6 Teams Scrambling for Final 2 Western Conference Playoff Spots in 2013

The battle for the final two Western Conference playoff spots in 2011-12 was a grueling slugfest between several teams that went down to the wire. 

Several Western Conference squads have undergone significant cosmetic changes, while others have made a single earth-shattering addition that have catapulted them back to the top of the heap (see Lakers, Los Angeles).

Barring multiple catastrophic injuries, there should be even more parity in the middle of the Western Conference, which should translate to an all-out melee for the final two playoff spots. 

Here are the six teams who will most likely find themselves within reach of the final two playoff spots towards the end of the season. 

Utah Jazz

A gritty Utah Jazz squad that was predicted to finish in the Western Conference basement in multiple preseason prognostications surprised everyone when they nabbed the final playoff spot last year. 

While Utah's stay in the postseason was as short as it possibly could've been, Utah should once again be a major player for one of the last few playoff spots.

None of Utah's offseason acquisitions have been as glitzy as the Howard-to-LA trade, but they've all been strategic moves specifically targeted to shore up weak points on the team. 

The new Jazz players (Randy Foye, Marvin Williams and Mo Williams) should all be better fits within the Utah offensive system than their predecessors (Raja Bell, C.J. Miles and Devin Harris).  All three should prove to significantly bolster three-point shooting while also being minor defensive improvements at worst. 

Utah's lack of a superstar and struggles with defending the pick-and-roll may cause some to label Utah as a one-year wonder and predict the Jazz to miss the playoffs altogether, but the Jazz and their fans will hope the dearth of star power will be more than offset by excellent depth and superb offensive execution.

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks would most likely look at a finish in the bottom two playoffs spots in the West as a disappointing result, but it's certainly a strong possibility. 

While they got younger at some positions, namely starting point guard (Darren Collison) and bench scorer (O.J. Mayo), team leader Dirk Nowitzki is another year older and has traversed a little more down the downslope of his career. 

In addition to Collison and Mayo, Dallas also added two quality big men in Elton Brand and Chris Kaman, who are familiar with each other from their days manning the frontcourt for the Clippers. 

All of Dallas' new additions will certainly bring their respective strengths to what will surely be a new-look Mavericks squad.  But the fairly drastic overhaul of Dallas' roster could also take significant time to gel. 

A non-cohesive unit is always in danger of dropping games to lackluster teams; something Dallas can't afford to do if they want to be closer to the top of an extremely tough Western Conference. 

Minnesota Timberwolves

Out of all the teams jockeying for the last two spots in the Western Conference playoffs, the Timberwolves have the largest disparity between their potential floor and ceiling.  This is a squad chock-full of immense potential and gargantuan question marks. 

Acquiring former division rival Brandon Roy was a huge coup for Minnesota, a team that isn't exactly known as a highly-desired destination for free agents.  At one time, Roy was considered one of the best shooting guards in the league until chronic knee issues caused him to retire. 

After a year of diligent rehab, Roy will be back in the Northwest Division, but donning a Timberwolves uniform instead of wearing Trail Blazers garb. 

The risks with Roy are obvious.  How long will his knees hold up?  Will he be anywhere close to the same player he was prior to all the knee issues?  The Wolves have a lot riding on Roy's health, as losing him for the season could single-handedly derail Minny's playoff dreams.

Timberwolves GM David Kahn also made a splash by signing Andrei Kirilenko to what was widely seen to be an over-inflated contract that will pay the former Utah Jazz stalwart $10 million a year.  Kirilenko can fill up a stat sheet in a hurry on both ends of the floor, but at times is maddeningly inconsistent. 

Other newcomers Chase Budinger and Alexey Shved will have a lot to learn.  For Budinger, it will be the Minnesota offensive system. For Shved, it will be learning how to play in the NBA.

History has not been too kind to Minnesota, but perhaps fortune will favor the bold and Minnesota will finally claw their way back into the postseason for the first time since the departure of Kevin Garnett.

Phoenix Suns

If you go to the Phoenix Suns interactive roster on their official website, one thing in particular will stick out quite noticeably.

For some reason they haven't updated the roster yet, which is actually very convenient for me, because it illustrates the insane change the roster has undergone in the offseason.

Astoundingly, seven of the players featured on the Suns' interactive roster are no longer with the team. 

That's right, seven.  Josh Childress, Hakim Warrick, Robin Lopez, Michael Redd, Steve Nash, Grant Hill and Ronnie Price are not on the current Phoenix Suns roster. 

Just as astoundingly, Phoenix welcomes seven new players to the team: Michael Beasley, Goran Dragic, Jerome Dyson, Wesley Johnson, Kendall Marshall, Luis Scola and P.J. Tucker.

Phoenix's cosmetic changes certainly win the award for "Team That Looks the Least Like it Did in 2011-12."  The Phoenix Suns are the Joan Rivers of the NBA in 2012-13. 

Motivated by an abundance of cap space as well as fear of being putrid without Nash doing Nash-like things, Phoenix signed exciting but unproven point guard Goran Dragic, talented but troubled swingman Michael Beasley and landed quality power forward Luis Scola who was unexpectedly amnestied. 

On paper, the Suns have a lot of talent, but they also have a long way to go before they're comfortable playing with each other.  If the cumulative abilities of the Suns can overcome the lack of familiarity with each other, Phoenix could surprise many and sneak in to the playoffs. 

Houston Rockets

Houston GM Daryl Morey decided to channel his inner Gus Hansen and boldly pushed all his proverbial chips in the middle of the table in hopes of winning the huge Dwight Howard jackpot. 

Unfortunately for Morey, the Lakers caught an Ace on the river, and Houston's dream of featuring Howard in 2012-13 have disintegrated. 

Houston is now looking at an unprecedented but not entirely horrible opportunity of going into the season with three young assets on their roster they didn't expect to be there: rookies Terrence Jones, Jeremy Lamb and Royce White.

Though young and inexperienced, Houston will have a deep and energetic core that will feature the sensational Jeremy Lin, whom the Rockets pried away from the New York Knicks by offering him a backloaded contract. 

The Rockets also landed Turkish big man Omer Asik in similar fashion. 

Both players are still young and loaded with potential, but haven't proven they can maintain a high level of production over an extended period of time.

The quality of play seen from the rookies, Lin and Asik will be the majority of what determines if Houston punches their postseason ticket or not. 

Golden State Warriors

The Warriors have to be considered the longest shot out of these six teams to make the playoffs in 2012-13, but with a little luck and with hard work, the Warriors could be the biggest surprise of the upcoming NBA season.

Make no mistake, the Warriors have enough talent on paper to fight their way into the seventh or eighth spot.  Unlike most of the previous teams, the Warriors' fate rests squarely on the shoulders of one key factor: health. 

Stephen Curry can score the rock like almost no one else in the league.  A healthy Andrew Bogut give Golden State one of the best centers in the West.

Obviously, Curry and Bogut have had one hell of a time staying healthy.  Bogut especially, who has a medical report thicker than War and Peace. 

It's definitely a long shot for the Warriors to crack the top eight in the West, but with a full complement of healthy stars, don't be surprised to see Golden State find themselves facing off against Kobe and Dwight in the first round.