Even if we presume the Celtics win the top seed, anyone from the Hawks to the Hornets could be their first round opponent.
The Hawks will be without Paul Millsap for as many as three more games apparently, when and if he returns they finish with a pretty tough schedule. Their remaining games - @PHI, @CHI, @BKN (b2b), BOS, @CLE (b2b), CLE, CHA, @IND (b2b). I feel with this schedule and with Millsap iffy they will drop from the 5. But I was super wrong about them before and might be again. The final game of the season with Indiana might be significant.
The Bucks are playing the best recent ball of this back end of the playoffs group. They are 7-3 in their last ten which has gained them 4 games on the Hawks and 3 on the Pacers. The Celtics get them tonight and on the final game of the season, so may be key in determining whether they face them in the playoffs. Here's their schedule: @BOS, DET, DAL, @OKC, @IND, @PHI, CHA, @BOS. Having all four games against playoff teams on the road is tough.
The Pacers have been meandering a bit and their schedule isn't going to help them, either: @MEM, @TOR, @CLE, TOR, MIL, @ORL, @PHI, ATL . The Pacers are a pretty bad road team this year (11-25), so they might have the toughest schedule.
The Heat are floundering a bit without Waiters, but he'll be back soon. they have probably the second easiest schedule of this group: @NYK, NYK, DEN, @CHA, @TOR, @WAS (b2b), CLE, WAS
The Bulls have the easiest schedule in terms of opponents, but part of that is they don't have many games against the teams ahead of them, so they aren't really in control of their own destiny. CLE, ATL, @NOP (b2b), @NYK, @PHI, @BKN, ORL, BKN. They aren't a good road team so this schedule isn't quite as much a gimme as it first appears. But it may be enough that they sneak in.
The Pistons are a putrid road team and they are 2-8 in their last ten. Not sure they can turn it around. Their schedule: BKN, @MIL, TOR, @HOU, @MEM, WAS (b2b), @ORL.
The Hornets are still alive and have a lot of opportunity to make up games, but that means they have a fairly tough schedule: @TOR, DEN, @OKC, @WAS, MIA, BOS, @MIL, @ATL. They lost by 10 to the Bucks at home last night, so not sure they are up to the task.
The Sixers and Knicks should be eliminated by the weekend, Magic and Nets already are.