A look at the Spurs play-in chances

The Spurs will face the Pelicans in a game that could determine the outcome of their season. Win, and the play-in becomes a very real possibility. Lose, and the chances to make the postseason shrink dramatically. It might be the most important matchup of the year for the Silver and Black.

But why is a team with a 29-44 record still in the run to make the playoffs this late in the season? And what would it actually mean to get a play-in spot? Here’s what you need to know.

What’s the play-in?

The NBA recently changed the way the postseason works. Instead of the top eight teams in each conference getting automatic spots in the playoff, only the top six do. The seventh and eighth seeds actually…