First reason is just to make a statement. Maybe being comfortable with 2 or 3 is part of what lead us to so many early exits.
But more practically, if it’s 1 Sixers 2 Celtics 3 Bucks it means those last two likely play each other in the second round and we don’t have to go through both. Eventually we will likely face the Celtics but you know that series is gonna be a brutal one, so the easiest path there will be helpful.
It might end up coming down to our two remaining regular season match ups with the Celtics
It is just home advantage in a 7-game series which is usually gone after the first couple games anyway. Last time the Sixers were top seed in the East, they still lost in the 2nd round.
All opponents are tough by the time you get to the second round.