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<\/a><\/p>\nOverall, though, this is a very convoluted week of games, and this is just a general guide to who you could root for based on what could happen. With any given day, wins, losses, injury reports, and standing shifts, who to root for can change. And even that will likely differ from person to person based on who you want the Knicks to play, how good or bad you think certain teams are, and if you even care at all.<\/p>\n
Kicking off Monday\u2019s slate of games is the Pistons, who\u2019ll be hosting the red-hot Lakers. The Pistons are just 6-4 in their last 10 games, and will once again be without Cade Cunningham, who was diagnosed with a collapsed lung late last week. Root for the Lakers to continue their streak to make it 10 wins in a row, and the Knicks could pull to 4.5 games behind them.<\/p>\n The Magic will also be playing the tanking Pacers, with the Raptors playing the Jazz later on. If the Knicks end up overtaking the Celtics for the second-seed, they\u2019d play either the Magic or 76ers if the standings hold up the way they are right now. As I mentioned earlier, the Knicks shouldn\u2019t be avoiding anyone, but as a fan, I\u2019d rather them play the Raptors. Root for the Magic in this one, as it gets one game closer to passing the Raptors, unless you want to see the Magic take on the Pistons. In that case, root for the Pacers.<\/p>\n Aside from the Pelicans vs. Knicks game, the Magic vs. Cavaliers game is the only one that has any real seeding implications in the Eastern Conference. For the reasons listed above, root for the Magic to win. That would not only put them another step closer to overtaking the fifth-seed, but it would also put a bit more breathing room between the Knicks and the Cavaliers. The only caveat is, if you really think that the Knicks can\u2019t take over the second-seed, and will finish the season third in the conference, and would rather face off against the Hawks than the Magic, then you\u2019ll be better off rooting for the Cavaliers in this one so that Orlando doesn\u2019t climb too high in the standings.<\/p>\n In what could still end up being a playoff preview, the Pistons host the Hawks. With the Knicks still trying to overtake the Pistons, and with the Hawks being the prime candidate to leapfrog the Raptors, root for Atlanta in this one.<\/p>\n While that game is taking place, the 76ers will host the Bulls. Tyrese Maxey is still out, as is Joel Embiid, but neither has been ruled out for the season just yet. If they can ever get fully healthy, or even remotely close to it, they likely pose the biggest threat to the Pistons and Celtics out of the play-in teams. Root for them to win this one so they can stay a seventh or eighth-seed, giving them an extra life in the play-in stage.<\/p>\n A few minutes after those games, the Heat vs. Cavaliers game will also be tipping off. If you are still worried about the Cavaliers potentially catching up to the Knicks, or want the 76ers to match up with the Pistons, root for the Heat. A Miami win would further the distance between New York and Cleveland, while also allowing Miami to keep pace with Philadelphia. But if you just want the 76ers to have two lives, just hate the Heat, or want to keep the Heat in the lower half of the play-in bracket, root for the Cavaliers in this one.<\/p>\n That game, though, as good as it may be, will likely be on the back burner for many NBA fans, as the Celtics host the Thunder in one of the few premier matchups left in the regular season. This one not only has the potential of being a Finals preview, it also has standings implications. Root for the Thunder to beat the Celtics and clinch the season sweep.<\/p>\n And lastly, we have the Raptors, who\u2019ll be headed out west to take on the Clippers. Root for Los Angeles to take this one in an attempt to get the Raptors down to the sixth or seventh-seed to set up the aforementioned matchup with the Knicks.<\/p>\n The Pistons host the lowly Pelicans\u2026. Root for the Pelicans. Good luck. The Pistons did drop a game to the Nets not too long ago, so you never know. Plus, the Pistons holding on to the first seed could be argued to be better for the Knicks? More on that later.<\/p>\n The Magic take on the Kings. By this point, the Magic could be up to the fifth-seed, and the Knicks could be the second-seed. That would line up nicely for the Knicks, as it would mean avoiding them in a possible playoff series. Again, not that Orlando should be feared, but if you are looking for the easiest path to the Finals, it would likely mean avoiding the very physical Magic.<\/p>\n But remember, there\u2019s a possibility that both the Hawks and Magic surpass the Raptors in the standings. If that happens, and the Knicks end the season as the third seed, they would play one of them. We\u2019ll have to see how the standings look by Thursday, but there is a slight chance that fans will want to start rooting against the Magic (or Hawks) every now and then as well, to keep the Raptors matched up with the Knicks.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n