There is a triple tie: Orlando, Charlotte, and Miami have identical records. Orlando is 8th on tie-breaker over both, and Charlotte owns the tie-breaker on us. All three teams are only one game behind Phila., 7th, only two behind Hotlanta in 6th and the playOFFS, and trail fifth Ontario State by 2.5. Ontario State has a game in hand on all the rest, 11 left to play, 10 to go for the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th teams. There are only 15 teams in each conference so we're really talking about the Lower Middle East. Two of the four play-IN teams will make the 8 playoff places vie the play-IN round robin.
I haven't compared other schedules but I would be surpised if any other Lower Middle East team plays as intimidating a schedule as Miami: a double-header Wednesday and Friday in Cleveland; at a decrepit but dangerous Yellow team, home for Phila, who have at least Paul George back, home to Beans, home for Lizards, a double-header in three nights in Ontario State, at Lizards, at home to Majestic Soaring Predator "Hawks, We are u.d.s Wed. in Sensitive City, and probably will be Friday, unless we beat them Wednesday (but maybe not); I don't know who will be favored in Indy or in Bleak House against Phila.; underdogs to Beans and the two against Ontario State, favored over Lizards, and u.d.s to Atlanta.
No team in the Middle East or the Lower Mid-East can fall out of the play-In. Beer is 9.5 behind Miami for the last play-in slot. If the chalk holds, Phila would play Disney. The winner becomes the 7th seed in the playOFFS. The loser plays the winner of Miami vs. Queens (as it stands now) and the winner of that match becomes the 8th playOFF seed. Miami would play a win-or-go-home against Queens.
I see the "Heat" going 5-5 in the remaining games, finishing 43-39. There is little chance as I see it that Miami can escape the play-in.
