NBA Analysis: Examining The Final 2 Playoff Spots In The Eastern Conference

With just barely a week to go and three games left in the schedule, three teams are in a neck to neck race for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. The Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers and the Boston Celtics are hoping to be the final two qualifiers to the post-season and provide much needed reward for their fans.

At the onset of the season, the Nets only have their sights set on an entry to the playoffs given that there is no silver lining of a draft pick (owing it to Boston in the Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce trade) for the 2015 NBA Draft. The Pacers, according to observers, were better off to land in the lottery given that it lost Paul George for the season and Roy Hibbert’s progress has been stumped by his downward slide since his 2014 All-Star appearance. The Celtics, on the other hand, with their abundance of picks, need experience for their young guards but the roster turnout with the trades has made it impossible to develop any semblance of team chemistry until much later.

Let us examine their chances as we head to the final week of the NBA season:

Boston Celtics

Record: (38-42), 7th in the East

Remaining Games: vs Toronto (Apr. 14) at Milwaukee (Apr. 15)

The Celtics have two very winnable games after benefitting from the “resting the starters” strategy of the Cleveland cavaliers during the weekend. The team can finish no higher than seventh even if the win the rest of their games and the Milwaukee Bucks lose their last two assignments with the Chicago Bulls and the Celtics given that the team coached by Jason Kidd owns the tiebreaker.

With the two wins over the Cavaliers during the weekend, Brad Stevens' team only needs to win one of the last two remaining games to ensure a spot in the post-season. This is a miraculous outcome for Boston after being projected to miss the playoffs before the start of the 2014-2015 season. The team just traded away its major pieces in Rajon Rondo and Jeff Green for an assortment of young players and journeymen to bolt them into the coveted playoff appearance.

The team is likely to face the Cavaliers in the post-season and coach Stevens will have to find more ways to hide the disparity in talent between the two teams. He will again rely on his team of role players including super-sub Isaiah Thomas, former number two pick Evan Turner, ace defender Avery Bradley and rookie Marcus Smart. It is unclear if the team can contain the prowess of LeBron James given that it will be hard-pressed to find a player that can match up with the physical behemoth but the impending playoff entry of the Celtics is one of the feel good stories of the season.

Brooklyn Nets:

Record: (37-43), 8th in the East, Tied with Indiana (Nets own tiebreaker)

Remaining Games: vs. Chicago (Apr. 13), vs. Orlando (Apr. 15)

The Brooklyn Nets made two sneaky trades, sending off expiring contracts for a pair of veterans who are helping in the late playoff push of the team. After netting Jarrett Jack in the off-season from the Cavaliers, General Manager Billy King traded Kevin Garnett to his former team, the Minnesota Timberwolves for under-utilized forward Thaddeus Young. It also helps that big man Brook Lopez is finally healthy and is producing his nightly double-doubles.

While the team suffered a setback with their recent loss to the Bucks, which allowed Jason Kidd to snatch a post-season spot, the fate of the team lies in its hands given that if it wins its final two games at home against Chicago and Orlando, it will be granted entry to the playoff regardless if the Pacers win its last two games.

If everything goes as planned, Brooklyn will be the first round opponent of the Eastern Conference-leading Atlanta Hawks. It is unclear how the Nets will be able to give headaches to the well-oiled pace and space offence of the Hawks given that Mike Budenholzer’s team has swept the Nets in three meetings this season. Coach Lionel Hollins will be counting on the likes of Deron Williams and Joe Johnson to prove their veteran mettle if ever the team gets its golden ticket to the playoffs.

Indiana Pacers:

Record: (37-43), 8th in the East, Tied with Brooklyn (Nets own tiebreaker)

Remaining Games: vs. Washington (Apr. 14), at Memphis (Apr. 15)

The Indiana Pacers have the toughest schedule among the three teams vying for the final post-season spot in the Eastern Conference. After eking out a win over the equally hoping Oklahoma City Thunder, Frank Vogel’s team needs to win out its last two remaining games over the Wizards (which may be resting its starters) and the Grizzlies which are still jockeying for position in the Western Conference.

They also need Brooklyn to lose one of its final two games for the team to finish with a better record given that the Nets hold the tiebreaker between the two teams. If the Pacers complete the miracle comeback, it would be figure in a rematch of last year’s first round battle with the Atlanta Hawks, with the seeding obviously reversed. The team has been using a rag tag of offensive players in Rodney Stuckey, George Hill and C.J. Miles to provide the team’s points. The return of Paul George is also giving the emotional support the team has been latching on to keep tis playoff hopes alive.

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