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There are just two weeks left in the 2022-23 NBA season, with countless possibilities regarding the Western Conference playoff seeding. While the Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings have all secured their position, there are still five spots up for grabs.
With the 4th and 12th seeds separated by a mere 3.5 games, every matchup that unfolds in the next fortnight has the power to change the destinies of the competing teams.
The sides that finish 4th, 5th and 6th will advance directly to the playoffs, with those between 7th-10th competing in a play-in tournament for the final two spots in the post-season.
If two teams finish with the same record, their position will be determined by a tiebreaker, the first of which is the head-to-head record between the sides.
So, how will it all look when the dust settles?
Phoenix Suns
Current position: 4th
Season win/loss record: 41-35
Kevin Durant’s back, the 4th seed seems to be locked down, and the future is looking bright for the Phoenix Suns, at the very least from owner Mat Ishbia’s perspective.
The man he flew in from New York in the early hours of February’s trade deadline is back on the court and showing exactly what those hours of missed sleep bought: a chance to pave the way for a deep playoff run.
The former MVP is averaging a ridiculous 26.7 points on 69 per cent shooting in his last three games. He made his home debut on Wednesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves and notched another 16 points.
With two weeks still on the clock, Durant’s team-mates can enjoy his presence in the starting five and work on the chemistry they’ll rely on in the postseason drip.
Remaining fixtures: Nuggets (A) – April 1, Thunder (H) – April 3, Spurs (A) – April 5, Nuggets (A) – April 7*, Lakers (H) – April 8, Clippers (A) – April 9*. *Live on Sky Sports
Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard is a former NBA Finals MVP
Current position: 5th
Season win/loss record: 41-36
The Clippers are currently 5th seed, and most are projecting them to hold on to a playoff spot despite Paul George’s injury status.
Their star guard will be missing for at least the remainder of the regular season as he nurses himself back to health following a knee sprained. Although he won’t require surgery, it’s possible the 32-year-old may not be around for the first round of the playoffs.
In his absence, Kawhi Leonard’s contributions have been immense. Most notably he delivered a monstrous performance against the Thunder, racking up 32 points on 13-of-15 shooting.
Will it be enough to keep them afloat while George recuperates? Sunday’s defeat to the Pelicans provided us with an insight into their fatal flaw: roster depth.
It is a weakness that could be found out across four nights where they face the Grizzlies twice before returning to New Orleans.
With no tiebreakers to hand, these fixtures will be must-win games. The Leonard of old may be needed if the Clippers are to power their way through.
Remaining fixtures: Grizzlies (H) – April 1, Pelicans (H) April 2, Lakers (A) – April 6, Blazers (A) – April 8, Suns (H) – April 9*. *Live on Sky Sports
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors have struggled to find consistency this season, but do have bags of championship experience, not least in the form of the legendary ‘Splash Brothers’
Current position: 6th
Season win/loss record: 40-37
The Warriors have hardly been a picture of consistency this season. They keep bouncing from 6th to 7th, down to 8th, and then back up – a telling sign of just how competitive the latter portion of the playoff race is proving to be.
They’ll have to find some form of stability in their final five games if they are to defend their title. Having the 18th hardest remaining schedule in the NBA certainly helps.
Sure, locking horns with the resurgent Pelicans, West-leading Nuggets and dynamic Kings can be ominous, but with the four-time NBA Championship winning ‘Splash Brothers’ of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson in their element, they should be able to keep their rivals at bay.
Remaining fixtures: Spurs (A) – April 1, Nuggets (H) – April 3, Thunder (A) – April 5, Kings (H) – April 8, Blazers (H) – April 9.
Minnesota Timberwolves
The return of Karl-Anthony Towns sparked a strong run of form for Minnesota
Current position: 7th
Season win/loss record: 39-38
The Timberwolves’ season finally looks to have clicked with the return of Karl Anthony-Towns.
Five months on from his calf injury, ‘KAT’ has slotted back into the action as if he’s been simmering away on the side-lines, acting as the glue during an impressive run of form.
While it may seem implausible that the Wolves will plod forward without any hiccups, it’s clear that they’re in a far better position that most of the teams in the West.
They own tiebreakers over their rivals who have attempted and failed to usurp them in the standings. The upcoming clashes with the Suns and the Pelicans are theirs to lose.
Remaining fixtures: Lakers (A) – April 1, Blazers (A) – April 2, Nets (H) – April 5, Spurs (H) – April 8, Pelicans (A) – April 9.
Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron James has returned for the Lakers following a foot injury
Current position: 8th
Season win/loss record: 38-38
When LeBron James is in the mix, it’s never too late, right?
Lakers fans will tell you as much. The 38-year-old has taken no time in dusting himself off and getting back into the thick of things alongside the spellbinding Austin Reaves and Anthony Davis.
But at this stage of the season, results are what matter. When the Lakers saw a three-game winning streak halted in a disappointing defeat to the Chicago Bulls, they shot themselves in the foot.
They must have forgotten that the Pelicans, Thunder, and Dallas Mavericks were breathing down their neck, otherwise, they might never have let Nikola Vucevic have that much time on the ball.
They will have to pull off colossal performances in a five-game road trip that includes matchups with the Timberwolves and Clippers.
Remaining fixtures: Timberwolves (H) – April 1, Rockets (H) – April 3, Jazz (H) – April 5, Clippers (H) – April 6, Suns (A) – April 8, Jazz (A) – April 9.
New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans are currently in a play-in spot
Current position: 9th
Season win/loss record: 38-38
The Pelicans are in the mood – not the kind that can be easily tempered.
A five-game winning streak vaulting you back into the thick of the playoff conversation can certainly do that.
They should be able to hold the ninth seed comfortably and will likely be primed for any slip-ups ahead of them as the Lakers and Warriors gear up for a mammoth week of action.
With the Nuggets next on the cards, the Pelicans will want to finish with the same flourish that they’ve applied to recent games. Given that they hold the league’s toughest remaining schedule, the opportunities may be few and far between.
They’ll have a four-game homestand against the Clippers, the Kings, the Grizzlies, and the New York Knicks, before closing up shop back in Minnesota.
Remaining fixtures: Nuggets (H) – 31 March*, Clippers (A) – April 2, Kings (A) – April 5, Grizzlies (A) – April 6, Knicks (A) – April 8, Timberwolves (H) – April 9. *Live on Sky Sports
Oklahoma City Thunder
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is among the league’s top scorers this season
Current position: 10th
Season win/loss record: 38-39
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander deserves a place in the playoff conversation, just as he deserved a place in the All-Star roster. He made it to the latter with impressive ease, but the former might take more elbow grease.
The Thunder have a one-game lead over the Mavericks who sit in 11th position in the West, and they haven’t had much in the way of support for ‘SGA’, until the recent rise of Jalen Williams.
The rookie showcased his dazzling skills against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, finishing with a game-high 27 points and securing the buzzer-beating shot.
He’s scored at least 20 points in his last three games, including a 31-point performance in Tuesday’s loss to the Charlotte Hornets. They’ll need him to carry on that form alongside Gilgeous-Alexander if they are to keep the Mavs at arms-length.
Remaining fixtures: Pacers (H) – April 1, Suns (A) – April 3, Warriors (H) – April 5, Jazz (H) – April 7, Grizzlies (A) – April 9.
Dallas Mavericks
Even Luka Doncic’s offensive magic has not been enough to offset the Mavericks’ defensive frailties
Current position: 11th
Season win/loss record: 37-40
If there had to be one team to miss out, you would not have predicted it to be the one with an offense headlined by Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
But you can have the best backcourt in the world and still suffer defeat after defeat if your defence ranks as one of the lowest in the league.
Although the pair have excelled individually since that trade was made to bring Irving to Dallas, Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith – who joined the Brooklyn Nets as part of that deal – are in a much better position than Irving.
Their next three games on the road against Eastern playoff contenders Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, and the Atlanta Hawks present an essentially do-or-die scenario.
From our perspective, bar an absolutely devastating spell of scoring from Doncic, it seems it might be curtains for the Mavs.
Remaining fixtures: Heat (H) – April 2*, Hawks (H) April 2, Kings (A) – April 6, Bulls (A) – April 8, Spurs (A) – April 9. *live on Sky Sports
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