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The leaderboard of the NBA’s Eastern Conference is beginning to appear settled: Boston seems unchallengeable for the second spot, just as Cleveland solidifies its hold on the top seed, with no teams currently in a position to compete for their positions.
Nonetheless, there remains significant uncertainty regarding the other playoff berths.
The Eastern Conference has effectively divided into four distinct tiers, with five teams eyeing lottery chances at the bottom and four teams likely to participate in the SoFi Play-In Tournament above them. Moving up the rankings, four competitive teams are vying for playoff positioning; all have winning records but have accepted that catching the top two giants is mathematically improbable.
“I try not to focus on it too much,” said Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle on Monday. “It’s quite close and constantly changing. … There’s a lot going on, but we don’t concentrate on the standings.”
With one exception, the top six teams in the East—Cavaliers, Celtics, Knicks, Bucks, Pacers, and Pistons—have occupied the same placement in the standings on December 1, January 1, and February 1. The only change occurred at the beginning of February, when the Pacers briefly held a slight advantage over the Bucks.
There have been contenders amongst them at different points—such as Orlando, Miami, and Atlanta—but these teams have fallen to the lower ranks. The Hawks, Magic, and Heat are all struggling below the .500 mark, trailing by five or more games from the sixth and final guaranteed playoff position.
“I don’t believe anyone is catching [Cleveland or Boston],” said Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers on Sunday before his Bucks faced (and lost to) the Cavaliers.
“Beyond that, I would say everyone is capable. With us, New York, Indiana, and Detroit—did I get it right?—I believe we are all close together.”
Cleveland and Boston are primarily focused on the latter stages of the season, but for now, the drama in the East centers on the battle for spots 3 through 6. Here’s a rundown of those four teams that are vying for at least some home-court advantage as they anticipate potential first-round matchups against each other:
Record: 41-23 | Games behind 2nd: 5.5 | Games remaining: 18
With star player Jalen Brunson (sprained ankle) expected to be sidelined for at least another week following an injury against the Lakers, the Knicks’ claim to the No. 3 seed in the conference appears precarious. However, even a lackluster finish of 8-10 could still compel the Bucks to finish 13-6 just to equal their record.
Moreover, slipping to fourth place might not be disastrous, as it would steer the Knicks clear of facing Boston until later rounds. So far, New York has struggled against the Cavaliers, going 0-2 with two more meetings scheduled for early April, but their record against Boston is even worse—0-3 with an average loss margin of 21 points.
The immediate priority? Ensuring Brunson’s return to health. The Knicks also need to reintegrate center Mitchell Robinson, who recently came back to the lineup, effectively into his role as a shot-blocker and rebounder. Robinson has been subject to minutes and back-to-back game limitations but needs playing time to sync up with Karl-Anthony Towns.
While New York boasts the league’s fifth-best offensive efficiency, it ranks low for attempts in both three-pointers and free throws—key factors during playoff runs.
Record: 36-27 | Games behind 2nd: 10 | Games remaining: 19
Milwaukee seemed poised to challenge the Knicks, if not Boston, until a disheartening weekend where they lost consecutive home games to Orlando and Cleveland. The harsh reality for Bucks supporters is that their team is winless against the Cavs (0-4), the Celtics (0-3), and the Knicks (0-2, with one remaining contest on March 28).
This week, they face the Pacers twice, which may help clarify the 4-5 positioning and influence home-court advantage, should neither team advance higher. Milwaukee also faces a challenging five-game road trip in the West, with their offense (currently ranked 13th) struggling to find consistent scoring.
If it’s not Giannis Antetokounmpo or Damian Lillard putting points on the board, it often feels like no one else is contributing. The losses to the Magic and Cavs have overshadowed their recent strong record of 10-3. The uncertain fit of Kyle Kuzma, acquired for veteran Khris Middleton at the trade deadline, is also a storyline to watch.
Backup big man Bobby Portis Jr. is set to return from a 25-game suspension for violating the league’s anti-drug policies, allowing about a week to prepare for the playoffs. Keeping Antetokounmpo healthy is critical—he has participated in just three of the Bucks’ last eleven playoff contests over the past two springs and has not secured a win since May 11, 2022.
Record: 35-28 | Games behind 2nd: 11 | Games remaining: 19
There are opportunities for the Pacers, but they’re not particularly favorable. Indiana’s games against the Bucks this week come on the back end of back-to-back schedules. The Pacers have struggled in these spots, standing at 3-6 while also holding an 0-2 record against Milwaukee.
Their loss to Chicago on Monday marked their third consecutive defeat without star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who is sidelined with a hip injury. Haliburton’s performance elevated in December; since then, he has averaged 19.8 points, 9.3 assists, and only 1.6 turnovers per game while shooting 51.8% overall and 45.9% from three-point range.
However, the Pacers’ offensive efficiency has slipped from second last season to eighth this year, further heightening pressures on a defense that is still a work in progress. Indiana ranked 23rd defensively by the end of December, but has improved to 10th since January 1, showcasing a lineup filled with determined defenders.
“It’s a considerable effort,” Carlisle remarked. “It’s been a lengthy process, but it’s vital for our success. We have committed players who understand its significance.”
At present, Indiana is experiencing its first three-game losing streak in over three months. It would be beneficial to secure home-court advantage in the first round since the Pacers needed six games while playing as the sixth seed to defeat a Giannis-less Bucks team during last spring’s playoffs.
Record: 36-29 | Games behind 2nd: 11 | Games remaining: 17
Detroit has the most games played in the East, yet that’s not the reason they’ve surpassed their previous season total of 14 victories. Under the new leadership of coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who succeeded Monty Williams, the Pistons have advanced from 27th in offensive ranking and 26th in defensive ranking to 15th and 11th, respectively, demonstrating a net improvement of +10.7 year-over-year.
Detroit has improved its shooting efficiency from three, elevated its rebounding percentage, and displayed a more intense defensive approach reflected in increased steals and blocks. Led by Kia Most Improved Player candidate Cade Cunningham, the Pistons excel in transition, although their half-court offense can sometimes stagnate, and they face challenges at the free-throw line due to frequent fouling.
Nevertheless, none of these four competitive teams began the season with higher expectations than this squad. Their remaining schedule offers a favorable opportunity for a strong finish—with two games against the Wizards, two against the Pelicans, and one against San Antonio. However, the Pistons have yet to face OKC, and their final three games will be against the Knicks and the Bucks as they seek their first playoff appearance since 2019.
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Steve Aschburner has been covering the NBA since 1980. You can reach him via email here, view his archive here, and follow him on X.
The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of the NBA, its teams, or Warner Bros. Discovery.
