Where They Will All End Up: The NBA Western Conference Playoff Picture

With only three days left in the regular season, no team in the Western Conference knows which seed it will be heading into the playoffs. A couple of teams do not even know if they will even be playing past Wednesday.

With only two games or less remaining for each team, the playoff picture is still unclear, and there are a handful of scenarios that can happen before we know what the first round matchups will be out west.

Here are the remaining schedules and predictions for the nine teams that still have a chance at postseason glory.

9. Utah Jazz

Current record: 42-38

Predicted finish: 43-39, out of the playoffs

The Jazz have been in the playoff hunt all season long, but it appears that they will fall just short. They finish their season with two road games, one in Minnesota and one in Memphis.

Even if the Jazz can win their matchup against the Wolves, they still have to beat the Grizzlies on the road, which is a difficult matchup, especially if the Grizzlies are looking to improve their seeding.

The Jazz are also relying on a Lakers loss, which means they are not in control of their own destiny...and that is never a good thing.

8. Los Angeles Lakers

Current record: 44-37

Predicted finish: 44-38, No. 8 seed

The Lakers have lost Kobe Bryant and probably any hope of advancing in the playoffs, but fortunately they may still be able to play in the postseason without their fallen hero.

Los Angeles won its biggest game of the year Sunday night, beating San Antonio in its first game without Bryant. With that win, the Lakers will be able to limp into the playoffs even with a loss against Houston on Wednesday, assuming the Jazz cannot pull off an upset in Memphis.

7. Golden State Warriors

Current record: 45-35

Predicted finish: 46-36, No. 7 seed

The Warriors have been one of the biggest surprises in the NBA this season and will make their first playoff appearance since 2007. Stephen Curry has been lighting it up, but the Warriors have been slipping a bit recently, relinquishing the sixth seed to the surging Rockets.

Golden State finishes its season with a home game against San Antonio and a road game in Portland. If the Spurs bounce back from their loss against the Lakers in pursuit of the No. 1 seed, they should be able to beat the struggling Warriors. Even if the Warriors win out, the Rockets still have the tiebreaker, courtesy of winning the season series 3-1.

6. Houston Rockets

Current record: 45-35

Predicted finish: 47-35, No 6 seed

No one expected much from the Rockets heading into this season, but GM Daryl Morey has completely turned over the roster into a playoff team. With the acquisitions of Jeremy Lin, Omer Asik and, most importantly, All-Star James Harden, the Rockets will be back in the postseason after a tough three-year drought and the loss of Yao Ming.

The Rockets finish the season with two road games against the Suns and the Lakers. Houston will most likely be the favorite in both of these matchups, considering the injury to Bryant. With the tiebreaker over Golden State, Houston should be able to maintain its positioning as the sixth seed.

5. Memphis Grizzlies

Current record: 54-26

Predicted finish: 56-26, No. 5 seed

The Grizzlies and their top-ranked defense are a force to be reckoned with in the West. Even with the trade that sent Rudy Gay to Toronto, the Grizzlies have not skipped a beat.

Memphis will end its season with a pit stop in Dallas before heading home to take on the Jazz. The Grizzlies should take care of business in both of these games, but it will not be enough to overtake the Clippers and obtain the coveted home-court advantage.

4. Los Angeles Clippers

Current record: 54-26

Predicted finish: 56-26, No. 4 seed

Lob City has become one of the more recognizable powers in the Western Conference with superstars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, but it has been the Clippers' depth coming off the bench that has kept them consistent all season long.

The Clippers host Portland and then face off against the Kings in Sacramento; they are expected to come out on top in both matchups.

Because they won the Pacific Division title, the Clippers will be the fourth seed no matter what. However, they should end up with home-court advantage as well because they have tiebreaker over Memphis, winning 3-1 in the season series.

3. Denver Nuggets

Current Record: 55-25

Predicted finish: 57-25, No. 3 seed

The Nuggets suffered a huge blow when Danilo Gallinari went down for the year with an ACL tear, but Denver is still an elite team.

The Nuggets take a trip to Milwaukee and then return to the Mile High City to face the lowly Suns. Denver should win both of these games and remain the third seed out west heading into the postseason. With home-court advantage in the high altitude, the Nuggets are still a big threat to make a deep playoff run.

2. San Antonio Spurs

Current record: 58-22

Predicted finish: 60-22, No. 2 seed

The Spurs were the top seed in the West all season long until the injuries and the red-hot Thunder finally caught up with them.

San Antonio continues its California road trip in the Bay Area against the Warriors before ending the regular season at home against Minnesota. In a desperate attempt to try and recapture the glorified No. 1 seed, the Spurs should be able to win their last couple of games, but it will not be enough.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

Current record: 59-21

Predicted finish: 61-21, No. 1 seed

The Thunder were the favorites to win the West when the year began, and not much has changed since then. The dynamic duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook has led this Thunder team to the top of the standings, and they do not plan on looking back.

Oklahoma City finishes its regular season with two home matchups versus the Bucks and the Kings, both fairly easy games for them. If the Thunder can win out, which they most likely will, then they will have home-court advantage throughout the playoffs on the west side of the bracket.