?