NBA Playoffs 2012: Can the Chicago Bulls Hold on to the No. 1 Seed?

The Chicago Bulls’ 100-99 overtime loss to the New York Knicks makes them 1-3 in their last four games.

Chicago started off the game extremely slow and finished extremely flat.

Those lethargic performance bookends proved to be too much to overcome New York’s newly discovered defensive intensity and proficient scoring from Carmelo Anthony.

With that, Chicago is now only two games ahead of the Miami Heat—instead of the three games they could’ve been.

The lockout-affected season is winding down to a close with most teams having 10 or 11 games left to play.

Considering the intricate balancing act of sustaining team momentum, while providing rest for key players down the stretch that playoff-bound coaches have to maintain, can the Bulls hold on to the No. 1 seed?

Assuming the Miami Heat win out, the magic number for the Bulls to clinch the conference top spot is nine games; however, the scenario of any team ending the season on a 10-game tear is highly unlikely.

Looking at the each team’s last 10 games, both the Bulls and the Heat have four opponents with winning records occupying five of their schedule slots.

Half of Miami’s final ten games are on the road compared to four for Chicago.

The home game to road game ratio tilts the scales in favor of Chicago, since Miami has not been very impressive on the road (16-12).

This may also give Miami cause for concern, as well as influence head coach Erik Spoelstra to play his main guys more than usual for home-court advantage and postseason peace of mind.

That doesn’t mean Chicago is out of the woods either, though.

The Bulls’ projected starting lineup of Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng, Richard Hamilton and Derrick Rose have not played many games as a unit.

Recurring injuries have kept three of Chicago’s starting five out for extended spells at various points during the season.

The lack of chemistry was very apparent in that loss to New York when the Bulls failed to score in the closing minutes of regulation and overtime, allowing the Knicks to tie, then eventually steal the win.

Tom Thibodeau may be inclined to keep playing his main guys in an attempt to bolster team fluidity.

All X-factors aside, the top seed in the Eastern Conference will come down to the remaining games between the Bulls and Heat.

If Chicago can best Miami in both remaining contests, their No. 1 conference status is all, but assured.

Even if the two teams split, that still puts the onus on Miami to make up the difference by playing their top guys in other games in an attempt to regain some footing.

The Bulls cannot lose these last two games because that would give Miami the advantage of taking away the top spot and keeping it, even if the two teams finish tied in the win-loss columns.

Since the last two matchups are split between the United Center and the American Airlines Arena, the case of the games being split is the more likely outcome, which does more to help Chicago stay at the top of the conference.

This lockout season has given fans drama and excitement from the very beginning and it seems like there will be no shortage of that as it draws to a close.

Fans from the Windy City all the way down to South Beach will be at the edge of their seats until the final seconds tick off of the regular season clock.