NBA Stretch Run: Who will Rise Up?

Every NBA team has about 10 games left and while the playoff picture is getting a bit clearer, it is still a more than a tad fuzzy. Four teams in the East (Cavs, Magic, Celtics, Hawks) have clinched playoff berths, but only the Lakers (home-court-clinched) have anything locked-up out West.

Following are some of the remaining questions about who will or won’t rise up as the teams drive towards the playoffs…

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Will anyone catch the Cavs?

One word answer: NO!

King James and his court are playing lights-out basketball (currently on an 11-game winning streak) and will not only garner the No. 1 seed in the East, but also secure home-court advantage for as long as they can last in the playoffs…which I predict will be into the NBA Finals.

Which teams will wind-up with the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds, respectively?

My crystal bald head tells me that the Magic will grab the No. 2 slot. But I don’t need to be clairvoyant to see that although the Magic and Celtics are in a virtual tie right now, Dwight Howard and the Magic are playing much better basketball down the stretch than are the wounded and recently-uncharacteristically defense-challenged Celtics.

Will Stan Van Gundy quit whining?

Uhh…NO! Fat Stan apparently has drawn a direct correlation between the Magic’s success and his whining. So, why would he stop?

Does it matter which of the other 10 mathematically-alive slugs…I mean…contenders for slots 4-8 get in?

Another one word answer: NO!

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Which teams will capture slots 2-8 and in what order?

Not even my crystal bald head (or Miss Cleo) can predict that one. Right now, eight teams are vying for those seven slots, separated by only five games. All eight have played .500 ball or slightly better over the last 10 games.

Bottom line though is it really doesn’t matter as the Lakers will slice through the Western Conference playoffs like Kobe and his wife slicing through their maid’s psyche and insurance benefits.

Will Andrew Bynum be a factor for the Lakers in the playoffs?

Who knows? Apparently the Lakers’ brass are being about as honest about Bynum’s injury this year as they were last year, aka about as honest as politicians, lawyers, and GMs of all sports.

However, the Lakers don’t need Bynum for the Western playoffs. I THINK they’d better hope he’s available WHEN they reach the NBA Finals though, as his physicality could make the difference in a series against either the Cavs, Magic, or Celtics.

Having said that…Have you noticed how well and aggressive Pau Gasol has played lately? And yes…Kobe s passing him the ball…a lot! Also, Lamar Odom is playing as if he’s in a contract year…which, of course, he is.

Will the Thunder, T-Wolves, Grizzlies, Clips, and Kings all lose 60 games?

Of course, this has absolutely nothing to do with the playoffs…well…except for those eight aforementioned remaining playoff-contending teams checking their remaining schedules, hoping that they have a pile of games left against these sorry quintuplets.

Regardless, I just think the eventual answer to this question will be downright hilarious!

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