Motivation

What are teams' motivation in the last 10 games? It's crazy to think that only 2 games separate between 10th and 5th place in the East. There are 6 teams that whoever goes 7-3 or 8-2 can jump 5 seeds or maintain their higher seed. Cavs will try desperately to hold onto that #4 seed like I hold onto my drink after last call. There is no way on God's green Earth that Cleveland will try for 3 seed or falter to 6 seed that I'd stake Fred Leornard's vinegar pill collection on. Cavs hold the keys to their destiny and that is going to be really exciting to see how they play the string out.

Meanwhile in the West, Lakers are more than likely locked into 3 seed as they cannot catch 2 seed and don't want to drop to 4 or 5 seed and face OKC in 2nd round. It seems like if they can get to 52 wins they are set. 

Warriors seem content to be in play in and lose to whomever to get their season over with and retool for next season.

Pistons more than likely cannot be caught for #1 seed as they own the series against both Celtics and Knicks so I'd imagine they coast to the finish to stay healthy and not risk anything. 

OKC look like they are not going to risk anything either as they can be caught by Spurs but health is their main focus to be ready for post season whether they go in as 1 or 2 seed. Maybe they let Spurs make the push to grab 1 seed and expend that energy while they lay in wait for whomever.

I can see Pistons and OKC going 5-5 down the stretch and being completely fine with that as long as they are healthy entering the playoffs. That's a lot of games where they are favs and lose outright. Both Detroit and OKC play 7 of next 9 against playoff teams fighting for position so I doubt they go all out in those "big games" as it means nothing to them and everything to the playoff teams they are playing.

Yeah, that's the dangerous part of the past couple weeks imo.  All the spreads started becoming like 10-20pt spreads where it's easy for teams to just let weak opponents stick around or backdoor the spreads.

Close race for #5 and #6 seed in East. Wouldn’t it be nice for Knicks to get the #3 seed and play Raps who they’ve beaten 10+ times straight. Would not want to get the #2 seed and possibly play Hornets out of the play-in. This #5/#6 seed race should get interesting…

@StraightWagers

 Are teams desperately resting their stars this early? 

Cade is out for the Pistons and yet Jalen Duren still played 31 mins last night on a back to back. Clearly not looking to coast to finish the season yet. Just an observation.