Western Conference Playoff Picture 2015: Analyzing Potential 1st-Round Matchups
The Western Conference has been the NBA's dominant conference for several years, and that has held true in 2014-15 as evidenced by how many top-level teams are jockeying for position in the playoff race.
As many as seven Western Conference teams could end the season with 50 or more wins, and every team that ultimately qualifies for the postseason will have a realistic chance to make a deep run because of the overall talent level within the conference.
With the regular season about to reach its conclusion, here is a look at the current playoff race in the Western Conference, as well as further analysis regarding some matchups that could come to fruition in the first round.
Western Conference Standings
| 1 | Golden State Warriors | 66 | 15 | .815 |
| 2 | Los Angeles Clippers | 56 | 26 | .683 |
| 3 | San Antonio Spurs | 55 | 26 | .679 |
| 4 | Portland Trail Blazers | 51 | 30 | .630 |
| 5 | Houston Rockets | 55 | 26 | .679 |
| 6 | Memphis Grizzlies | 54 | 27 | .667 |
| 7 | Dallas Mavericks | 49 | 32 | .605 |
| 8 | New Orleans Pelicans | 44 | 37 | .543 |
| In the Hunt | ||||
| 9 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 44 | 37 | .543 |
Breaking Down Potential Top Matchups
Golden State Warriors vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Golden State Warriors have been the best team in the NBA all season long, but that doesn't guarantee anything in the playoffs. In fact, things could get particularly tricky if they draw the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
Although the New Orleans Pelicans are in the driver's seat for the eighth seed since they hold the tiebreaker over OKC, they have to face a red-hot San Antonio Spurs team that is vying for the No. 2 seed. The Thunder, on the other hand, get to take on the league-worst Minnesota Timberwolves.
Assuming the Warriors and Thunder clash in the first round, it will undoubtedly be an entertaining series with plenty of offensive fireworks. Golden State has captivated basketball fans all season long thanks to Splash Brothers Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, while Oklahoma City has been a one-man show with Russell Westbrook due to Kevin Durant being out for the year.
Westbrook has been on an incredible roll individually, and while he won't be able to take down the Warriors on his own, ESPN's Ryan Ruocco marvels at his will to win, according to Mike & Mike on Twitter:
With per-game averages of 28 points and over eight assists and seven rebounds, Westbrook's presence is enough to at least make Warriors fans a bit nervous.
At the same time, Golden State managed to handle the Thunder with relative ease during the regular season, and it is expected to do the same if they cross paths in the playoffs, per ESPN Stats & Info:
Even if it ends up being a short series in the Warriors' favor, it is a series that most fans would love to see due to the matchup between Curry and Westbrook.
Things would be much different if not for Durant being out of the picture, but it promises to be an extremely fun matchup nonetheless.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas Mavericks
The defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs were lying in the weeds for much of the season, but over the past several weeks they have shown why they are threats to repeat.
San Antonio is operating like a well-oiled machine as veterans like Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili are well-rested, while reigning NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard is playing at a remarkably high level in his own right.
As pointed out by Alex Kennedy of BasketballInsiders.com, the Spurs are on a tear against top-flight competition:
Since that tweet, they have won two more games, and they have a chance to end the regular season on a 12-game winning streak if they can beat the Pelicans. They would also knock New Orleans out of the playoffs in all likelihood, and solidify their own seeding as well.
To quantify just how difficult and competitive the Western Conference really is, Ginobili pointed out that the result of the Spurs' clash with the Pelicans will have massive implications regarding where they are seeded:
Should the Spurs nab the No. 2 seed, they will take on the in-state rival Dallas Mavericks in the first round for the second year in a row.
Dallas pushed San Antonio all the way to seven games in that series, and the Mavs are most definitely talented enough to give the Spurs another run for their money.
With great guard play from Monta Ellis and Rajon Rondo, the do-everything nature of Chandler Parsons, the defensive excellence of center Tyson Chandler and the steadying presence of Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavericks are a team that can make some noise in the postseason.
Based on the manner in which the Spurs are playing right now, though, it will take something special to knock them off. Even so, this is a first-round rematch that basketball fans can certainly get behind.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Houston Rockets
On the topic of first-round rematches, another could potentially occur in the Western Conference as the Portland Trail Blazers occupy the No. 4 seed and the Houston Rockets are currently slotted at No. 5.
They engaged in a fantastic series last year, which was won by the Blazers in six games. The series was actually much closer than that, though, as three of the contests went to overtime. Both teams still look to be evenly matched on paper, so the 2015 edition of that series could be equally compelling.
LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard were dominant for Portland last year, and they'll need to be great again in order to advance. The Rockets, on the other hand, didn't receive the type of performance they needed out of superstar guard James Harden.
According to Mike Tokito of The Oregonian, though, that could very well fuel Harden's fire this time around:
Harden is in the midst of a special season as he is averaging over 27 points, five rebounds and nearly seven assists per game. He has been the Rockets' go-to guy, and he has kept them afloat even as other key players have been hampered by injuries, per Kevin Cottrell Jr. of NBA TV:
Houston has managed to get healthier, though, and one can only assume that center Dwight Howard will have a big impact on the series. If nothing else, he is well-rested after missing half the season, so that could work out in the Rockets' favor.
Both the Blazers and Rockets boast deep and talented rosters. Each team has sleeper potential and the ability to go deep in the playoffs, so the result of their potential matchup figures to affect the Western Conference picture significantly.
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