NBA: No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference is there for the taking
After big injuries to the Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets, the No. 1 seed in the NBA’s Eastern Conference is officially up for grabs.
Before the season, the race for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference was considered to be one of the biggest storylines heading into the season.
Of note, the Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, and possibly Philadelphia 76ers were set to battle for the 1-seed. However, as the season has progressed, the 1-seed in the East is now a battle between the Nets, Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, and, surprisingly, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
What has made the 1-seed even more feasible in the East is the significant injuries that have arrived for the Nets and Bulls.
Over the past week, the Nets have lost Kevin Durant and the Bulls have lost Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball for what will be weeks. Specifically, Durant is expected to miss at least a month. Ball and Caruso are expected to also miss at least a month – and possibly much longer.
Currently, the Nets and Bulls are 1-2 in the East standings but are only two games ahead of the fifth-seeded Cavs.
What does that mean? Well, that, literally, the East’s 1-seed is up for grabs and is there for the taking. That could make the NBA Trade Deadline that much more intriguing.
Would any of the middle-of-the-pack East teams try to make a big move at the deadline in an attempt to make move up the standings? The opportunity may be there, especially with a handful of big names reportedly on the block.
Ultimately, you expect the Nets and Bucks to be the two favorites to emerge from the East once the playoffs begin. However, would that change if either one of those teams had to perhaps face each other in the second round or have to start the series on the road?
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Oftentimes in the NBA, the saying is that stars win championships, regardless of the road. Perhaps we’re going to find out if that will hold true. Especially if the road to the NBA Finals in the Eastern Conference goes through somewhere other than Brooklyn or Milwaukee.