These are the keys to the fight for fourth place in the Eastern Conference

Strong emotions are looming in this final stretch of the season for three franchises that stand as big question marks and cause some concern among the favorites of the Eastern Conference. Securing the fourth spot seems crucial to avoid the Celtics in the semifinals, ensure home-court advantage in the first round, and avoid dropping to sixth place, which would mean facing the Knicks right at the start.

In this situation, three teams find themselves, whose competitive dynamics this season have been very different. Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks have experienced unexpected and pronounced ups and downs but have also shown at certain times all the qualities that make them deserving of a shot at important things. On the other hand, Detroit Pistons have tested their limits and approach the remaining games with a sense of accomplishment and no pressure.

- Detroit Pistons have the second toughest schedule in the entire NBA

The recent serious injury that will keep Lillard out indefinitely has completely changed the outlook in this battle. While it is true that the Bucks have the advantage in head-to-head matchups with their two direct rivals, it seems challenging for them not to feel the absence of their point guard. Nevertheless, with only 11 games left to play, they have one of the most manageable schedules in the NBA, ranking 20th in terms of difficulty. The Pacers face a tougher schedule, ranked 15th, while the Pistons have the toughest road ahead with nine games to go and the second most challenging schedule in the NBA.

Therefore, Milwaukee Bucks needs to rack up wins to close the two-game gap to Indiana Pacers and also widen the distance from the ambitious Detroit Pistons. The likely scenario would be for the Detroit team to struggle with their schedule difficulty and end up in sixth place, while the Milwaukee and Indiana teams would battle for home-court advantage in the first round. Nevertheless, nothing can be ruled out.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Estas son las claves de la lucha por el cuarto puesto en la Conferencia Este