Celtics
The Celtics’ recent winning streak has brought them closer to the top seed in the Eastern Conference, now within four games.
Following a disappointing loss to the Cavaliers on February 28 where they blew a 22-point lead, the Celtics seemed to have lost their chance at the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. At that time, they were trailing the Cavaliers by 7.5 games with just over a month left in the season.
Fast forward four weeks, the Celtics now find themselves in a position to contend for the top spot. The Cavaliers have struggled following their impressive 16-game winning streak, losing five of their last eight games, while the Celtics have gained momentum, marking their eighth consecutive win recently as their schedule has eased off.
With their recent victory in San Antonio, the Celtics sit four games behind the Cavaliers. Both teams have eight games left in the season, providing Boston with an opportunity to edge closer to the No. 1 seed.
However, the likelihood of the Celtics claiming the top seed remains uncertain. They currently possess only a 2.9 percent chance of achieving this, according to Basketball-Reference. Meanwhile, ESPN’s BPI projects Cleveland to finish with approximately 65 wins, while Boston is expected to end with about 61 victories.
The final weeks of the season will be pivotal, based largely on the remaining matchups of both teams. Cleveland has a more challenging schedule, facing teams either in playoff contention or on the cusp, whereas Boston will face less competitive teams, enhancing their chances of winning and potentially overtaking Cleveland.
To successfully clinch the No. 1 seed, the Celtics would need to secure at least five more wins than the Cavaliers in the season’s final stretch. If both teams end up even in wins but split the season series, conference records will be the deciding factor. As of now, the Cavaliers hold an edge in that regard.
Looking ahead, if the Celtics secure the No. 2 seed, they’ll likely face the winner of the 7/8 matchup in the play-in tournament, with teams like the Magic and Hawks currently in that positioning. Even though the Bulls and Heat have been strong lately, the Magic and Hawks are viewed as the likely contenders for the play-in spots, each with favorable chances.
