NBA Standings: Last-Minute 2014 Playoff Seeding Predictions

With just two games remaining in the NBA season for most teams, the playoff picture is beginning to come to fruition.

Several teams have already secured their spots in the postseason, while others are still jockeying for position—some within the playoff ranks, and some on the outside looking in.

The final games of the NBA season will certainly be action-packed and full of drama, which will provide a fitting end to what has been an exciting year.

Let's take a look at the current league standings and predict not only which teams are poised to enter the postseason but also each of their seedings and first-round opponents.

Current NBA Standings

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Team	W	L	PCT	GB	CONF	DIV	HOME	ROAD	L10	STK
East
West
Atlantic	W	L	PCT	GB	CONF	DIV	HOME	ROAD	L10	STK
Toronto	47	33	0.588	0.0	31-19	11-4	25-15	22-18	8-2	W 1
Brooklyn	44	36	0.550	3.0	26-24	9-6	28-12	16-24	7-3	W 1
New York	35	45	0.438	12.0	24-26	8-6	18-22	17-23	6-4	W 2
Boston	25	55	0.313	22.0	21-29	5-10	16-24	9-31	2-8	W 2
Philadelphia	17	63	0.213	30.0	12-38	4-11	9-31	8-32	2-8	L 4
Central	W	L	PCT	GB	CONF	DIV	HOME	ROAD	L10	STK
Indiana	55	26	0.679	0.0	37-14	12-4	35-6	20-20	4-6	W 1
Chicago	47	33	0.588	7.5	34-16	11-5	26-14	21-19	8-2	L 1
Cleveland	32	49	0.395	23.0	20-31	7-9	18-22	14-27	5-5	L 2
Detroit	29	52	0.358	26.0	23-29	6-10	17-24	12-28	3-7	L 3
Milwaukee	15	65	0.188	39.5	12-38	4-12	10-30	5-35	2-8	L 1
Southeast	W	L	PCT	GB	CONF	DIV	HOME	ROAD	L10	STK
Miami	54	26	0.675	0.0	34-16	12-3	32-8	22-18	6-4	L 1
Washington	42	38	0.525	12.0	31-19	9-6	21-19	21-19	6-4	W 2
Charlotte	41	39	0.513	13.0	28-22	5-10	24-16	17-23	7-3	W 1
Atlanta	37	43	0.463	17.0	27-23	8-7	24-16	13-27	6-4	W 3
Orlando	23	57	0.288	31.0	17-33	4-12	19-21	4-36	4-6	L 2
Northwest	W	L	PCT	GB	CONF	DIV	HOME	ROAD	L10	STK
Oklahoma City	58	22	0.725	0.0	36-15	11-5	33-7	25-15	6-4	L 1
Portland	53	28	0.654	5.5	30-21	13-3	30-10	23-18	8-2	W 4
Minnesota	40	40	0.500	18.0	23-27	7-8	24-16	16-24	5-5	L 1
Denver	36	44	0.450	22.0	20-30	5-11	22-18	14-26	4-6	W 3
Utah	24	56	0.300	34.0	12-38	3-12	16-24	8-32	1-9	L 4
Pacific	W	L	PCT	GB	CONF	DIV	HOME	ROAD	L10	STK
L.A. Clippers	56	24	0.700	0.0	35-15	12-4	33-7	23-17	7-3	W 1
Golden State	49	31	0.613	7.0	29-21	11-5	26-14	23-17	5-5	L 1
Phoenix	47	33	0.588	9.0	27-23	7-8	26-14	21-19	6-4	L 2
Sacramento	28	53	0.346	28.5	15-36	3-12	17-23	11-30	3-7	W 1
L.A. Lakers	25	55	0.313	31.0	13-37	6-10	14-27	11-28	1-9	L 7
Southwest	W	L	PCT	GB	CONF	DIV	HOME	ROAD	L10	STK
San Antonio	62	18	0.775	0.0	38-12	12-3	32-8	30-10	8-2	W 2
Houston	53	27	0.663	9.0	30-20	10-4	32-8	21-19	5-5	W 1
Dallas	49	32	0.605	13.5	29-22	9-6	26-15	23-17	7-3	W 1
Memphis	48	32	0.600	14.0	27-23	3-12	26-14	22-18	6-4	W 3
New Orleans	32	48	0.400	30.0	13-37	3-12	20-19	12-29	2-8	L 8

Standings courtesy of NBA.com.

Playoff Seeding Predictions

Rocky Widner/Getty Images

Team	Seed	R1 Opponent
East
Indiana Pacers	1	Hawks
Miami Heat	2	Bobcats
Toronto Raptors	3	Wizards
Chicago Bulls	4	Nets
Brooklyn Nets	5	Bulls
Washington Wizards	6	Raptors
Charlotte Bobcats	7	Heat
Atlanta Hawks	8	Pacers
West
San Antonio Spurs	1	Mavericks
Oklahoma City Thunder	2	Grizzlies
Los Angeles Clippers	3	Warriors
Houston Rockets	4	Trailblazers
Portland Trailblazers	5	Rockets
Golden State Warriors	6	Clippers
Memphis Grizzlies	7	Thunder
Dallas Mavericks	8	Spurs

Here's how it's all going down.

The Indiana Pacers will earn the top seed in the East.

On Monday, Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald tweeted that both LeBron James and Chris Bosh would not be playing against the Washington Wizards:

This move practically concedes the No. 1 spot for the Heat but assures them the No. 2 seed.

Toronto and Chicago are in a tight race for the third seed; however, the Raptors own the tie-breaker due to leading the Atlantic Division and face the Bucks and Knicks in their last two games. They'll remain the third seed, and Chicago will come in at No. 4.

Brooklyn has been playing some fantastic basketball lately. The Nets' surge wasn't enough to catch the Bulls but will assure them the fifth seed.

Washington and Charlotte are neck and neck for the sixth seed. The Wizards have the upper hand here due to a remaining schedule that includes a James-and-Bosh-less Heat and the struggling Celtics.

With the Wizards securing the sixth seed, that leaves Charlotte taking No. 7 and Atlanta taking No. 8.

The top of the West is rather easy.

San Antonio has already clinched the top seed in the conference. Despite having two road games remaining, the Thunder will hold on to the second seed by defeating the Pelicans and Pistons.

That puts the Clippers in at No. 3 due to the team's current three-game lead over Houston.

The Rockets currently have the edge on Portland, and they'll keep it after defeating the Pelicans in their final game of the season.

Houston's acquisition of the fourth seed ensures Portland the fifth seed.

The Warriors shouldn't have trouble finishing out their season with a couple wins. They face the Timberwolves at home and the floundering Nuggets on the road. Golden State gets in as the No. 6 seed.

Memphis remains one game behind Dallas in the win column. Although, Memphis travels to face the Suns on Monday night, and then Dallas must travel to square off against the suddenly surging Grizzlies to end its season.

The Grizzlies get the two-game sweep here and move up into the seventh seed.

Dallas falls back into the eighth seed after falling to Memphis, which leaves Phoenix on the outside looking in.

The shift in standings here will have a huge impact on the overall playoff picture.

With the big switch of Memphis taking the No. 7 seed and Dallas taking the eighth, they now swap first-round opponents.

The Mavericks will take on the daunting task of facing the Spurs—a team that no one wants to see right now. San Antonio looks virtually unbeatable, and Dallas will take an early exit from the playoffs.

Memphis has a fighting chance against the Thunder. Oklahoma City's offense is one of the best in the league; however, its porous defense allows for shootouts. The Grizzlies have been putting up some big points lately, and could make this series very interesting.

Looking for a Round 1 upset? Look no further than the No. 4 Bulls against the No. 5 Nets. There's not one team that wants to face surging Brooklyn right now. The Nets are on an absolute tear and will be advancing to Round 2.

Which team has a decent path to the championship?

It sounds like an easy answer, and it is. The Spurs, despite being in the more competitive Western Conference, will benefit from the talented teams below them. Rest assured, many of the West's series will boil down to the bitter end, leaving plenty of teams gasping for breath. San Antonio will be in prime position to take advantage of winded opponents.

Which team has the toughest path?

That would be the Miami Heat. Dwyane Wade is seemingly always questionable, and when this team's not at full strength, it is beatable. There are plenty of surging teams in the East right now that could give Miami a run for its money in the postseason.

As the playoff picture continues to unfold, the only certainty involving the NBA playoffs is that nothing is certain at all.

Hang on to your hats.