NBA: Which teams will earn the final three playoff spots in the East?

Predicting which teams will earn the final three playoff spots in the NBA’s Eastern Conference

The NBA All-Star break is officially in our review mirror, which means that once basketball picks back up – which will happen Thursday – the final push for the playoffs will begin.

Whether it’s teams trying to secure a top 4 spot to ensure hosting a first-round playoff series, to teams trying to ensure a playoff spot altogether, there will be many races to follow in the final couple months of the season.

Especially in the Eastern Conference, which is pretty top-heavy at the moment. The battle between the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks for the top seed will be something to key on. The same could be said for the fight between the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics, as they try and avoid finishing in the 5th seed.

However, perhaps the most interesting race will take place at the bottom of the East playoff picture where there are essentially six teams vying for the final three playoff spots. Which teams will be able to close the season on a high note, and clinch their appearance in the post-season?

As the final push for the NBA Playoffs quickly approaches, we take a closer look each of these six teams vying for the playoffs and predict which three will actually come away with a ticket to the post-season.