Spoiler Alert: Three NBA Also-Rans to Watch Out For

The NBA All-Star Game isn't until February 17th, and yet we still know which 10 teams will be competing for each conference's eight playoff seeds.

In the Western Conference, there are the usual mainstays like the Spurs, Suns, and Mavs.

The remaining five spots will come from a group that includes the Lakers, Jazz, Nuggets, Hornets, Warriors, Blazers, and Rockets.

That means two teams from that group will be in the draft lottery despite probably winning at least 45 games.

The Eastern Conference is not as obvious, but it's safe to assume the Celtics, Pistons and Magic are all going to win their respective divisions. The Wizards, Cavs, Raptors, Nets, Pacers and Bulls will all be fighting it out for East's remaining spots.

That means five of those Eastern Conference teams will be in the playoffs with fewer than 45 wins, while two of those teams in the West won't.

It isn't far-fetched to see those two Western Conference non-playoff teams ending up with better records than all but one or two of those teams from the East that make the playoffs.

There is another group of teams, though. Call them the "Spoilers"—the teams that aren't good enough to be playoff teams, but they aren't so bad that it makes sense for them to tank games down the stretch.

Here are the teams that will have some say not only in deciding which teams make the playoffs, but also in deciding where those teams will be ranked:

Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks are the only team I left out of either 10-team list that would make the playoffs if the season ended today. The reason they won't is simple—they’ve played five more games at home than they have on the road.

Their road record is an unimpressive 5-11, and they've yet to win a game outside of Atlanta since December 21st.

They've also played the fifth-easiest schedule in the NBA this season.

Their record is currently 18-19, but I would still drop them behind the Pacers and Bulls in the race for the East's last playoff spot. The Pacers have played three fewer games at home than on the road, while the Bulls have played one fewer. Both teams have also played tougher schedules than the Hawks.

The Hawks are 13-8 at home, though. Where teams have been able to pencil in a "W" when they looked at their schedules and saw games in Atlanta, that's not the case any more.

There will definitely be a team or two that either drops down a spot in the playoff race or barely misses a playoff spot. Chances are that said team will look at the games they should have won when the season ends, and notice at least one "L" next to "@ Atlanta."

Charlotte Bobcats

Much has been made of the Bobcats' recent victories over the Celtics, Magic, and Nuggets, and overtime losses to the Cavs and Pistons. The team has also had the last laugh over trades for Jason Richardson and Nazr Mohammed that were initially criticized.

But while the Bobcats have made massive strides and started to shed the expansion label, their schedule up to this point makes even the Hawks' schedule look difficult.

They've played ten fewer road games than home games, and sport the NBA's eighth-easiest schedule.

But you can't overlook the Bobcats’ fourteen wins at home—especially when you realize that they had twenty wins at home all of last season. The fans in Charlotte are really embracing the team, and that makes for an imposing home court advantage.

The Bobcats also seem to play their best games against the best teams. That's usually the greatest indicator of a spoiler team. If Jason Richardson could inbound the ball, the Bobcats would have two wins over the Celtics.

If it weren’t for significant injuries to Sean May and Adam Morrison, they'd probably be a playoff team this year. Instead, they'll have to use the season to continue improving and play the role of spoiler.

A playoff spot next season is definitely not out of the question in the Eastern Conference.

Sacramento Kings

The Kings are the only Western Conference team on the list, yet they have the potential to be the league's biggest spoiler.

Nobody seems to mention Reggie Theus' name in conversations about Coach of the Year. That's not a surprise, considering the team is 17-22.

But the fact that the team is 17-22 is a miracle when you realize the number of games missed by Mike Bibby, Kevin Martin, Spencer Hawes, and Ron Artest due to significant injuries.

In victories over the Pistons and Magic earlier this month, the Kings sported a starting lineup of John Salmons, Beno Udrih, Brad Miller, Francisco Garcia, and Mikki Moore.

They've also had the fourth-toughest schedule in the NBA this season. 

Their home record is an unimpressive 11-9, but with the return their top players, that will surely improve.

It's too late for the Kings to be considered a playoff team, but it's not too late for them to wreak havoc on the Western Conference playoff picture.

Unless, of course, the Kings decide to trade Bibby and Artest, and blow the whole thing up. In that case, they won't pose as much of a threat.

Teams like the Lakers, who have yet to play the Kings once this season, will surely wish they had a chance to play them while they were banged up.

The Rest

There are other teams, like the Bucks and Heat, that could have a say in the playoff picture as well.

The Bucks are also a great home team, but they seem content to make a trade that will set them back.

The Heat could turn their season around a little bit, since they can't play much worse. But with no salary cap space, front-office moves seem unlikely when the quickest way for them to improve is with a higher draft pick.

There is something to be said for teams that don't quit when it seems like they should. Sometimes it's because the coach and/or GM are trying to save his job. Other times, it's because the players on those teams have too much pride to quit or are trying to get new contracts.