How does Wade's injury change the playoffs? Will the Heat still get a solid playoff spot? Will last years EC elite (Miami, and Detroit) face in the first round? Or will Miami not make the playoffs at all?

Who will take up the last 2 playoff spots? Right now Orlando, Miami, and NJ are in the hunt. Can another team sneak into the playoffs because of the crippled Heat now?

What about the Knickerbockers?

You think they will make 8th seed? They have a good chance I just put the teams that are really fighting for the spots right now?

Miami will definitely make the playoffs.

Orlando and New Jersey both suck, and New York has a much stronger roster than either of them but has several games to make up.

New York has always had a strong roster, they just don't mesh. They might be the most talented team in the league right now.

Isiah is doing a fairly good job coaching them this season, and for winning regular season games I'd much rather have a mismatched but talented roster like New York or Cleveland than a almost completely depleted roster like New Jersey.

Orlando falls more towards the former category than the latter but they have huge holes at several positions.

himat, which one are you voting for?

NJ 7th, Orlando 8th, Miami out

That will probably be the NBA story to watch the rest of the season: Will Miami make the playoffs? (as well as the subplots like "when will Dwayne have surgery?", etc.)

Now that the trade deadline is over, what other drama is left?

If Wade comes back late in the season Miami should make the playoffs, but Wade could also have season ending surgery. The teams behind Miami are not much better though. If Miami doesn't make it NJ will have to play really good, or another team that is close to making the playoffs will have to make a late push.