re: A look at the NBA Playoff picture - midway point

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-Is Miami a playoff team? I would have said no a couple weeks back, but the play of Whiteside seems to have re-energized them. Wade will seemingly take a bunch of games off over the 2nd half of the season

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I think they'll make the playoffs. He may get injured obviously, but if they're on the fringe, he won't just take games off late in the season.

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New Orleans needs another year, IMO

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They need a new coach, it's that simple. Coaching is the only reason they aren't better than Phoenix, well, of course injuries haven't helped either, but you get the point.

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Aldridge's 6-8 week injury equates to 20-25 games. They are in big trouble if they are a 500 team (or below) during that span

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Not sure how much trouble, if they go .500, that leaves them 18 games over .500. Phoenix and especially OKC won't be all that close to that mark in 20-25 games. Of course, they'll lose some wiggle room, but they'll be fine unless they implode while Aldrige is out.