The NBA playoffs begin Saturday and there’s one thing that needs to be said. As it’s been a rarity, why don’t we open our windows and shout it to anyone who will listen? Your 2016/17 Eastern Conference. Competitive! The attention has naturally been bestowed for the majority on the reigning champion Cleveland Cavaliers, who found out in unforgettable fashion this season that Boston, Washington and Toronto grew up the last three years to finally push them for the number one seed, and in Boston’s case, actually secure it. Even at the shallow end, Miami’s against-all-logic run of 11-30 in the first half, 30-11 in the second shook things up from the sixth down to nine spots, keeping us engaged until the basketball Gods that don’t exist pushed a soft concluding schedule on the Chicago Bulls and an entry into the bracket. But, enough of that. We are here to talk about the cherries - plural for the first time since 2010 - on top of the East; a Boston team who are 26-10 when they play their preferred starting five this season and a Cleveland team that are rested but heading into the postseason on a four-game losing streak.