Playoffs Race: Pistons, Lakers, Luka Doncic

Merlin sees the league drawing the lines as the regular season heads into its last week. Detroit has locked the No. 1 seed in the East, while Oklahoma City and San Antonio duel for the West top spot. The West is mostly set with the Clippers, Trail Blazers and Warriors headed to the play-in, and Phoenix chasing Minnesota. In the East the picture is hazier, with the 6th through 10th spots separated by two games and the Heat and Sixers facing key matchups. Merlin notes the Lakers are fragile right now, shorthanded and forced into a starting five that, in the article’s words, "quite frankly, that doesn't look like a top-four lineup." A single injury or upset could flip matchups and make the final weekend feel like magic or mischief.