Last Spot of Eastern Conference Playoffs Still Unsecured

April is just around the corner, and so are the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs. As of now, the first seven spots are virtually secured with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, and Philadelphia 76ers. The Cavaliers and Lebron James lead the eastern conference with a .797 winning percentage, and the Boston Celtics trail behind them with a .758. While Orlando holds a .738 winning percentage, Atlanta, Miami, Detroit, and Philadelphia are all similar with above .500 records. The remaining spot, however, will be taken by a sub-500 team. Which team has the greatest chance of slipping into the Eastern Conference Playoffs?

The Remaining Teams
Eight teams remain, fighting for the last spot in the playoffs. I say fight loosely because some teams are practically already out of the race. Take the Washington Wizards. Even with Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, and an injured Gilbert Arenas, the Wizards have the worst record in the league with 7 wins and 35 losses. Right behind them are the Toronto Raptors, led by Chris Bosh and his main supporters, Shawn Marion and Jose Calderon. They, too, have a disappointing record of 14 wins and 24 losses. On the other hand, the other six teams (Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Charlotte Bobcats, and Indiana Pacers), are all competing fiercely for the last spot with their .400 records. Their games back from the East coast leader, the Celtics, range from 23 to 24.5, illustrating that their records are, in fact, very similar.

Clearly, with so many comparable teams, finding the last team to take the final spot in the East Coast Playoffs is a difficult decision. The Bucks are a very strong team, mostly because of their team's depth. While Richard Jefferson tends to score over 20 a game, you have other pivotal players like Michael Redd, Charlie Bell, Ramon Sessions, and Charlie Villanueva who all score 10+ a game. Then you have the Knicks, a team which has made considerable improvement since last year. With Stephen Marbury and Zach Randolph gone, and Curry rarely ever played, the rest of the players on the Knicks can truly shine. Nate Robinson maintains an 18 points per game average, while Larry Hughes, Wilson Chandler, and the persistent David Lee comprise the rest of the Knicks cast. The Nets are also a surprisingly successful team, led by point guard Devin Harris and shooting guard Vince Carter, who both average over 20 points a game. Their teamwork, along with the depth of the team, makes the Nets a powerful contestant for the last spot in the playoffs. Rookie Derrick Rose and shooting guard Ben Gordon, on the other hand, lead the Chicago Bulls through a revival. With supporting members like Kirk Hinrich and Joakim Noah, the Bulls are a lurking threat to underestimating teams. The Indian Pacers, also, with no superstars on their team, can steal the last spot in the playoffs because of their depth. While almost all of the starters score over 10 points a game, Michael Dunleavy holds the third line with an impressive 15 points a game. Finally, the Charlotte Bobcats are a respectable team because of their strong starting line up. Despite the relative weakness in their bench, all five starts score more than 10 points a game.

Editor's Choice
The New York Knicks will win the last spot of the East Coast Playoff Race. With new headcoach Mike D'Antoni, the inexperienced, young, and energetic team has been enlightened with the experience and leadership of D'Antoni. D'Antoni previously coached the Denver Nuggets for one year, and the Phoenix Suns from 2004-2008 with an above .600 record almost every season. The Knicks also have a strong defense, controlled by Wilson Chandler and David Lee. Nate Robinson controls the offense with his stray three point shots and immediate cuts to the basket. Supporting cast of notable mention includes Larry Hughes, Al Harrington, and Chris Duhon. With the team learning from its mistakes of the 2008 season, the Knicks are now ready to compete with the big players in the 2009 East Conference Playoffs.

Sources:
"NBA Standings 2008-2009." ESPN.com.