Will the Hornets end up in the NBA’s play-in-tournament? Via the Charlotte Observer:
If the Charlotte Hornets end up in the NBA’s new play-in format, what will that mean?
It’s certainly germane to explore: The Hornets are on a four-game losing streak heading into Sunday night’s home game against the Portland Trail Blazers. That has dropped them from fourth in the Eastern Conference standings to eighth. The Hornets are trying to break a four-season streak without a playoff appearance.
Finishing seventh or eighth in either NBA conference no longer guarantees a team a best-of-seven playoff series. Instead, the seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th teams will briefly play each other to complete the eight-team playoff draw in the East and West.
Right now, the Heat are the East’s 7th seed, Hornets are 8th, Pacers close behind at 9th, then a few games after the Pacers are the Bulls, Wizards and Raptors all with 23 wins so far this season.
