Will the Pacers make the playoffs?

There remain five teams within two-and-a-half games of the final two playoff berths in the Eastern Conference -- Indiana, Miami, Brooklyn, Charlotte and Boston.

This is an imperfect projection model but if we use current records to predict the outcomes of the remaining games, here are the final standings:

*-owns tiebreaker

The Pacers, of course, would seem to be a different team with Paul George back in the lineup. And, for example, if Memphis' playoff position is locked in when the Pacers visit the last game of the season, it's likely to rest key players, increasing Indiana's chances of winning.

Brooklyn is playing the best of the contenders with an 8-2 record in its last 10 games. Boston is 5-5, Indiana and Charlotte 4-6 and Miami 3-7.

Here are the tiebreakers (head-to-head):

Indiana over Miami and Charlotte.

Miami over Brooklyn and Boston.

Brooklyn over Indiana and Charlotte.

Boston over Indiana and Brooklyn.

Charlotte and Boston split their season series, but Charlotte currently has the tiebreaker with a two-game lead in the conference standings. Charlotte and Miami would split the season series if Miami wins Tuesday, but Charlotte owns tiebreaker due to division record.

Here is each team's remaining schedule:

Now to get into the real nitty gritty. Here are the 3-, 4- and 5-way tiebreakers involving the Pacers (determined by record among the teams tied):

5-way tiebreaker (teams would tie for seventh)

7.Miami

8.Indiana

9.Boston

10.Charlotte

11.Brooklyn

-------

4-way tiebreakers (teams could tie for seventh or eighth)

Miami

Boston

Indiana

Brooklyn

-----

Indiana

Miami

Boston

Charlotte

-----

Boston

Brooklyn

Indiana

Charlotte

------

Indiana

Miami

Brooklyn

Charlotte

--------

3-way tiebreakers (teams could tie for seventh, eighth or miss the playoffs)

Miami

Indiana

Brooklyn

______

Indiana

Charlotte

Miami

_____

Indiana

Miami

Boston

______

Brooklyn

Indiana

Charlotte

______

Boston

Brooklyn

Indiana

_____

Boston

Indiana

Charlotte