Eastern Conference
LeBron James and the Cavs are eyeing home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. AP
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Cleveland Cavaliers (60-13)
If The Playoffs Started Today: No. 1 seed
Games Remaining: 5 home; 4 away
Games vs. Teams Above .500: 6
Projected Finish: 7-2 (67-15); No. 1 seed. They've pulled away in the East with a franchise-record 12-game winning streak.
What Lies Ahead: Oddly enough, a little pressure. The Cavs have done well playing the underdog in the playoffs during the LeBron James era. Now that they are expected to win, how will they respond?
Boston Celtics (56-19)
If The Playoffs Started Today: No. 3 seed
Games Remaining: 5 home; 2 away
Games vs. Teams Above .500: 4
Projected Finish: 6-1 (62-20); No. 2 seed. They may go into the playoffs healthy, but they'll also go in knowing they won't have a potential Game 7 at home against Cleveland in the conference finals. Based on these projections, however, the Celtics do get Game 7 at home against Orlando in the second round.
What Lies Ahead: They'll tune up in the first round against Chicago before a showdown with Orlando.
Orlando Magic (54-18)
If The Playoffs Started Today: No. 2 seed
Games Remaining: 5 home; 5 away
Games vs. Teams Above .500: 4
Projected Finish: 8-2 (62-20); No. 3 seed. A loss in Atlanta next Saturday could cost Orlando the No. 2 seed, given the likelihood that the Celtics will have the tiebreaker thanks to a better record in the Eastern Conference.
What Lies Ahead: Having the best road record in the East should ease the sting of losing the No. 2 seed on a tiebreaker. So should a first-round matchup against the Sixers, who should pat themselves on the back just for making it to the postseason after undergoing a coaching change and losing free-agent prize Elton Brand.
Atlanta Hawks (43-31)
If The Playoffs Started Today: No. 4 seed
Games Remaining: 3 home; 5 away
Games vs. Teams Above .500: 4
Projected Finish: 5-3 (48-34); No. 4 seed. The schedule softens after an early-April back-to-back against the Celtics and Magic.
What Lies Ahead: A series against Dwyane Wade. At least the Hawks will have home-court advantage, as they are 29-9 at Philips Arena and have won only three games on the road against winning teams all season.
Miami Heat (39-34)
If The Playoffs Started Today: No. 5 seed
Games Remaining: 4 home; 5 away
Games vs. Teams Above .500: 5
Projected Finish: 3-6 (42-40); No. 5 seed. With only three games against non-playoff teams ahead, D-Wade and friends can forget about catching the Hawks.
What Lies Ahead: Only 13-23 on the road, the Heat will have to win at least one time at Atlanta to advance in the playoffs.
Philadelphia 76ers (37-35)
If The Playoffs Started Today: No. 6 seed
Games Remaining: 5 home; 5 away
Games vs. Teams Above .500: 4
Projected Finish: 5-5 (42-40); No. 6 seed. An imposing final stretch -- with road games at Charlotte, Chicago and Cleveland and home games against the Celtics and Cavs -- will make Philly sweat the Bulls.
What Lies Ahead: A reminder that the Sixers have a ways to go before joining the Celtics and Lakers in their 1980s revival tour.
Chicago Bulls (36-39)
If The Playoffs Started Today: No. 8 seed
Games Remaining: 5 home; 2 away
Games vs. Teams Above .500: 1
Projected Finish: 5-2 (41-41); No. 7 seed. With five of their final six at home, the Bulls will hold off a Pistons team that hasn't been right all season.
What Lies Ahead: Considering how disjointed this team was around New Year's, a playoff appearance is a good accomplishment -- though its postseason stay figures to be short-lived.
Detroit Pistons (36-37)
If The Playoffs Started Today: No. 7 seed
Games Remaining: 3 home; 6 away
Games vs. Teams Above .500: 3
Projected Finish: 4-5 (40-42); No. 8 seed. The schedule doesn't have a lot of high-powered teams, but several opponents are still contending for playoff position.
What Lies Ahead: Detroit, with its healthy dislike of the Cavs and aging but still talented core, should make Cleveland work in the first round.
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