Who Will Rise and Fall Down the Stretch in the NBA?

Your team has one month.

One month to move up in the seedings, clean the cobwebs out, and perhaps make the playoffs at all.

Do you think the standings, as they are now, will be the same at the end of the regular season?

I wouldn't bet on it.

I hear you saying, "But what about the Lakers?" They aren't about to lose the top seed in the West, so surely they can just relax and rest their starters? And perhaps the same for the Cavs out East?

Well, up to a certain point you are right. They can rest slightly and make sure their players are ready for the postseason. But you also don't want your team going into the playoffs with a losing record do you? Having loose ends on defense or even a loss of confidence?

No, you need your team confident, a well-oiled machine prepared to do battle, no matter the seeding.

Hence, here are my candidates for the risers and fallers down-the-stretch. The teams who will make a strong push and finish out the season in a strong manner. And those who are going to falter, leaving people second-guessing them before a game is even played.

There are four candidates, two from each conference, for each category. Do you agree, or is your list different? Let me know in the comments.

As criteria, I'm using their play as-of-late, remaining schedule, injuries, and mainly, simple gut feeling.

The Fallers

Western Conference

Denver Nuggets (currently 42-25, Fourth seed)

Despite having won their last two games, I have to nominate the Nuggets as a team likely to lose a few important ones in the next month.

For most of the year they had held down the third seed, but had recently fallen all the way to the seventh spot in the last two weeks. They have managed to reclaim the fourth spot, partly because of a two game win streak, but largely due to Utah's recent slump.

This is a much improved team, with Chauncey Billups being easily the best pick up from last season and Carmelo Anthony, seeming like a reformed player and not simply obsessed with scoring. I believe the team might be able to win a playoff series.

Denver won't play an Eastern Conference opponent in April, so that will be the time of testing to determine their playoff position and if they can get a favorable matchup.

New Orleans Hornets (currently 41-24, Fifth seed)

They are 8-2 over the last 10 games, and recently had a seven-game winning streak. So why are they in this category?

Out of everyone, I had to pick this team. They're here because, even though I adore Chris Paul and like the team, they haven't shown up well in a lot of big games this year and injuries have played a big factor.

I think if this team loses a few, they don't have the correct mindsets to get through it and correct themselves in time.

This spot was nearly given to the Portland Trailblazers, but the Hornets clinched it just because of their schedule.

Their final five games will be against divison rivals, playing Dallas twice, Houston, San Antonio, and Phoenix.

That could be a nasty way to end, remember that Texas Triangle everyone was talking about for the Celtics last year?

The Hornets will end with that, plus an extra at home against Dallas

(Sidenote: of the four sub-categories, that was easily the hardest, hence why I got it out of the way early. The West is full of great teams, it was incredibly hard to pick teams that could falter. I'm not saying these will, just that they are the most likely.)

Eastern Conference

Boston Celtics (currently 50-17, Second seed)

I know, I know.

They are true title contenders and should at least be getting to the conference finals, and, believe me, I'm not arguing with that.

But they have faltered as of late, going 5-5 in the last 10 (considering its the Celtics, that's quite bad). Kevin Garnett is still out with an injury, and Rajon Rondo still seems to be suffering somewhat.

Though he is still rebounding and dishing well, Rondo is shooting in low percentages lately and has struggled to get back into the flow. He is one of the biggest keys for the Celtics this year and definitely tied to their success.

Boston doesn't have a particularly tough schedule left, but it is full of big games where if they lose a couple, it will leave a serious dent in their confidence.

They must still play Orlando and Cleveland, which are obviously the big ones. They also play both Miami and Atlanta twice, and neither of these teams should be taken lightly.

They also have Charlotte, who they have never handled well.

Milwaukee Bucks (currently 31-38, Eighth seed)

The only team in this list with a losing record is of course also the team with the most to lose.

Milwaukee is clinging to the eighth seed in the East, mainly because they are .001 of a percentage point ahead of Chicago.

Behind that is New Jersey, New York and Charlotte. So out of everyone, the Bucks can relax the least.

Though they have coped surprisingly well after losing Micheal Redd and Andrew Bogut, who was having a career year in some respects, it is the stretch that counts and the Bucks are just 3-7 in their last 10.

I think they need their leaders presence to win the important games, and though Richard Jefferson and Charlie V have stepped up, it may just not be enough in this incredibly tight race for the 8th spot.

The schedule is against them also. Of their 13 remaining games, eight of them are against playoff teams, three of those against the mighty Magic. They will also be playing New Jersey at the end of March, who will of course be seeking to gain a game on the Bucks.

In my opinion, Milwaukee has actually had a surprisingly good season but I do not see them being rewarded with a playoff berth.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?