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NBA Playoffs 2016: Indiana Pacers clinch, Chicago Bulls eliminated

By Josh Hill

Mar 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg talks to his team against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg talks to his team against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Chicago Bulls are officially out of the playoffs, and the Indiana Pacers are in. 

With just a couple of games left in the NBA regular season, the playoff picture continues to settle. All of the tickets have been punched but there is still room for movement. One team who won’t be making a trip to the postseason are the Chicago Bulls. Under first-year head coach Fred Hoiberg, the Bulls have missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

Here’s a look at the updated NBA Playoff bracket now that we’re nearing the end of the season:

FS_2016NBABracket_form-10
FS_2016NBABracket_form-10 /

The Pacers knocking the Bulls out of the playoffs basically sets the stage in the Eastern Conference. All of the playoff tickets have been punched, but there is still room for positioning across the board. The Raptors can still win the No. 1 seed if the Cavaliers lose out, which would change everything as far as the road to the Finals is concerned.

Over in the West, the Warriors, Spurs and Thunder have locked up the top of the bracket but there is just a game separating teams from the bottom up as everyone could theoretically finish in a different spot if things go their way.

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