NBA Playoff Push: 5 Teams That Could Make a Run After the All-Star Break
The San Antonio Spurs aren't taking the "we are a playoff team" approach.
They have won over 83 percent of their games, going 46-9 this season. Last season, 46 wins would have made them the sixth-best team in the East at the end of the season.
But what about the teams who are less fortunate?
There are 14 teams on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. The Cavs could win out and miss the playoffs entirely. Other teams are in a trending downward spiral. Some will acquire new assets before the deadline to give their team new life.
As it stands, the playoff picture has five teams who could make a serious playoff push to sneak into one of the eight spots their respective conferences offer. Take into account that a team left off this list could be ahead of a team who made the cut at this point of the season. Sorry, Houston.
Golden State Warriors
1 of 5
The Golden State Warriors are coming into their own.
With a 19-11 home record, even going .500 on the road would be good enough to salvage a playoff spot.
A healthy David Lee makes the Warriors a completely different basketball team. Stephan Curry and Monta Ellis form one of the best backcourts in the NBA, but the duo is unable to win basketball games by themselves. Lee's presence down low is what has led to the Warriors' relative success recently.
The Warriors are on fire at home, winning six of their last seven home games. Their next home game is against Boston. Taking out high-caliber teams like the Bulls, Thunder and Hornets is an impressive feat, but bringing down a giant like the Celtics at this point would likely make Warriors fans drag out their "We Believe" gear.
Milwaukee Bucks
2 of 5
The Milwaukee Bucks are coming off a brutal succession of games.
In their last 13 games, they have faced heavy hitters like the Spurs, Lakers, Bulls, Magic and Heat, even facing the Heat twice. They may be on a cold streak, but they are just getting over their roughest patch of games on their schedule.
Although the Bucks will continue to face their challenges, they have have a much more approachable schedule in the upcoming weeks.
The Bucks are playing phenomenal defense, allowing under 93 points a game. The problem lies in their league-worst 91.4 PPG.
If the Bucks are going to make a run, they need one of their shooters to get hot. Brandon Jennings can't do everything. Corey Maggette is coming back, and if they continue to play the way they have on defense, even putting up 95 points a game could be enough to allow them into the playoffs.
Memphis Grizzlies
3 of 5
The Memphis Grizzlies are flirting with the playoffs as we speak. Zach Randolph has been dominant on the boards and currently leads the team in points.
The Grizzlies all pulled their weight and survived the O.J. Mayo 10-game suspension, going 8-2 during that period. When Mayo returns, he is going to have to produce more than 12.2 points a game. The Grizzlies brought him in to be a dominant 2 guard and he has failed to be the shooter they need him to be.
The Grizzlies are hot right now. They hit a rough patch in the schedule between late February and early March, but can finish strong, with a series of weak opponents at the end of the year.
Phoenix Suns
4 of 5
Channing Frye's 31 points and 11 rebounds in a one-point victory over the Jazz on Tuesday speaks volumes about the Suns as a team.
The Suns have a number of guys on roster who can explode for a big game and be the difference between victory and defeat.
They would love to have Amare Stoudemire in Phoenix, but the Suns are managing to win games without him. They are just above .500 at this point and are catching fire heading into the break, winning seven of their last 10 games.
Vince Carter has gone virtually AWOL recently, but his teammates have rallied around him, pulling the Suns out of a would be slump. It is unclear at this point who received the better end of the midseason blockbuster trade, but the Suns are managing to win games without their leading previous scorer.
Charlotte Bobcats
5 of 5
The Bobcats are another team already on the fringe of the playoffs.
Taking out the Lakers in epic fashion led Phil Jackson to say he was embarrassed by the loss. The public perception is that the Lakers lost to an inferior team, but the message was heard across the league.
The Bobcats followed it up with a loss to the Bulls, so the win over L.A. may have been an aberration. Even so, if the Bobcats can snap out of their upcoming road trips, they could easily find themselves in the playoffs.
The Bobcats need Steven Jackson to step up and their streaky shooters to get hot. The defense and frontcourt are already adequate enough to go to the playoffs. It's time for the offense to catch up.
