NBA: As the post-All-Star push begins, here’s a closer look at the playoff races

Eastern Conference 7-8 seed

Charlotte Hornets: 27-30, 13 home/12 away, .541 (2nd in the NBA)

Detroit Pistons: 26-30, 11 home/15 away, .482 (24th in the NBA)

Miami Heat: 26-30, 14 home/12 away, .524 (7th in the NBA)

Orlando Magic: 27-32, 10 home/13 away, .460 (28th in the NBA)

The Eastern Conference is very top heavy but after you get past the top five seeds it starts to get ugly. The Brooklyn Nets are two games up on the Hornets for sixth and after them you have four teams that are separated by one game. With these teams so close you have to consider that the biggest factor in the race could be remaining schedule strength.

The Hornets are currently the seventh seed but they also have the second hardest remaining schedule. With the Detroit Pistons only half-a-game back as well as the Miami Heat every game will be important. Charlotte does have an advantage of having more home games left than the Pistons and Orlando Magic.

In the last 10 games the Magic have gone 7-3 while winning five in a row, and the Pistons have gone 6-4 during that span. Charlotte and Miami have both gone 4-6 and the Hornets suffered a 38 point loss to Orlando in their final game before the All-Star break. This playoff battle will likely come down to the final week or even final day of the season.