3. How will the top of the East play out
The Eastern Conference lacks the depth of its Western Conference counterpart, but the top half of the East is deeper and better than the West. The two best records in the NBA reside in the East with the Milwaukee Bucks (43-14) and Toronto Raptors (43-16). The Bucks and Raptors seem like locks to be the top two seeds, making way for plenty of jockeying below them.
The Indiana Pacers are currently the 3-seed, holding onto a one-game advantage over the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers. The Pacers are 6-5 since losing Victor Oladipo to a season-ending ruptured quad tendon, and will be a tough out with their elite defense in the playoffs, but they will likely fall behind Philly and Boston and settle in at the 5-seed.
That would be the best result for playoff entertainment anyway. The East has a big four and seeing them matchup in the conference semifinals would be awesome, but do Philly and Boston have a preference of who they wish to see in the semis? If they do, expect some final week losses to avoid facing Milwaukee or Toronto early.
Regardless, the East semis could produce the most competitive series of the playoffs. The bottom of the playoff picture has four teams fighting for the last two seeds separated by one game and no matter who emerges, it will be a nice story. Even so, a first round bout with Milwaukee or Toronto awaits, with little hope of stealing more than a game.
As others bash the lack of depth in the East while a third of the conference is rebuilding, the majority of the NBA can’t wait for the Eastern semifinals. If Indiana continues to play spoiler and claims the 3-seed, would anybody complain about Boston-Philly in the round one? Didn’t think so.
The East is top-heavy and as the seeds fall into place, previewing the second-round matchups becomes increasingly enticing as the playoffs near.