NBA Standings 2015: Analyzing Late-Season Playoff Races from Each Conference

Although a week remains in the NBA regular season, few teams can pack up for the playoffs.

The Atlanta Hawks hold an ironclad grip over the Eastern Conference, and the Golden State Warriors control a much tougher Western Conference grouping. After that, fans will have a tough task organizing the opening-round matchups.

Along with a wild chase for seeding, spots are outright available in each conference. While five sub-.500 clubs fight for two East bids, two dangerous units look to lead a superstar into the West's postseason circle.

With precious time left to secure a playoff berth, let's take a look at the updated standings.

Eastern Conference

Seed	Team	W	L
1	Atlanta Hawks	59	19
2	Cleveland Cavaliers	51	27
3	Toronto Raptors	46	32
4	Chicago Bulls	46	32
5	Washington Wizards	45	33
6	Milwaukee Bucks	38	40
7	Boston Celtics	36	42
8	Brooklyn Nets	36	42
In the Hunt	Team	W	L
9	Indiana Pacers	35	43
10	Miami Heat	35	43
11	Charlotte Hornets	33	45

For a batch of losing organizations battling for a first-round elimination, the East's final push has become more intriguing than it has any business being.

The Brooklyn Nets boast the worst point differential (minus-three) of the five contenders, but they've also won nine of their last 12 games. They can thank a rejuvenated Brook Lopez, who has reminded everyone that he's among the game's best offensive centers when healthy.

ESPN Stats & Info observed his scorching stretch before recording 26 points and 10 rebounds against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night:

If Lopez gets rolling while Deron Williams maintains his enhanced play, the Nets will prove a pesky out. So would the Boston Celtics, who score 101.2 points per game in coach Brad Stevens' high-octane offense.

The Miami Heat are intriguing, mostly for the potential matchup against LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers. Otherwise, a perpetually hobbled Dwyane Wade wouldn't draw much attention with Chris Bosh sidelined.

Issac Baldizon/Getty Images

Perhaps even more interesting, the Indiana Pacers can slide into the proceedings a year after earning the No. 1 seed. Paul George returned at the perfect time, scoring 13 points in 15 minutes during a pivotal Sunday victory over Miami.

If there's any glimmer of hope for whichever bottom-feeder snags the last spot, Paul Millsap has missed Atlanta's last two games with a shoulder injury. Atlanta doesn't rely heavily on one player, but no team wants to enter the playoffs with its leading scorer battered.

Don't expect any miracles, but perhaps the Pacers can return the favor to the Hawks, who took them to seven games as the No. 8 seed last year. 

Western Conference

Seed	Team	W	L
1	Golden State Warriors	63	15
2	Memphis Grizzlies	53	25
3	Houston Rockets	53	25
4	Portland Trail Blazers	51	27
5	Los Angeles Clippers	53	26
6	San Antonio Spurs	53	26
7	Dallas Mavericks	47	31
8	New Orleans Pelicans	42	36
In the Hunt	Team	W	L
9	Oklahoma City Thunder	42	36

The Warriors inadvertently helped the New Orleans Pelicans set up a first-round soiree with the West's season champion. On Tuesday night, Golden State dropped a 103-100 defeat to New Orleans while playing all of its starters.

After the game, Anthony Davis took offense to his 63-win opponent taking the Pelicans lightly, claiming the Warriors treated the game like a scrimmage during a postgame interview: 

At second glance, the Warriors shouldn't want any part of Davis, who has decimated them during a pair of in-season bouts, per NBA.com/Stats:

The 22-year-old's seclusion from the never-ending MVP talks is baffling. During his third season, Davis has averaged 24.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and an NBA-best 30.88 player efficiency rating (PER), according to ESPN.com.

Meanwhile, Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder are finally running out of steam. With Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka sidelined, the star point guard has played every game permanently on turbo.

It's starting to catch up to Westbrook, who has shot 36.4 percent over the last 10 games. Against playoff-bound Western Conference clubs, the Thunder have suffered four straight losses with Westbrook no longer able to shoulder the massive burden of carrying everyone.

"We've never been in this position, so this is our first time fighting for a spot," Westbrook told ESPN.com's Royce Young. "It's definitely a different feeling for us, but at the same time all we can do is control our own destiny and come out every night and compete at a high level."

Joe Murphy/Getty Images

Actually, not quite. Besides the concept of destiny meaning something is out of anyone's control, the Thunder could win their remaining four games and still miss the postseason. The Pelicans and Thunder are tied after New Orleans lost to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, but the Pelicans hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.

For the Thunder to make their sixth straight playoff trip, the Pelicans must lose at least once.