By TYLER SMITH (@TylerSmith_ISL)
ISL Editor


INDIANAPOLIS — There are just two weeks to play in the NBA Regular Season, and the Indiana Pacers continue to fight for home-court advantage in the 1st Round of this year’s Playoffs. The Pacers have eight games remaining beginning with Sacramento on Monday night. Here are the potential scenarios and story-lines for this final stretch run.

•According to Basketball Reference, the Pacers have an 85.1% chance of being the 4-seed, an 11.5% chance of being the 5-seed, and a 2.5% chance of slipping to the 6-seed.

•According to PlayoffStatus.com, the Pacers have a 55% chance of advancing to the 2nd round, and a 9% chance of making it back to the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Pacers enter Monday night with a record of 43-21. They have a 1 1/2 game lead on the Detroit Pistons, but two games in the all-important loss column. They also own the tie-breaker over Detroit. If the Pacers go 5-3 in their final eight games, Detroit would have to go 7-0 to pass them.

The Milwaukee Bucks own the tie-breaker over Indiana, but are now three full games behind the Pacers in the standings. The same scenario applies in this case: If the Pacers go 5-3, the Bucks would have to win-out to pass them in the standings.

Here’s what’s left for the Pacers on the schedule:

vs. Sacramento
vs. Charlotte
vs. Utah
@ Denver
vs. Washington
vs. Cleveland
vs. Orlando
@ Cleveland

The Cavaliers may be resting some key players in those final few games. The Pistons and Bucks will play each other in two straight games to conclude the season, guaranteeing one of the teams cannot catch Indiana as long as the Pacers go 5-3 the rest of the way.

Keys for the Pacers down the stretch:

1. Stay healthy.
2. Stay healthy.
3. Stay healthy.

Rick Carlisle and his coaching staff will have the challenge of making sure this team gets enough rest, wins enough games, and still maintains their competitive edge heading into the post-season. The Pacers are guaranteed to play a rival in the 1st round, and it will likely be an entertaining war to advance. Other things to watch for in these final eight games:

4. Bench play
5. Ben Shepphard’s shot
6. Mathurin’s role each night (when playing)

And who could forget..

7. Stay healthy.

The Pacers appear to be in great shape to lock down the No. 4-seed in the East. They don’t want any setbacks or to make things more difficult than they need to be down the stretch. If they take care of business at home this week, things will be looking good for the blue and gold.