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Predicting Final Seedings For 2015 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs

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By @Greg_Sacidor

Predicting Final Seedings For 2015 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs

Toronto Raptors v Atlanta Hawks
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The NBA’s Eastern Conference appears to be wide open this year. When all the dust settles and the 2014-15 regular season comes to an end, here is what the final Eastern Conference standings will look like.

8. Charlotte Hornets

Charlotte Hornets
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8. Charlotte Hornets

Charlotte Hornets
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Despite currently possessing a losing record, the newly re-branded Charlotte Hornets would be in if the NBA playoffs started today. With the recent acquisition of Mo Williams and point guard Kemba Walker due back from injury in March, the Hornets will have just enough firepower to hold off the young and hungry Boston Celtics for the eighth and final seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

7. Miami Heat

Miami Heat
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7. Miami Heat

Miami Heat
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Just like the Charlotte Hornets, the Miami Heat find themselves currently in the playoffs despite a losing record. Between Dwyane Wade returning from injury after the All-Star break, veterans like Chris Bosh still on the roster and the ongoing emergence of Hassan Whiteside, the Heat should have no problem making it into the playoffs. Advancing, however, is a whole other story.

6. Milwaukee Bucks

Milwaukee Bucks
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6. Milwaukee Bucks

Milwaukee Bucks
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Coming into the season, nobody had high expectations for the Milwaukee Bucks. But despite a season-ending injury to prized rookie Jabari Parker, the Bucks have managed to find themselves in the thick of things in the Eastern Conference. Led by fourth-year guard Brandon Knight and newly-hired head coach Jason Kidd, the Bucks will certainly be one of the teams in this year’s Eastern Conference playoffs.

5. Washington Wizards

Washington Wizards
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5. Washington Wizards

Washington Wizards
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With one of the best backcourt tandems in the NBA, the Washington Wizards are currently right in the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference. When the regular season comes to an end, this will be no different. With other teams in the Eastern Conference now hitting their stride, the Wizards will be on the outside looking in when it comes to having home-court advantage in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland Cavaliers
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4. Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland Cavaliers
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To close out the first half of the 2014-15 regular season, the Cleveland Cavaliers won 14 of their last 16 games. As LeBron James and the rest of his teammates continue to get comfortable playing with one another, the Cavaliers will only continue to get better and better. When the playoffs are set to begin, expect the Cavaliers to be one of the top four teams in the Eastern Conference.

3. Chicago Bulls

Chicago Bulls
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3. Chicago Bulls

Chicago Bulls
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Amidst rumors of head coach Tom Thibodeau possibly on the verge of losing his job, the Chicago Bulls tuned out all of the noise and continued to play their style of basketball. With almost half of their remaining 28 games against sub-.500 teams, the Bulls will be able to hold onto their spot as the third-best team record-wise in the Eastern Conference.

2. Toronto Raptors

Toronto Raptors
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2. Toronto Raptors

Toronto Raptors
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Although they are currently the No. 2 seed in the East, the Toronto Raptors have their work cut out for them coming out of the All-Star break as they face the Hawks, Rockets, Pelicans, Mavericks, Warriors, Cavaliers and Thunder in seven of their first 10 games. If they can weather this storm, things will get easier -- especially to close out the season. In nine of their last 10 games, their opponents currently possess a sub-.500 record.

1. Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta Hawks
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1. Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta Hawks
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Outside of the Golden State Warriors, the Atlanta Hawks have been the biggest surprise of the 2014-15 season. With only 28 games remaining on their schedule, it will be hard for the Hawks to squander the 6.5-game lead they currently hold over the Toronto Raptors.

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