Eastern Conference Battle for Home Court - Hawks, Celtics, Heat, Hornets

[Hotlantadude81]

Seeds 3-6 are heavily contested.

With single digits games left for all of them, these are their current records:

3. Hawks 45-30
4. Heat 43-30
5. Celtics 43-31
6. Hornets 42-31

Remaining schedule (with projections):

Hawks:
@ Toronto L
v.s. Cleveland W
v.s. Phoenix W
v.s. Toronto ?
v.s. Boston ?
@ Cleveland ?
@ Washington ?

Pretty impossible to predict, since it depends on if the Cavaliers sit starters, and if Washington is still fighting for a playoff spot.

Heat:
@ Los Angeles (Lakers) W
@ Sacramento W
@ Portland L
v.s. Detroit W
v.s. Chicago W
@ Orlando L
v.s. Orlando W
@ Detroit ?
@ Boston L

Boston crowd will be roaring, final decisive game and all, Detroit depends on what they're fighting for.

Celtics:
@ Portland L
@ Golden State L
@ Los Angeles (Lakers) W
v.s. New Orleans W
v.s. Milwaukee W
@ Atlanta ?
v.s. Charlotte ?
v.s. Miami W

Hornets:
@ Philadelphia W
v.s. Philadelphia W
@ Cleveland L
@ Toronto L
@ New York W
v.s. Brooklyn W
@ Washington ?
@ Boston ?
v.s. Orlando W

Eventually, none of these teams are fighting to avoid the Cavaliers or Raptors, they'all all be playing each other in the first round, however, home court is important, and:

the winner of the 3 v.s. 6 seed, gets to play the Raptors instead of the Cavaliers in the second round. Massive difference.

So, since these teams are all pretty much on a similar level, I would just be fine with dropping to #6, since it makes the possible next round, that much more winnable.

Are any of these teams worth a shit?

Just do a Cleveland vs. Toronto series and a Warriors vs. Spurs series and let the winners play in the finals. The rest of the teams are worthless.

[ArbitraryWater]

Are any of these teams worth a shit?

Just do a Cleveland vs. Toronto series and a Warriors vs. Spurs series and let the winners play in the finals. The rest of the teams are worthless.

damn

[Nash]

BEastern Conference

[GrapeApe]

Are any of these teams worth a shit?

Just do a Cleveland vs. Toronto series and a Warriors vs. Spurs series and let the winners play in the finals. The rest of the teams are worthless.

One of those teams doesn't belong. The Heat probably have the best chance of beating the Cavs. They could also lose in the first round, as could the Raptors. Point is, I wouldn't lump the Raptors in with the Cavs, Warriors, and Spurs. The Cavs are the only team in the east with a (somewhat) realistic chance of winning the title.

[MMM]

that win the other night in the east bay put the Celtics in pretty solid position and made up for a tough loss in portland. They also have tie breakers over Cha/Mia and finish the season @ Atl, vs. Cha, and vs. Mia so contol their fate to a degree.

[Hotlantadude81]

One of those teams doesn't belong. The Heat probably have the best chance of beating the Cavs. They could also lose in the first round, as could the Raptors. Point is, I wouldn't lump the Raptors in with the Cavs, Warriors, and Spurs. The Cavs are the only team in the east with a (somewhat) realistic chance of winning the title.

Well, they have one of the four best records.

Miami isn't going to win anything.

[GrapeApe]

Well, they have one of the four best records.

Miami isn't going to win anything.

They actually have the 5th best record, but my point is the Raptors aren't winning anything either. It's essentially a 3 team race.

The Heat obviously aren't winning a title but I like their chances against the Cavs more than anyone else in the east.

[Real14]

Leastern conference