Where we stand: the final stretch

Six more days until the wait will be over. The Nets will either be in their third straight postseason after a volatile season that saw anything and everything happen to them ... or they will be on the outside looking in. Right now they are inside the top eight, and are playing their best basketball of the season, but Brooklyn still isn't safe.

Heading into Friday's big slate of games here is where the Nets stand:

(Image via NBA.com)

Boston and Brooklyn are tied, but the Celtics have the all important tiebreaker. So, for the Nets to draw LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round the Nets will need to surpass the team in green. Indiana has perked up since Paul George returned to the lineup, winners of their last three. They stand a game behind the Nets and each still have four games to play.  The Nets hold the tiebreaker with Indiana. Miami still can't find their stride down the stretch but can never be counted out with Dwyane Wade. It may be too late for the Heat though, as they are a game-and-a-half back of the pace with three to play.

Here's a look at who is playing when that is important to the Nets. Going to be a lot of scoreboard watching:

April 10: Nets host the Wizards, the Pacers are in Detroit, and the Celtics play in Cleveland, but LeBron may be resting.

April 11: The Heat are home against the Raptors.

April 12: The Nets are in Milwaukee to take on Jason Kidd and his Bucks, Indiana is home against the Thunder, and the Celtics draw the Cavs again, this time in Boston... again probably without LeBron.

April 13: The Nets are in Brooklyn to take on the Bulls, the Heat are in Miami to take on the Magic

April 14: The Pacers play the Wizards, and the Celtics play the Magic.

April 15: The Nets finish their season against the Magic, the Pacers are in Memphis, the Celtics play in Milwaukee, and the Heat are in Philly to take on the Sixers.

That's it. Looking at the team's schedules the Nets have one of the easier roads, but the team has to keep their foot on the gas. Playoffstatus.com believes that the Nets have the best shot of making the playoffs of the contending teams, giving them a 78% chance of making the cut.

Let's do this, everybody.