The Knicks, Bucks and 76ers are jockeying for the Eastern Conference’s final two playoff spots, and the Knicks and Sixers are also chasing the first-place Celtics in the Atlantic Division.
With the season’s final 10 games upon us, here are five key questions about the playoff derby:
1. How do the schedules look?
For the Knicks, still not ideal. Beginning tonight in Chicago, they have 10 games left, and seven rank as difficult: at the Bulls, Bucks, Cavaliers and Hawks and home against the Heat, Celtics and Clippers. If you think the Cavs don’t qualify as a tough matchup, keep in mind they have beaten the Knicks four of seven times the past two seasons.
Only four of the Sixers’ final 10 games count as tough. But Philly will play eight of those on the road, including its final five of the season. Keep in mind the slumping Sixers recently were blown out by the Wizards and Raptors, two of the NBA’s worst clubs.
The Bucks’ schedule is no picnic either. They had 10 left starting with last night’s home game against the Thunder, and six are tough. The Bucks, though, do play six games at home.
The Celtics have 10 left, and if they have not secured the division title have to close against five straight tough opponents: the Knicks, Magic, Hawks, Heat and Bucks.
2. Who gets the spot if the Knicks finish tied for 8th with the 76ers or Bucks?
The Knicks win the tiebreaker against the 76ers because they are 2-1 against them this season.
The Knicks are 1-2 against the Bucks going into tomorrow night’s game in Milwaukee. If the Knicks lose, the Bucks will hold the tiebreaker, but if the Knicks bring the series to 2-2, the next criteria is record against East teams. The Knicks are 22-17 and the Bucks 21-18 with nine remaining conference games apiece. If the Knicks and Bucks finish tied in that category, the next tiebreaker is record vs. East playoff teams.
3. Who gets the two spots if the Knicks, 76ers and Bucks all finish tied?
In this instance, the teams’ total records against each other is the tiebreaker. The Knicks are 3-3 vs. the Sixers/Bucks and play Milwaukee again. The Sixers are 2-3 vs. the Knicks/Bucks and play Milwaukee again. And the Bucks are 3-2 vs. the Knicks/76ers with those two games left.
The bottom line: If the Bucks beat the Sixers on April 25, Philly would fall to 2-4 vs. the Knicks/Bucks and be eliminated.
4. What are potential X-factors down the stretch?
One is the status of Cavaliers rookie point guard Kyrie Irving. Cleveland’s leading scorer has missed the last three games dealing with a shoulder injury, and according to the Akron Beacon Journal, might be done for the year. The Knicks and 76ers face the Cavs next week, so Irving’s absence would turn those games into much easier propositions.
Another X-factor: The Bucks’ final game is against the Celtics. If that game doesn’t matter to the Celtics’ playoff positioning, they could rest starters, changing the game’s dynamic dramatically.
5. What is the other East team to watch down the stretch?
The Pacers. In the span of eight days, the Pacers will play the Bucks twice and the 76ers twice. If Indiana gets hot, it would be a major boost for the Knicks.
mark.hale@nypost.com