What each team in Southeast Division has to do post All-Star break
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Miami Heat
Elevate past the 7th seed to avoid the Play-In tournament.
The Maimi Heat are currently the 7th seed and are 2.5 games back from being the 4th seed. Starting now is the time when Miami will ramp up their production and upset a lot of teams when playoff time comes closer. The Heat are known for not caring much during the regular season. For example, last season, they made it out of the Play-In as an 8th seed and reached the NBA Finals. The Heat should look to avoid the Play-In as a whole so they can get easier matchups.
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Orlando Magic
Stay in the Play-In race and avoid missing the playoffs as a whole.
The Orlando Magic are shocking everyone with a 32 and 26 record and are the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference. With the emergence of second-year all-star Paolo Banchero, the Magic are way ahead of their rebuild. They are currently 10 games ahead of avoiding the Play-In, so right now, they are sitting comfortably. Orlando is a scary team and no one should want to play them in the playoffs.
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Atlanta Hawks
Analyze players and work for the future.
With Trae Young out for the next four weeks with a finger injury, the Atlanta Hawks should be worried about their playoff chances. This gives the perfect opportunity for the Hawks to analyze the players and who will stay for the future. With the Young injury, it gives an opportunity for the rookie Kobe Bufkin. Bufkin was drafted with the 15th pick in the 2023 NBA draft, and he had such high hopes for the team. Now, he has the perfect opportunity to blossom in Atlanta.
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Washington Wizards
Keep losing enough games to potentially earn the 1st overall pick.
Currently, the Wizards have a 9 and 48 record and only .5 games from being the worst record in the NBA. The Wizards have lost 11 straight games, and it feels like they have no direction for the future. Having the 1st overall pick can really influence the future of the Wizards. Top prospects like Alexander Sarr and Nikola Topic would perfectly fit the organization.
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Charlotte Hornets
Keep developing the young talent.
With Lamelo Ball still out due to injury, the Hornets season is all over. This is good because it allows the coaches to let the young players play and develop as players. Brandon Miller is one of the best rookies in the league, and he is an essential piece for their future. Even with all the off-the-court issues, Miles Bridges has been playing amazingly this season, and he is really proving his case to stay on the team. Surprisingly, the team is trending in the right direction and has a bright future.