Raptors trying to hold off Celtics
Boston is making a move in the final weeks, trying to get that East top spot
The Eastern Conference is by no means as messy as the Western, but hardly anything is settled with eight days remaining in the regular season. The top seed is still up for grabs; seeds three through five are all fluid and the same goes with six, seven and eight.
With that in mind, here’s your viewer’s guide to the Eastern Conference (records going into Tuesday’s games):
Toronto (55-21), 1st
Games remaining: vs. Boston Wednesday; vs. Indiana Friday; vs. Orlando Sunday; at Detroit Monday; at Miami April 11
Outlook: The Raptors hit a rough stretch, losing four of their past seven games.
But the Raptors have been reliable, and this would appear to be more an anomaly than a significant problem. A three-game stretch against the Cavs (Tuesday), Celtics and Pacers will reveal a lot about Toronto.
Boston (53-23), 2nd
Games remaining: at Toronto Wednesday; vs. Chicago Friday; vs. Atlanta Sunday; at Washington April 10; vs. Brooklyn April 11.
Outlook: Just two weeks ago, the Celtics were five games behind the Raptors and all but out of the running for the No. 1 seed.
But seven victories in eight games, including six consecutive wins, have given them a chance.
Cleveland (47-30), 3rd
Games remaining: vs. Washington Thursday; at Philadelphia Friday; at New York Monday; vs. New York April 11.
Outlook: LeBron James is averaging a triple-double since Feb. 1, and the Cavs have won 11 of their past 15 games.
Cleveland is getting healthy and starting to play better, trending in the right direction headed into the playoffs.
Philadelphia (46-30), 4th
Games remaining: at Detroit Wednesday; vs. Cleveland Friday; vs. Dallas Sunday; at Atlanta April 10; vs. Milwaukee April 11.
Outlook: The Sixers will be mentioned as “The Team Nobody Wants to Play in the Playoffs.” They are on a 10game winning streak for the first time since 2000, and since Jan. 1, they have the fourth-best record, the second-best defense and ninth-best offense. They need Joel Embiid (out with a facial fracture) if they want to go deep in the playoffs.
Indiana (46-31), 5th
Games remaining: vs. Golden State Thursday; at Toronto Friday; at Charlotte Sunday; vs. Charlotte April 10.
Outlook: The Pacers have managed a difficult schedule well, winning 13 of 19 games since the All-Star break, including nine wins against teams with plus.500 records.
The next three games (including Tuesday’s vs. Denver) will help determine if they climb into the top four.
Washington (42-35), 6th
Games remaining: at Cleveland Thursday; vs. Atlanta Friday; vs. Boston April 10; at Orlando April 11.
Outlook: John Wall’s return should give the Wizards a needed boost, but will it be enough to fend off Miami and Milwaukee for the sixth seed? Inconsistency has hurt Washington, and Sunday’s loss to Chicago without Wall exemplified those issues.
Miami (41-36), 7th
Games remaining: at Atlanta Wednesday; at New York Friday; vs. Oklahoma City Monday; vs. Toronto April 11.
Outlook: Miami has been relying on defense but it needs to avoid overtime. The Heat have lost five of six overtime games since the All-Star break, including a tough home loss to Brooklyn on Saturday. They need to get Hassan Whiteside, who was unhappy about playing time, on the right page, too.
Milwaukee (41-36), 8th
Games remaining: vs. Brooklyn Thursday; at New York Saturday; vs. Orlando Monday; at Philadelphia April 11.
Outlook: The Bucks are another team plagued by inconsistency, especially on defense, which hasn’t taken shape as expected.
Injuries haven’t helped either, but Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe and Jabari Parker create enough offense to give opponents problems.