Over the next six games, the team heads west for a five-game road trip against sub-.500 teams (Pacers, Trail Blazers, Jazz, Kings, and Clippers) and come home to host the Bulls. The first place Pistons have a similar stretch (Jazz, Clippers, Lakers, Heat, and Cavaliers) and the Knicks take on some playoff contenders (Hawks twice, Pelicans, Spurs, and 76ers) with the #1 and #2 teams in the East facing off on January 5th.
Predict the Eastern Conference standings after this holiday stretch.
Ian Inangelo
- Pistons. I think they have an easier schedule than the Knicks and are still arguably the best team in the East. I also think they beat New York in the head-to-head matchup.
- Celtics. I think they go 5-0 on this road trip and close the gap within the eastern conference standings. Boston has a legit chance to make up ground and with the way they’re playing, I think they will be able to feast off of these weaker opponents.
- Knicks. The Knicks are still a good team but I think they lose their game vs the Spurs and maybe the 76ers. I also think they lose the head-to-head with Detroit which will let Boston be able to leap frog them.
Mark Aboyoun
I think Boston stays in the third seed but closes the gap with the Knicks. Although Boston has an easier schedule compared with New York, the Pacers, Clippers and Kings are all scrappy teams that will bring their best against the Celtics. I expect Boston to win the majority of its games out West, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it dropped one or two.
I think the Pistons will continue to roll, while the KNicks will face some tough matchups but should win most of them.
I can see Boston cutting the gap to two games , or even one and a half, behind the Knicks by the end of the stretch.
Steve Hooper
Heart says 5-1 . . . . Head says 4-2. As the saying goes: “Good teams travel well on the road.” We are looking like a very good team right now. Strangely enough the Clippers are the danger road game. Jazz, we seek revenge upon. I am pseudo wary of the Kings (for no logical reason- trap game?) but I think we can beat them easily. Ring in the new year with many wins.
