With the NBA regular season winding down and the Celtics in prime position to lock up the number two seed in the East, it’s time to start looking at seeding and matchups. Boston is likely to host a first-round series against the seventh seed, but with the implementation of the play-in tournament and how jumbled the standings are, there are still a number of teams that could enter the playoffs as the seventh seed.
As things stand, the Pistons, Celtics, Knicks, and Cavaliers are pretty much locked into the top four seeds, but just four games separate the next six teams. With this much up for grabs, it’s hard to get too prepared for any specific outcome, but it’s not too soon to start thinking about potential matchups.
All of the teams seeded fifth through tenth could currently end up as a first-round opponent for Boston. The Celtics would certainly be favored in any matchup, but some would be a lot easier and more challenging than others, at least on paper. These are the potential opponents, ranked from most desirable to least.
1.) Miami Heat - Don’t be scared by the name
It may seem crazy to call the Heat the most desirable first-round matchup, but that’s the reality of the situation. Boston has completely dominated Miami in recent years, and despite Erik Spoelstra’s witchcraft, Joe Mazzulla and company have solved his schemes. They don’t have the offensive firepower to keep up, and they have too many liabilities on the other end. This would be easy pickings.
2.) Orlando Magic - They may have quit on their coach
The Magic had massive expectations this year after making an all-in trade for Desmond Bane, but things just haven’t clicked. Jamahl Mosley’s seat couldn’t be hotter as this team hasn’t made any strides on offense, and their once vaunted defense has fallen off a cliff this season. With everyone healthy, it’s a strong lineup in theory, but the vibes are completely off, and this team has been a mess for most of the season. They look excited for the offseason, which will likely bring major change.
3.) Toronto Raptors - On the verge of extinction
The Raptors seem to be building towards something, but the pieces don’t really fit together. Scottie Barnes is a good young player, but not a number-one option on offense. Neither is Brandon Ingram. Neither is RJ Barrett nor Immanuel Quickley. They’ve got some nice parts and a nice coach, and their physicality and scheme on defense take the Celtics out of their comfort zone, but they simply don’t have the talent to bother Boston much.
4.) Philadelphia 76ers - The theoretical All-Stars
When we get glimpses of the Sixers at full strength, things look pretty good. But it’s very hard to imagine Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey will magically be able to stay on the court and play their best for any length of time. Even if they do, this team is old, slow, unathletic, and undisciplined. They’ve got much more talent than some of these other teams, but the idea of them putting it all together for a seven-game series seems like a long shot.
5.) Atlanta Hawks - How real is this?
The Hawks have been one of the hottest teams since the All-Star break, but the schedule has been a bit of a joke. Still, they played the Celtics tough on two occasions, and they actually have a lot of long, athletic defenders who can force turnovers and make Boston work harder than most. Ultimately, they probably don’t have the scoring punch or enough shooting, and their crunchtime offense is too reliant on CJ McCollum, but this team wouldn’t be a pushover.
6.) Charlotte Hornets - The young darlings of the NBA
It’s hard to believe, but the Hornets may well be the fifth-best team in the East, at least when it comes to upside and ceiling. Their biggest weaknesses are youth and inexperience, but Charles Lee has completely turned this team around, and the starting lineup of LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, and Moussa Diabate has been one of the best in basketball. Adding Coby White at the deadline was a great move as well, and this team actually has the firepower to keep up with anyone in the league.
Ultimately, they’re probably a year or two away, and the thought of them playing with enough discipline on both ends to actually pull a first-round upset feels like a long shot. But there’s no question this team could steal a few games and make a team sweat. They can’t hit their ceiling consistently, but when they do, they’re extremely dangerous.