NBA Great Debates: Eastern Conference’s Eighth Seed

NBA Outsider’s Joe Boikess
and Adam Sweeney debate the issue: Which team will earn the Eastern Conference’s eighth and final playoff spot?

Joe Boikess believes the Bulls have the edge:

In the Western Conference, probably the biggest story to follow for the last month of the regular season centers on playoff positioning. The teams that make up second through eighth place are separated by only four-and-a-half games, and the potential playoff matchups change with each and every day that’s checked off the schedule.

But in the East there’s a race that’s just as tight, except this one is just for one spot: the eighth seed. Six teams still have a realistic shot at getting in: the Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte Bobcats, New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, and Indiana Pacers.

So which team will have enough to get into the postseason, giving them the right to play what’s likely to be the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round? I’m taking the Bulls. Why? In the words of my favorite Around the Horn contributor, Woody Paige, “Look at the schedule!”

Eight of Chicago’s remaining 12 games are at home, and if you’ve been following the Bulls this season you’ll know that they are a much, much better team at the United Center. Their 12 home losses are fifth-fewest in the East, and 21 of their 32 wins this season have come at home.

The Nets, Knicks, Bobcats and Bucks all have schedules that either are road-heavy or contain more than a few tough opponents that would likely lead to a loss.

The Bulls are also playing the best basketball of any of these teams at the moment. Midseason additions John Salmons and Brad Miller have been very productive in their new roles. And the team is also hoping to get Luol Deng back from a leg injury by the end of the month, giving the team yet another scoring option as well as one of the team’s best individual defenders.

Sure, the Bulls have their share of problems, as every team does. None of these six squads are great teams by any stretch of the imagination, as all of them are below .500. But to me, the Bulls have the best chance to get in the playoffs based on their favorable schedule, excellent play of late (especially at home), and their multi-talented and relatively deep roster.

Adam Sweeney likes the Bobcats to finish eighth:

Joe, allow me to take the Bulls by the horns in addressing the playoff push for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. The schedule is definitely going to play a factor, perhaps more for average teams like the Bulls, Charlotte Bobcats and Milwaukee Bucks. A team like the Boston Celtics can match up against any team in the league. We can’t say the same for Milwaukee, who are ripe for the picking even against Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Chicago, okay mainly Derrick Rose, has potential, but allow me to paraphrase the words of former Boston Celtics head coach Rick Pitino. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen aren’t coming through that door.

There are other factors that stand out to me such as coaching expertise and roster depth. In light of those two factors, the Charlotte Bobcats look to be the team that will get the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. They are gaining momentum at the right time and learning to play as a team. The importance of a favorable schedule fits for the Bobcats, who play the Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks in the next three games.

There’s really only three games that should scare the Bobcats on the remainder of the schedule, which are the ones against the L.A. Lakers, Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic. Boston may be beatable since they are struggling without Kevin Garnett. Who knew that Stephon Marbury wasn’t going to be their savior. I know I’m shocked. Okay maybe not.

The Bobcats also are under the tutelage of Larry Brown, a man who has already taken five teams to the playoffs in his first season with them. Brown isn’t concerned with having players who will make the highlight reel, as you can see by the team letting go of Jason Richardson. What he lacks in flash, he makes up in substance and now the Charlotte Bobcats are understanding how to play the game the right way. That’s a huge advantage when trying to choose from a group of teams that are the definition of inconsistent.

Let’s face it, inconsistency is what got all these teams fighting for the eighth spot in the East. We’ve seen the magic that Larry Brown can work time and time again. (Don’t count his time recently with the New York Knicks. It’s like remembering a bad haircut.) He’s got a team playing for respect and their first playoff spot ever. That’s saying something considering the media’s focus on this team has mainly been comprised of Adam Morrison and Michael Jordan in the front office jokes.

Now think of Vinny Del Negro, the NBA’s version of Don Johnson from Miami Vice. He would be great as a commentator on the I Love the 80’s, but I don’t think he can match up with the likes of Brown. Who knows, maybe there will be a remake of the show CHiPs. Del Negro can ride alongside Erik Estrada as they let their retro-hairdos flow against the wind.

The Bobcats don’t have the sparkle that a roster like Chicago’s does. Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, Derrick Rose and Kirk Hinrich all turn heads, but how much have they really accomplished so far? (Rose gets a pass as a rookie. He’s also a beast.) Now look at Gerald Wallace, a severely underrated player. Of course, aren’t all good players on average teams?

What separates the Bobcats from the Bulls is how they’ve been able to stay in contention, which is by any means possible. The Bobcats have already used 23 players this season. That would usually mean disaster. Instead, we are seeing a team that is banding together in order to hide the gaps in talent. Their style of play, which would make molasses dripping seem like an Indy car, also helps to make up for a flawed roster. If it can work for the Princeton Tigers, it can work for the Bobcats.

The every man plays concept is also going to help the Bobcats as we get to the end of the season. We don’t know how much more a rookie like Derrick Rose has in the tank. We do know that the starters on the Bobcats will be rested and the bench more battle tested now that everyone expect Michael Jordan himself (And don’t put it past him playing) getting out on the court.

The Bulls have the names. The Bobcats have the coach and the right approach to the game. That’s why they will claw their way to the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.