Are Miami and Indiana ducking the number 1 seed?

At one point this season the number one seed in the Eastern Conference was of great significance to the Indiana Pacers (55-26).  David West is Indiana's emotional leader.  Larry Bird signed West with the intentions of him becoming the Pacers emotional leader. West has repeatedly stated how important getting home-court advantage would be for the Pacers Psyche.    When a player like David West speaks, he represents himself as well as the rest of his team.  Indiana has made the mistake of letting locker room talk become public.

The Pacers set the bar too high coming into the season.  Much can happen over the course of 82 games.  Injuries, family concerns and fatigue alone can cost a team seven to 10 games a year.  Its one thing to personally think about the number on seed.  But to broadcast such a difficult task is almost asking for trouble.

Miami (54-26) and Indiana's struggles down the stretch are a bit confusing.  It doesn't seem as if either team really wants that top spot now.  The Chicago Bulls (47-33) and the Brooklyn Nets (44-36)will meet in first round for the second consecutive year.  In the Nets first season in Brooklyn these two teams played one of the best first round series in recent memory.  It seems like Chicago is always involved in good first round series.

Chicago and Brooklyn are the two hottest teams in the Eastern Conference headed into the playoffs.  Right now the number one seed doesn't seem like a good proposition.  The Toronto Raptors (47-33) have come on strong of late.  If Toronto defends home-court in the first round, they'll be a tough out with growing confidence moving forward.  However, Toronto is a young, inexperienced team.  Neither team is going to admit it, but Miami and Indiana will both be comfortable playing the Raptors in the second round.  I cant say the same about The Bulls or the Nets.


This season tanking has been rampant in the NBA.  I wouldn't be surprised if the same is on the minds of Erik Spoelstra and Frank Vogel.

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