If the NBA season ended today – and trust me, I know it doesn’t but for the sake of this exercise, play along because these are realistic playoffs scenarios – either the Los Angeles Lakers or Golden State Warriors will miss the playoffs.
And it’s possible neither make the playoffs unless one escapes the depths of the play-in game.
Today, the Warriors are in 10th place at 41-34, and the Lakers are in ninth place at 43-33. The winner of the 9-10 game plays the loser of the 7-8 game for the eighth seed with the winner of the 7-8 game gets the seventh seed.
If the Lakers or Warriors make it in as the No. 8 seed, they will play either Oklahoma City, Denver or Minnesota in the first round.
Let’s take a look at who’s rising and who’s falling the playoff races in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference.
NBA teams rising
Dallas Mavericks
Since, Feb. 5, the Mavericks are 19-7. It’s the second-best winning percentage, and the Mavs have the No. 4 offense and most important to their postseason success, the Mavs have the No. 8 defense during that stretch.
Luka Doncic has averaged a triple-double (32.5 points, 10.2 assists and 10.1 rebounds) and Kyrie Irving is averaging 25.5 points, 5.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds and shooting 51.8% from the field and 41.5% on 3s in the past two months, and trade deadline acquisitions, Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington, both average at least 11 points.
Oklahoma City, Denver, Minnesota
It’s crowded and competitive at the top of the West. The Nuggets, Thunder and Timberwolves are separated by a ½ game for the top seed.
Denver, in first because they’ve played one more game and have one more victory than the other two teams, and Oklahoma City are 7-3 in their past 10 games, and Minnesota is 8-2.
Lakers, Warriors
Both teams are 7-3 in their past 10 games, and the Warriors have won five consecutive games, putting a two-game buffer between them and 11th-place Houston. The Lakers and Warriors play each other Tuesday.
Boston Celtics
Boston had a weird two-game losing streak to Atlanta, but it is still 22-4 since losing to the Lakers on Feb. 1. The Celtics have the best record (59-16), the No. 1 offense, the No. 3 defense and the No. 1 net rating.
Miami Heat
Are the Heat still a dangerous team?
Miami is 7-3 in their past 10 games and have won three consecutive games. The Heat are a top-5 defense, but just 21st offensively. Can they put it together for the playoffs? Well, it is Erik Spoelstra, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, so … it’s possible.
