The Fast Break: An Eastern Conference 'race' to get excited about

The competitive balance in the Western Conference has been well documented throughout the season, as currently nine teams boast records better than .500 and five teams have winning percentages above .600. It all makes for a thrilling playoff race to come over the next two months and subsequently should make for one of the most exhilarating Conference playoff tournaments in some time.

The inferior Eastern Conference's race is more of a crawl, as 35-37 wins may be enough to get a team into the postseason party, but there is an exciting race to monitor here as well as the final two months of the season unfold, and that's the race for a top-six seed.

The Pacers and Heat are going to fill slots No. 1 and No. 2, and both teams should hilariously clinch playoff spots some time in early March. That means that squeaking into the East playoff picture as a No. 8 or even No. 7 seed equals certain, quick postseason death. But the lack of any additional East powerhouse teams beyond Indiana and Miami and significant injuries to teams like the Bulls, Hawks and Nets also means that any of the teams slotted three through six, or any of the teams within striking distance of a top-six seed, can realistically see themselves in the second round as one of the final eight teams standing in 2013-14.

And while it's likely going to be a race between teams in the high 30's and 40's in wins as opposed to teams in the 50's like in the West, it's going to be a race nonetheless, and an exciting one worth monitoring at that.

For example, with just a couple of days remaining before the All-Star break, the Raptors and Wizards currently hold the East's No. 3 and No. 6 seeds, respectively. Sure, it's not Trail Blazers/Warriors, but two fanbases that have seen just five playoff wins total between the two of them over the last seven years and just two series wins between the two since the Raptors came into existence 18 years ago would be battling for a second round appearance.

Injuries to stars like Derrick Rose and Al Horford would likely have the Hawks and Bulls dead in the Water out West. In the East those two teams should be jockeying for home court in the first round for the remainder of the season.

Would the veteran Nets, currently seeded seventh and on track to draw Miami in the first round, really fear Toronto, Atlanta, Chicago or Washington if they could move up just one spot?

Take the Bobcats as another example. Charlotte sits eighth in the East right now, occupying the Conference's final playoff spot, but they're also just 2.5 games behind sixth-place Washington. Imagine the Bobcats entering April just a couple games out of sixth - a fanbase that hasn't seen its team win a single playoff game through the franchise's first nine years might begin to imagine the possibilities of a first round matchup with Toronto instead of Indiana or Miami. The Bobcats swept their three-game season series with the Raptors, by the way.

As it stands right now, seven games separate third place from 10th place, and just five games separate sixth from 10th. It's the main reason why teams like the Knicks, Pistons and even the Cavs haven't given up hope on making some noise this season. Because while everyone talks about the hopeless prospects of limping in and drawing the Pacers or Heat in the first round, they know that a couple of good weeks is all it takes to get right in the mix for that coveted No. 6 seed or better.

The fact that so little is demanded of East teams to get into such a meaningful race is pathetic and unfair to better West teams that aren't even going to get a chance to sniff a playoff race. But pathetic or not, it is a race. And if you root for one of the many teams still somewhat in it, it will be hard not to get caught up in the hysteria between now and April.

The Eastern Conference, ladies and gentlemen. Mediocrity and .500 records. Feel the excitement.