Challenges Ahead for Playoff-Contending Teams Behind East Leaders

As the NBA season progresses, it is becoming increasingly clear that the top of the Eastern Conference standings is setting in stone. The gap between Boston in second place and the rest of the pack seems insurmountable, just as the Celtics face an uphill battle in trying to overtake Cleveland for the coveted No. 1 seed.

That doesn’t mean, however, that the other playoff slots are settled.

What’s happened is that the East has separated into four defined tiers, with five lottery-focused aspirants at the bottom and four like-it-or-not SoFi Play-In Tournament probables above them. Moving up, it’s four competitive clubs, all with winning records, jockeying for playoff position but essentially resigned to running out of math needed to reach or pass either of the top two heavyweights.

“I try not to look a lot,” Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Monday. “But it’s pretty bunched up and it’s in flux. … There’s a lot happening, but we don’t focus on the standings.”

With one exception, the East’s top six teams – Cavaliers, Celtics, Knicks, Bucks, Pacersn and Pistons — were lined up in the same order in the standings on Dec. 1, Jan. 1 and Feb. 1. The lone exception was at the start of February, when Indiana had a half-game edge on Milwaukee.

Oh, there were some rivals laced among them at various times — Orlando, Miami, Atlanta — but those have drifted downward. The Hawks, Magic and Heat are all sputtering below .500, five or more games out of that sixth and final automatic playoff spot.

“I don’t think anybody’s catching [Cleveland or Boston],” Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers said Sunday before his Bucks faced (and lost) to Cleveland.

“After that, I would say everybody’s capable. With us, New York, Indiana, Detroit – did I get it right? – I think we’re all in reach of each other.”

Cleveland and Boston, barring the unexpected, have their sights set on May and June. For the next month, though, the action in the East is in spots No. 3 through 6. Here is a look at those four teams, angling for at least a little home-court edge when presumably they will all face each other in the first round:

New York Knicks

Record: 41-23
Games out of 2nd: 5.5
Games remaining: 18

With leader Jalen Brunson (sprained ankle) expected to be out for another week or longer after getting hurt Thursday against the Lakers, the Knicks’ hold on the No. 3 seed in the conference looks vulnerable. Then again, even an 8-10 finish would force the Bucks to go 13-6 just to tie.

Besides, a dip to fourth might not be a catastrophe because it would get the Knicks out of Boston’s path in the conference semifinals. New York is 0-2 so far against the Cavaliers (they play twice more in early April) but is worse against Boston — 0-3 while getting outscored by an average of 21 points per game.

Top priority now? A healthy Brunson. Then the Knicks need in the coming days to get center Mitchell Robinson, who recently returned to the lineup two weeks ago, comfortably back into his role as a rim protector and rebounder. Robinson has been on minutes and back-to-back restrictions yet needs reps to work alongside Karl-Anthony Towns.

New York’s offense ranks fifth in efficiency, but is in the bottom third in both 3-pointers and free throws attempted — essential stuff in playoff competition.

Milwaukee Bucks

Record: 36-27
Games out of 2nd: 10
Games remaining: 19

Milwaukee appeared to be making a run at the Knicks, if not Boston, until a hiccup weekend that saw it drop back-to-back home games to Orlando and Cleveland. The sobering news for Bucks fans is that their team is 0-9 against the Cavs (0-4), the Celtics (0-3) and the Knicks (0-2, with one game left March 28).

They also get two games this week against the Pacers, which could bring clarity to the 4-5 gap — and help determine home court if neither team climbs higher. Milwaukee still has a five-game Western Conference trip to navigate, even as its offense (13th ranked) struggles in stretches for points.

If it’s not Giannis Antetokounmpo or Damian Lillard scoring, it often is no one. The scoreboard deficits they battled against the Magic and Cavs have all but zapped memories of their recent 10-3 stretch. The jury is still out on Kyle Kuzma, acquired at the deadline for vet Khris Middleton, as he finds a way to fit in.

Backup big man Bobby Portis Jr., suspended for 25 games for violating the league’s anti-drug policy, is scheduled to return with about a week to prepare for the playoffs. Having the Greek Freak healthy is even more important — Antetokounmpo has appeared in just three of the Bucks’ 11 postseason games the past two springs (none last year) and hasn’t won one since May 11, 2022.

Indiana Pacers

Record: 35-28
Games out of 2nd: 11
Games remaining: 19

Opportunities? Sure, but not ideal ones. Indiana’s two games against the Bucks this week come as the tail ends to back-to-back situations. The Pacers are 3-6 in those circumstances and are 0-2 vs. Milwaukee.

Their loss at Chicago Monday was the third in a row without Tyrese Haliburton (hip). The point guard perked up in December across the board; since Dec. 1 he has averaged 19.8 points, 9.3 assists and just 1.6 turnovers, while shooting 51.8% overall and 45.9% from the arc.

The Pacers’ offense, however, has dropped from second in last season’s rankings to eighth, putting more pressure on a defense that has been a work in progress in 2024-25. Indiana ranked 23rd defensively through Dec. 31 but has improved to 10th since Jan. 1, with a lineup full of gritty defenders.

“It’s a lot of work,” Carlisle said. “It’s been a long process, but it’s essential for us. We have great guys and they’ve co-signed on the importance.”

Indiana is riding its first three-game losing streak in more than three months. Getting homecourt advantage in the opening round would be nice, since the Pacers needed six games playing out of the sixth seed to be a Giannis-less Bucks team last spring.

Detroit Pistons

Record: 36-29
Games out of 2nd: 11
Games remaining: 17

Nobody in the East has more games in the book, but that’s not the reason Detroit has shot by its victory total (14) from last season. With coach J.B. Bickerstaff taking over for Monty Williams, the Pistons have improved from 27th and 26th offensively and defensively, respectively, to 15th and 11th, with a swing of +10.7 in year-over-year net rating.

Detroit is shooting better and more often from deep, grabbing a higher percentage of rebounds and bringing an intensity defensively that shows in its increased steals and blocks numbers. Led by Kia Most Improved Player candidate Cade Cunningham, the Pistons thrive in transition, though their offense bogs down in the half court, and they do run a deficit at the line from their frequent fouling.

Still, none of these four began the season with more modest expectations than this bunch. And the schedule offers an appealing canvas on which they can paint a strong finish – two games left against the Wizards, two against the Pelicans, one against San Antonio. Of course, the Pistons have yet to face OKC and play their final three against the Knicks, the Bucks and the Bucks again in seeking their first postseason berth since 2019.

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Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.

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