NBA Playoff Picture: Nets, Magic clinch playoff berths; Pistons should be next

Updating the NBA’s Eastern Conference playoff picture, after the Nets and Magic locked up berths over the weekend

Heading into the final weeks of the NBA’s regular season, there is still one more playoff berth up for grabs in the Eastern Conference. Entering the weekend, there was three, however the Brooklyn Nets and Orlando Magic did their part in punching their tickets over the last few days.

The Nets and Magic are both making their illustrious return to the playoffs, as the latter had not been in the post-season since the 2011-12 season and the former since the 2014-15 campaign. And despite neither carrying much expectation heading into the year, both will be finishing in the top 8 in the conference.

While there’s technically still one playoff spot still up for grabs in the Eastern Conference, it would be an utter shock to not see the Detroit Pistons lock up that final playoff spot. The Pistons currently control their own destiny and just need to close out the season with two wins over the Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks to do so.

However, should the Pistons trip up, it opens the door for the Charlotte Hornets, who have to win their two games to close the season (Cavs, Magic) coupled with one Pistons loss to overtake them for the 8th seed.

As for the Miami Heat, they need quite a bit of help to creep back into the playoff picture. They need to win their last two games (76ers, Nets), need the Pistons to lose both their final two games and the Hornets to drop one of their final two.

I don’t like to be pessimistic, but that seems highly unlikely. From the looks of everything that transpired over the weekend, all signs point to the Pistons or Hornets clinching that final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Seeding is still to be determined in the coming days, but the top 8 in the East is certainly looking more and more clear by the hour.

*Playoff scenarios via NBA.com