NBA Playoff Picture 2015: Standings, Bracket and Key Storylines Down the Stretch

March Madness may be over, but April Madness is about to begin as the NBA playoffs beckon. And with only a few games left down the stretch, a number of teams find themselves still battling for a playoff spot.

Let's break down the standings and go through a few of the primary storylines to watch as the regular season comes to a close.

Standings

Current Playoff Seed	Team	Wins	Losses	Win %	Games Back
1	Atlanta Hawks	58	19	.753	-
2	Cleveland Cavaliers	50	27	.649	8
3	Chicago Bulls	46	31	.597	12
4	Toronto Raptors	45	32	.584	13
5	Washington Wizards	44	33	.571	14
6	Milwaukee Bucks	38	39	.494	20
7	Brooklyn Nets	36	41	.468	22
8	Boston Celtics	35	42	.455	23
n/a	Miami Heat	35	43	.449	23.5
n/a	Indiana Pacers	34	43	.442	24
n/a	Charlotte Hornets	33	44	.429	25
n/a	Detroit Pistons	30	47	.390	28
n/a	Orlando Magic	24	53	.312	34
n/a	Philadelphia 76ers	18	60	.231	40.5
n/a	New York Knicks	15	62	.195	43

Current Playoff Seed	Team	Wins	Losses	Win %	Games Back
1	Golden State Warriors	63	15	.808	-
2	Houston Rockets	53	24	.688	9.5
3	Memphis Grizzlies	52	25	.675	10.5
4	Portland Trail Blazers	50	27	.649	12.5
5	Los Angeles Clippers	53	26	.671	10.5
6	San Antonio Spurs	52	26	.667	11
7	Dallas Mavericks	46	31	.597	16.5
8	New Orleans Pelicans	42	35	.545	20.5
n/a	Oklahoma City Thunder	42	36	.538	21
n/a	Phoenix Suns	39	39	.500	24
n/a	Utah Jazz	35	42	.455	27.5
n/a	Denver Nuggets	28	49	.364	34.5
n/a	Sacramento Kings	27	50	.351	35.5
n/a	Los Angeles Lakers	20	57	.260	42.5
n/a	Minnesota Timberwolves	16	61	.208	46.5

Key Storylines

Can the Oklahoma City Thunder Sneak into the Postseason Without Kevin Durant?

Maybe, maybe not. OK, probably not. It certainly won't be an easy task, that much we can all agree on. 

The Thunder have fared decently without Durant, going 13-10 since their superstar was sidelined in late February. Without Durant and Serge Ibaka, however, the Thunder are just 7-6 and have lost three in a row and five of their last six, allowing the New Orleans Pelicans to vault them in the chase for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. 

Games against Sacramento and Minnesota are more than winnable down the stretch, of course, though contests against Portland and Indiana will be tough. Still, finishing 2-2 might do the trick, as the Pelicans will face Memphis, Phoenix, Houston, Minnesota and San Antonio in their last five games. 

Regardless of what New Orleans does, it will take a Herculean, MVP-esque final stretch from Russell Westbrook to get the Thunder into the playoffs. He, no doubt, is up to the task. 

Given the Thunder's recent play, however, his supporting cast doesn't seem to be up for it.

The Wild West? More Like the Wild East...

Brian Babineau/Getty Images

The Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cavaliers may have the top two seeds locked and loaded, but after that the Eastern Conference gets wacky. 

The Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards are all within two games of one another and are battling for the No. 3 seed. The next three seeds don't even have winning records at the moment. The Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers are all within two games of each other for the final two spots in the playoffs. 

Each team has its warrants. The Nets might have the most healthy talent. The Celtics are young and hungry. The Heat have the veteran presences to pull this off. The Pacers have the return of Paul George to inspire them.

Indiana forward Solomon Hill certainly thinks that's the case, as he told David Woods of the Indianapolis Star:

"

Always, you want to extend the season. But when you have a guy that's come from something he's been through, I think nobody should have an excuse as for why they shouldn't put forth the effort. If you're banged up, you're banged up.

But if you're out there, you should give 100 percent. Because we have a guy who came back early and he's trying to give his 100 percent, too.

"

It might be too little, too late for Indiana, of course. But if they get into the playoffs, they are absolutely a dangerous team, one capable of making a run. 

It's not as though any team is untouchable in the East. The Cavaliers are probably the favorite given the LeBron James factor and the overall star power they have, but Cleveland isn't exactly the most cohesive unit just yet. Atlanta has been excellent, but they don't feel like a true title contender, even if they come out of the East. 

The East this year feels like the loser's bracket, in a sense, while the big boys in the West battle it out in the winner's bracket. Yes, an East team can come out of the conference and win an NBA title.

No, it doesn't seem likely to actually happen.