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          New NBA predictions: How the New Orleans Pelicans' problems shake up the playoff race

          David Sherman/NBAE/Getty Images
          • Kevin Pelton, ESPN Senior WriterAug 2, 2020, 04:26 AM
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            • Co-author, Pro Basketball Prospectus series
            • Formerly a consultant with the Indiana Pacers
            • Developed WARP rating and SCHOENE system
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          What have the results so far meant to the NBA playoff races? What about the play-in tournament picture?

          We're in the first weekend of the restart, and already there have been some important matchups to determine where teams will finish in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference playoff standings.

          For new predictions, I've run 1,000 simulations of the remaining games based on projected rotations and player ratings in the multiyear, predictive version of ESPN's real plus-minus.

          Let's take a look at the new forecast.