NBA Power Rankings: Six Western Conference Teams Fighting for Final Playoff Spot
While most of the NBA turns their collective heads toward the possible trade of Carmelo Anthony and the battle between the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat and Orlando Magic for Eastern Conference supremacy, there is am interesting--although much less discussed--battle brewing out West: the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference.
Six teams--Portland Trailblazers, Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors and L.A. Clippers--are within six games of each other for the chance at a postseason berth.
As of tonight, the Trailblazers and their battered bunch sit atop the group. But with such a slight difference between a playoff trip and a decent lottery pick, plenty could change between now and April.
Here are the five key ingredients these teams will need for a foot-in-the-door with the NBA's elite and where each team ranks in these five areas.
A Favorable Schedule
1 of 6
1. Memphis Grizzlies
2. Houston Rockets
3. Golden State Warriors
4. Phoenix Suns
5. Portland Trailblazers
6. L.A. Clippers
As much as the fans would like to believe that these races come down to passion and desire, often times the separation between the teams is due largely in part to an easier schedule down the stretch.
Despite third fewest amount of games versus the NBA's top 10 (14) remaining on their schedule, the Clippers are left with the toughest remaining schedule due to a hellacious February road trip. The Clippers will need to put up or shut up with visits to Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, New York, Oklahoma City, New Orleans and a Staples Center match-up with the Lakers.
The Grizzlies appear to have the easiest schedule down the stretch. Memphis has the fewest games remaining against the NBA's top 10 (12) and only has one road trip of more than two games left on their schedule. And that road trip is a four-game stretch with stops in Milwaukee, Toronto, New Jersey and Philadelphia.
A Competent Coach
2 of 6
1. Houston Rockets (Rick Adelman)
2. Portland Trailblazers (Nate McMillan)
3. Phoenix Suns (Alvin Gentry)
4. L.A. Clippers (Vinny Del Negro)
5. Memphis Grizzlies (Lionel Hollins)
6. Golden State Warriors (Keith Smart)
The top two coaches on this list have coached in 31 seasons combined. The other four coaches have just 20 years experience collectively.
The odd thing is, the two coaches with the highest career winning percentages are also the two with most experience under their belts. Maybe that's the reason for their longevity.
Del Negro could be creeping up the list with the way he's got the Clippers playing as of late.
And sorry Warriors fans, but Smart loses by default because he just does not have the resume to move up the list. And don't worry, Don Nelson would have been at the bottom of this list, too.
An Explosive Offense
3 of 6
1. L.A. Clippers
2. Golden State Warriors
3. Memphis Grizzlies
4. Phoenix Suns
5. Houston Rockets
6. Portland Trailblazers
Yes, the Phoenix Suns are the league's highest scoring offense at 107.5 points per game. But their lack of an inside presence on offense keeps them out of the top three from this list.
The Clippers get the nod here for their two young stars (Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon) and the way that their savvy, experienced point guard (Baron Davis) is able to spread the wealth. When Del Negro opened up the offense and increased the pace, this team has really started to shine.
The Warriors lead the NBA in three-point shooting and make up for their lack of post scoring with the NBA's best slasher (Monta Ellis). The Grizzlies might possess the most talented roster of the group, but this team will struggle to take the next step until Marc Gasol's offense catches up to his hustle.
Minus the injuries, Houston and Portland could be at the top of this list. Unfortunately, injuries are a part of basketball and that's a fact known all too well by these clubs.
A Lock-Down Defense
4 of 6
1. L.A. Clippers
2. Portland Trailblazers
3. Houston Rockets
4. Memphis Grizzlies
5. Golden State Warriors
6. Phoenix Suns
The Clippers are the latest team to embrace the run-and-gun basketball. But the scary thing with this team, is that they are not terrible on defense and are tremendous on the glass. Their +3.95 rebounding differential is best in the league, thanks in no small part to Griffin's 12.8 rebounds per game, fourth-best in the NBA.
Again, without injuries Portland would likely hold the top spot here but with Marcus Camby the latest need knee surgery, Portland will be desperate for an inside presence. Same thing for Houston, as good as Chuck Hayes is, he's not nearly as intimidating Yao Ming would have been.
The Grizzlies, Warriors and Suns all struggle with defensive lapses and none of them are good enough on the glass to makeup for their defensive shortcomings.
Star Power
5 of 6
1. Golden State Warriors
2. L.A. Clippers
3. Memphis Grizzlies
4. Houston Rockets
5. Phoenix Suns
6. Portland Trailblazers
Talent alone, it's hard to put the Warriors above the Clippers. But in the NBA, experience means something and the Warriors best players are more seasoned than the Clippers best players. Ellis and Lee are proven commodities in the league; Baron Davis is one as well--when he wants to be--and as good as Griffin and Gordon have been, they've yet to show how they'll perform on the big stage.
The Grizzlies (Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph, O.J. Mayo) have a talented group, but always seem to be underwhelming. And moving Mayo, the team's third best player, to the bench shows just how little fire power that bench possesses.
The Rockets have a lot of good players, but their best player (Kevin Martin) is one-dimensional and they could use another big to complement Luis Scola.
The Suns appear to be chasing after the 2005 All-Star team (Steve Nash, Grant Hill, Vince Carter) and the Trailblazers will be without at least three of their top five players for significant time.
So, Who Wins?
6 of 6
1. Golden State Warriors
2. Houston Rockets
3. L.A. Clippers
4. Memphis Grizzlies
5. Phoenix Suns
6. Portland Trailblazers
Golden State has the schedule and the roster capable of making a run at the eighth spot. Fourteen of their next 17 games are at home, so they have the chance to climb the ladder now. Monta Ellis' leadership and further development will be enough to guide the Warriors and when Stephen Curry regains his consistency from last season, this will not be an easy team to deal with come playoff time.
The Rockets always over-achieve so this should be no different, but the talent level just is not there. The Clippers lack of experience will catch up to them, but their talent will give them a respectable finish in the conference. The Grizzlies always disappoint so this year should be no different. The Suns might unload Nash and go in to fire sale mode (even if they don't, they're not very good) and Portland just does not have the bodies to compete.
