NBA Playoff Standings 2015: Updated Team Records, Seedings and More
Teams around the NBA are entering the stretch run of the 2014-15 season. The Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors have all but wrapped up the top seeds, barring a monumental collapse over the final weeks. The battles on the playoff fringe are far more intriguing.
In the Eastern Conference, there are at least six teams fighting for three available spots. There's probably only one spot up for grabs in the Western Conference, but there are three teams that could claim it with a strong finish.
So, with around a dozen games left for most teams, let's check out the playoff outlook and take a closer look at those races at the bottom of each conference.
Current Playoff Standings
Eastern Conference
| 1 | Atlanta | 53 | 17 | - |
| 2 | Cleveland | 46 | 26 | 8 |
| 3 | Toronto | 42 | 28 | 11 |
| 4 | Chicago | 43 | 29 | 11 |
| 5 | Washington | 40 | 31 | 13 ½ |
| 6 | Milwaukee | 34 | 36 | 19 |
| 7 | Miami | 32 | 37 | 20 ½ |
| 8 | Boston | 31 | 39 | 22 |
| 9 | Charlotte | 30 | 39 | 22 ½ |
| 10 | Indiana | 30 | 40 | 23 |
| 11 | Brooklyn | 29 | 40 | 23 ½ |
| 12 | Detroit | 26 | 44 | 27 |
| 13 | Orlando | 22 | 50 | 32 |
| 14 | Philadelphia | 17 | 53 | 36 |
| 15 | New York | 14 | 57 | 39 ½ |
Western Conference
| 1 | Golden State | 57 | 13 | - |
| 2 | Memphis | 50 | 21 | 7 ½ |
| 3 | Houston | 47 | 23 | 10 |
| 4 | Portland | 44 | 24 | 12 |
| 5 | LA Clippers | 46 | 25 | 11 ½ |
| 6 | San Antonio | 44 | 25 | 12 ½ |
| 7 | Dallas | 44 | 27 | 13 ½ |
| 8 | Oklahoma City | 40 | 30 | 17 |
| 9 | Phoenix | 38 | 33 | 19 ½ |
| 10 | New Orleans | 37 | 33 | 20 |
| 11 | Utah | 31 | 39 | 26 |
| 12 | Denver | 27 | 44 | 30 ½ |
| 13 | Sacramento | 24 | 45 | 32 ½ |
| 14 | LA Lakers | 18 | 50 | 38 |
| 15 | Minnesota | 16 | 54 | 41 |
Handicapping Races for Final Spots
Eastern Conference
It looked like there would only be two spots available in the East. Then the Milwaukee Bucks played themselves onto the bubble with a six-game losing streak. They are still in good shape but need to get things back on track quickly to keep it that way.
Head coach Jason Kidd doesn't sound overly concerned. Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel passed along comments from the longtime point guard. He thinks the recent struggles are just part of the learning curve for his squad.
"We're in the sixth spot," Kidd said. "Nobody in front of me is saying we would ever be here. How are we trending down?
"We're getting better every time we play, winning or losing. We had two good looks (at Indiana and New Orleans), two wide-open looks. We learn from missed shots. We're not trending down. We're actually learning from our mistakes and learning what it takes to win in this league."
As long as they avoid a total collapse, the rough patch could certainly end up helping a young core understand what is necessary to win in the playoffs.
The Miami Heat also hold an inside track on a playoff spot. They have done a nice job of overcoming the absence of Chris Bosh. Dwyane Wade is flashing some vintage form, while Hassan Whiteside has stepped up on the interior and the arrival of Goran Dragic has provided a boost.
Assuming those two teams hold on, and they should, it becomes an intense race between four teams for one spot.
The Boston Celtics currently grasp the final berth by a half-game over the Charlotte Hornets. Of course, both of those teams and the others in the races are well below .500. It's something Bleacher Report's Ethan J. Skolnick highlighted:
The Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets are also in the mix. All told, the four main contenders for the spot are separated by less than two games.
Indiana, like Milwaukee, has gone cold at the wrong time. The Pacers have also lost six straight and need a sudden turnaround to claim the spot. They have enough talent to make it happen.
The same could be said for Brooklyn. In fact, it's hard to believe a team with Brook Lopez, Deron Williams and Joe Johnson isn't in a more favorable spot, given the weakness of the East. Williams in particular needs to get hot down the stretch for them to sneak in.
Final Three In: Bucks, Heat and Pacers
Western Conference
Things are a little more settled in the West. The San Antonio Spurs or Dallas Mavericks could fall into a race if they went through an ill-timed cold spell, but that's a long shot. Realistically there's only one spot available.
The Oklahoma City Thunder currently occupy the eighth seed. They lead the Phoenix Suns by two-and-a-half games and the New Orleans Pelicans by three.
If Kevin Durant was healthy, the race would essentially be over. Unfortunately for the Thunder, he's not. The team recently decided to remove him from basketball activities due to a lack of progress in his recovery from a foot injury.
Bill Simmons of Grantland summed up the disappointment of many basketball fans:
The silver lining for Oklahoma City is the play of Russell Westbrook. The point guard has played at an MVP level without Durant in the lineup. At times, he's almost single-handedly willed the team to crucial victories.
Phoenix is playing very well at the moment with four straight wins. Eric Bledsoe has excelled running the offense and Markieff Morris is playing some of the best basketball of his career at the perfect time.
Matt Petersen of the Suns' official site provided remarks from head coach Jeff Hornacek about the team's recent play:
The Pelicans would be fun to see in the playoffs simply for the presence of Anthony Davis. He's battled some injuries, most recently an ankle issue, but when he's on the floor, there are only a few players in the league that can match his overall impact.
Ultimately, the question is whether Westbrook and Co. will leave a big enough opening for either the Suns or Pelicans to burst through. Expect the race to tighten over the final weeks, but Oklahoma City still holds the edge.
Eighth-Place Winner: Thunder
