The NBA regular season has approximately four weeks to go and two teams have created separation from the pack in the Eastern Conference.
The Cavs and Raptors are virtual locks to nab the top two seeds in the East, with the only question being whether Toronto can catch Cleveland and steal away the No. 1 seed. The Raptors are two games back in the loss column.
The real intrigue surrounds which teams will nail down the bottom playoff seeds in the conference. Entering Thursday’s action, the Pistons and Bulls were tied for the seventh and eighth spots but the suddenly revived Wizards are just one and a half games back.
Detroit has lost three of its last four but plays its next eight games at home. The Bulls, who have gone 3-7 over their last 10 games to put their playoff lives in jeopardy, have two fewer home games remaining than the Pistons. However, they do have top scorer Jimmy Butler back in the lineup after he missed 15 of 17 games with a knee injury.
The Wizards have just six home games remaining but have seemingly regained their stride, knocking off the Pistons and Bulls in blowout victories this week.
The sixth-place Pacers have built a four-game cushion on the Wizards, but they cannot feel totally comfortable with their position.
This leads us to our question of the day: Among the Pacers, Bulls, Pistons and Wizards, which Eastern Conference team currently fighting for a playoff berth will fail to reach the postseason?
Please take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the subject. We look forward to what you have to say.
this is an easy one. DETROIT BASKETBALL will not be heard come playoff time. Why? Because they haven’t any desire to play defense subsequently destroying any hope of being remotely successful (even if they made the playoffs). Aside from KCP, this team has no motor, heart, or ambition outside of embarrassing themselves and leaving people like me wondering how to get our nba league pass subscriptions refunded. Beat the best and lose to the worse is not going to get a team anywhere; especially when the best is 4 teams. “F!” this “team”.
Sincerely,
A die hard fan scorned by false hope.
The Pacers…and I’m saying this is as a Pacers fan. Turnovers are still a huge issue for them (has been for a couple of years), the defense at times is terrible (especially against teams with good point guards) and their shooting is streaky…one night they might hit 50% of their shots and the next they hit only 30%.
Dana, you’ve listed those teams as being 6th to 9th ; they are actually 7th to 10th. Not one but two of the listed teams will in all probability miss the playoffs.
You are correct JayTeam. I should have asked which 2 teams wouldn’t make the playoffs.