Who Gets The Final Playoff Spot In The East?
The NBA Regular Season is coming to an end shortly with still some playoff spots to be clinched. Teams have as many as 10 games remaining and everyone is fighting for playoff position.
In the Eastern Conference, I see 7 teams playing for 4 spots. Atlanta, Milwaukee, Indiana, Miami, Chicago, Detroit, and Charlotte are all separated by just 4.5 games. Here is what the current picture looks like.
The first four seeds are currently Cleveland, Boston, Washington and Toronto. They have already separated themselves and will be hosting a series in the playoffs. This is the group we are looking at. Atlanta is currently the 6th seed, followed by Milwaukee, Indiana, and Miami who holds the final playoff spot right know. Chicago, Detroit, and Charlotte are all on the onside looking in.
Atlanta Hawks: Mike Budenholzer and his squad currently have a 3 game lead to play with, but they looked like a lock two weeks ago. Since then, they have lost their last 7 games and their last game they lost at home to Brooklyn who has just 16 wins this year. The Hawks are an injured team right know, and in their last 9 games they have to play Cleveland twice plus Boston all in a three game stretch. They also have to play Indiana and Chicago on the road who are competing for playoff spots as well plus a home game against Charlotte. The Hawks will be without three starters Paul Millsap, Kent Bazemore, and Thabo Sefolosha again tonight against the Suns. How I don't know how many more games they will miss this year. Millsap is day-to-day, the team is hopefull Bazemore will be back Wednesday. But still, they too many questions. They play Indiana on the road the final game which may be for a spot in the postseason.
Playoff Prediction: OUT
Milwaukee Bucks: Like Atlanta, the Bucks also have three games to play with in the East. The thing that concerns me is that the Bucks must go on the Troad 6 of their final 9 games. Milwaukee has won 11 of their last 14 games and Giannis Antetokounmpo is playing solid leading the team in points, assists, steals, blocks, and rebounds a game. The Bucks are top 10 defensive team and they only have 4 games left against teams that are above .500 this season and that is why I like their chances.
Playoff Prediction: IN
Indiana Pacers: Again, they also have 3 games to play with. 6 of their final 9 games will be against teams with winning records and three of those games are on the road. The Pacers have basically played .500 ball since they hit their big losing streak back in early February. Al Jefferson is expected to miss a couple games with an ankle sprain, but as long as Paul George doesn't go into a cold streak then Indiana should be fine. If they can salvage a 4-5 record in their final 9 games they should be in.
Playoff Prediction: IN
Miami Heat: Down in South Beach, they find themselves clinging to the final playoff spot currently and 1/2 game lead over Chicago. The Heats next 5 games are all against teams with losing records, but there final four games they play the Washington twice, Cleveland, and Toronto, all teams who have clinched a play spot. Miami has lost 3/4, but they do rank in the top 5 in the NBA in defense this season. The question for me is, can Goran Dragic carry them down the stretch? I'm not sure. This one is the hardest for me, but Cleveland, Washington, and Toronto will still be fighting for a top three seed and won't be resting any players. They must go at least 4-1 in their next 5 I think and make their money against sub par teams.
Playoff Prediction: IN
Chicago Bulls: The Bulls have been very unpredictable lately but got a huge road win over the Bucks to get them right on the Heat's trail and they can take over the 8th spot with a win tonight over Cleveland. The Bulls last 6 games are all against pretty bad teams. They have Cleveland then Atlanta, but after that the best team they will play is 31-42 New Orleans. I'll take a prolific scorer in Dwayne Wade along with a crafty veteran in Dwayne Wade down the stretch.
Playoff Prediction: IN
Detroit Pistons: It looked like the Pistons would be in solid shape a couple weeks ago, but they have dropped 7/8 games and need a win in their next game over New York. They basically need to win their next three games over the Knicks, Nets, and Heat and that won't happen unless someone besides Tobias Harris steps up. They have been struggling to score lately and that comes back to bite them with a tough ending to the schedule.
Playoff Prediction: OUT
Charlotte Hornets: MJ should enjoy North Carolina getting to the final four because the Hornets are two games back with just 9 games left to play. Kemba Walker has been very good the last couple of games as they have won 4 of their last 5, but 7 of their final 9 games will be against teams with winning records. I just don't see any path to playoffs with Charlotte playing 7 teams who are currently in the playoffs. To get their, they need to go at least 7-2 to end the season which means Michael Kidd-Gilchrist needs to be a force inside and they need to hit some three's.
Playoff Prediction: OUT
