NBA: Updating the race for 8th in the Eastern Conference

As the end of the regular season quickly approaches, we update the race for 8th in the Eastern Conference

As the NBA season enters its final weeks, one of the most captivating races is the race for eighth in the Eastern Conference. As of March 29, two games separates the seventh place Brooklyn Nets and the tenth place Charlotte Hornets.

The Hornets are currently the hottest team of the four having won four straight games. The Nets are the coldest, having lost two straight and going 5-5 in their last 10 games. The race for the final two spots in the East should go down to the last day of the regular season.

Here is a look at what each of the four teams fighting for those two spots have remaining on their schedule:

7. Brooklyn Nets: 38-38

Games Remaining: 6

Tough Opponents (Teams in the playoff picture): 6- Mil(2x), Tor, Ind, Bos, Mia

Easy Opponents(Teams not in playoff picture): 0

Strength of schedule (According to Tankathon): .647 (Hardest remaining)

Outlook: The Nets are currently the seventh seed in the East but they also have the toughest remaining schedule in the NBA. The Nets could potentially be aided by the Bucks, Raptors, Pacers or Celtics resting guys should they value rest over playoff seeding.

Brooklyn has been one of the biggest surprises of the season but it looks as if they will need to pull an upset or two if they want to make the playoffs. The Nets vs. Heat game (on the last day of the regular season) will likely be huge as both teams could be fighting for their playoff lives.

8. Miami Heat: 37-38

Games Remaining: 7

Tough Opponents (Teams in the playoff picture): 5- Tor, Phi, Bos (2x), Bkn

Easy Opponents (Teams not in playoff picture): 2- Min, NYK

Strength of schedule (According to Tankathon): .521 (8th hardest)

Outlook: The Heat currently occupy the last spot in the East but they do have the toughest schedule among the last three teams fighting for that last spot. Miami has been a weird team this year as they are 19-17 on the road but only 18-21 at home. Of their seven remaining games, five come on the road so the Heat will need to pull out some key road wins otherwise the Magic or Hornets could play spoiler.

9. Orlando Magic: 37-39, .5 GB of 8th

Games Remaining: 6

Tough Opponents (Teams in the playoff picture): 3- Tor, Ind, Bos

Easy Opponents (Teams not in playoff picture): 3- NYK, ATL, Cha

Strength of schedule (According to Tankathon): .484 (18th hardest)

Outlook: The Magic could be the favorite for the last playoff spot based on remaining schedule as they have the easiest among the four teams fighting. They have three games against teams that aren’t currently in the playoffs, which is the second most next to the Hornets.

On the last day of the regular season the Magic and Hornets play and its looking like that game could decide the final playoff spot in the East.

10. Charlotte Hornets: 35-39, 1.5 GB of 8th

Games Remaining: 8

Tough Opponents (Teams in the playoff picture): 4- Tor, GSW, Utah, Det

Easy Opponents (Teams not in playoff picture): 4- Cle, NO, LAL, Orl

Strength of schedule (According to Tankathon): .510 (10th hardest)

Outlook: The Hornets appeared to be in trouble before their winning streak. Now they are only 1.5 games back of the Heat for the final spot. Charlotte has had some amazing wins during their streak from a half court buzzer beater to beat Toronto to a 30-5 run in the fourth quarter to beat the Celtics.

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Charlotte has the second easiest schedule of the four teams and they do get four games vs opponents not in the playoffs currently. If Kemba Walker can continue his outstanding play then the Hornets could play the Magic for the final playoff spot on the final day of the regular season.