NBA: Satisfying Chaos At Bottom Of Eastern Conference Playoff Picture

Mar 14, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Boston Celtics forward

Jae Crowder

(99) makes a pass from the ground against Indiana Pacers forward

David West

and center

Roy Hibbert

(55) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Boston defeats Indiana 93-89. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

As the NBA playoff push heats up, we examine the mysterious intrigue in the battle for the last two spots in the Eastern Conference playoffs

Almost as interesting as the battle for seeding in the Western Conference, or the clash atop the Eastern Conference standings between the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers, is the fight for the final two playoff spots in the East.

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An embarrassingly bad conference in the recent past, the struggle — and it is a struggle — for its final two playoff spots has actually become quite entertaining during the last few weeks. The Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets, and Indiana Pacers have been hanging around the 7th and 8th seeds all season long, but they now have to deal with a 4th adversary for the final playoff spots: the Boston Celtics.

The “don’t know if we want to tank or make the playoffs” Celtics have made a mad dash from the cellar of the East to just half a game out of the 8th seed in just a matter of weeks.

But who is it going to be?

Which teams are going to be the ones to get there?

Well, get your Heisenberg meth lab suit on so no one catches anything, because we’re about to delve into the cesspool that is the bottom of the East in order to answer the all-important question of which two teams will earn the opportunity to get thrashed by the Hawks and Cavs in round 1.

Next: The Miami Heat