NBA Playoff Standings 2015: Breaking Down Basketball's Hottest Postseason Races
The NBA playoffs have yet to commence, but there will undoubtedly be a playoff-type feeling in the air for many teams during their final regular-season games as they fight for their lives and attempt to qualify for the postseason.
In each of the Eastern and Western Conference, the No. 8 seed is still up for grabs with two teams battling for it. Also, there is still some room for teams to move up or down in terms of seeding, and there is no question that it could have a major impact on the playoff landscape.
Wednesday represents the final night of the 2014-15 NBA regular season, and here is a rundown of where things currently stand in relation to the playoffs.
NBA Playoff Standings
| 1 | Atlanta Hawks | 60 | 21 | .741 |
| 2 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 52 | 29 | .642 |
| 3 | Chicago Bulls | 49 | 32 | .605 |
| 4 | Toronto Raptors | 48 | 33 | .593 |
| 5 | Washington Wizards | 46 | 35 | .568 |
| 6 | Milwaukee Bucks | 41 | 40 | .506 |
| 7 | Boston Celtics | 39 | 42 | .481 |
| 8 | Indiana Pacers | 38 | 43 | .469 |
| In the Hunt | ||||
| 9 | Brooklyn Nets | 37 | 44 | .457 |
| 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 |
Top Playoff Races
Thunder and Pelicans Battle for Eighth in Western Conference
The Oklahoma City Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans have been engaged in a race for the eighth seed in the Western Conference for the past several weeks, so it is only fitting that everything boils down to the final game of the regular season for each team.
OKC has what should be an extremely winnable matchup on its hands, as it will face the NBA's worst team in the Minnesota Timberwolves on the road. New Orleans, on the other hand, has a much tougher road to the playoffs, as it will go up against the red-hot San Antonio Spurs at home.
Matchups notwithstanding, the Pelicans have a slight advantage due to the fact that they hold the tiebreaker over the Thunder, according to SportsCenter:
Because of that, the statistics indicate that New Orleans has a better chance of extending its season, per ESPN Stats & Info:
The Pelicans could be in trouble, though, because they are facing a Spurs team that has won 11 in a row. Also, San Antonio needs the win because a loss could drop it significantly in the standings.
New Orleans has a fighting chance, though, as MVP candidate Anthony Davis is capable of taking over games. He and his teammates figure to be desperate, and that may ultimately be enough to outdo the Spurs.
Oklahoma City, on the other hand, is going up against a team that would likely rather lose in order to improve its chances in the NBA draft lottery than add another win to its record. Point guard Russell Westbrook figures to continue his recent tear for the Thunder, which means the pressure will largely be on the Pelicans.
Due to the significant disparity in opponents, OKC is the team that will have a crack at taking down the top-seeded Golden State Warriors in the first round.
Final Eastern Conference Spot Comes Down to Pacers and Nets
While the Thunder and Pelicans have been going at it for quite some time, the Eastern Conference playoff race has changed quite a bit lately. With the Boston Celtics establishing themselves as the No. 7 seed and the Miami Heat falling out, it has come down to the Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets for the eighth seed.
Most figured that the Pacers were done not too long ago, but they have won six consecutive games and now control their own destiny with regard to the playoffs. Conversely, the Nets have lost four of their last six and need a bit of help.
Brooklyn currently trails Indiana by one game for the No. 8 position, but it holds the tiebreaker, which means it can still get in by coupling a win with a Pacers loss, according to NBA.com's David Aldridge:
The Nets are at a disadvantage in that they need a couple of scenarios to play out, but they certainly have an easier matchup than Indiana. Brooklyn will host the hapless Orlando Magic, while the Pacers must travel to Memphis to face a Grizzlies team that can still improve its playoff standing.
With that disparity in mind, the race has essentially become a coin flip, per ESPN Stats & Info:
The Pacers have seemingly been carried by something intangible over the past couple of weeks, though, and they have the feel of a team that is destined to play extra basketball.
Paul George's return from a broken leg has been nothing short of inspirational, as was Indiana's double-overtime triumph over the Washington Wizards Tuesday. According to Gregg Doyel of the Indianapolis Star, head coach Frank Vogel can't help but marvel at his team's resiliency:
"Man, I couldn't be more proud of our group; just all-out heart and determination and will and perseverance and not quitting. We got down so many times and had so many opportunities to give in, and they just persevered through it all, making big shots, letting our defense carry us, which has been our staple here the last couple years. We had a terrible shooting night, and every opportunity to just let it slip away, and they wouldn't do it.
"
With so much momentum on its side, look for Indiana to find a way to beat the Grizzlies and sneak its way into the playoffs.
If that happens, then the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks could be in for a battle, as they aren't playing their best basketball right now, while the Pacers are clearly hitting their stride.
Spurs and Rockets Vie for Southwest Division Crown
Both the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets will be part of the playoffs regardless of what happens Wednesday, but their outlook could change in a significant way depending upon how they fare in their final regular-season games.
The Spurs are currently third in the Western Conference, but a win would vault them past the idle Los Angeles Clippers and into second place. They would also clinch the Southwest Division. Should San Antonio lose, though, that would open the door for Houston to take the division and the No. 2 seed with a win.
Spurs guard Manu Ginobili put it best on Twitter, as he is seemingly in disbelief regarding how much his team's game means Wednesday night:
San Antonio will face the Pelicans, as previously mentioned, and it figures to be a tough game since New Orleans likely needs to win in order to make the playoffs. Houston's game is much easier, as it will host the Utah Jazz, who are out of playoff contention.
The Memphis Grizzlies also play a role in this situation, as they could move up from No. 6 to No. 5 if they beat the Pacers and either the Spurs or Rockets lose.
It is a convoluted mess, but it is one that the Rockets got themselves into by losing twice to San Antonio, according to ESPN.com's Calvin Watkins:
The Rockets certainly have a great chance to beat the Jazz, in large part because of how well MVP candidate James Harden has been playing. Even if that happens, though, it doesn't guarantee them anything better than fifth place.
Houston needs San Antonio to cooperate and lose to New Orleans in order to get back up to second place, but based on how dominant the Spurs have been, that is an unlikely scenario.
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