West Playoff Seedings & Projections (Page 4 UPDATE)

[Deivork]

My predictions with 10/11 games to go for most teams as of March 27, before the day's games:


CURRENT STANDINGS

#1 DENVER (51-21): PHO, CLE, MIN, SAS, @LAC?, ATL, @UTAH, MIN, @SAS, @MEM
They cruise at home, beat bottom feeders and slip a couple games against good teams for a final 8-2 record.

#2 OKC [50-21]: HOU, PHO, @NYK, @PHI, @BOS, @IND, @CHA, SAC, SAS, MIL, DAL
They keep consistenly as all season but will lose a couple games on a tough east road trip and with Shai not at 100%. Will lose final game because Dallas will need it more and they'll be set at No. 2 already. Final 8-3 record.

#3 MINNESOTA [49-22]: DET, @DEN, CHI, HOU, TOR, @PHO, @LAL (W), WAS (W), @DEN (W), ATL (L), PHO (L).
Will fall in Denver and Phoenix, win the rest and slip the last 2 because they'll be established at 3. Final 7-4 record.

#4 LAC [44-27]: @PHI (L), @ORL (W), @CHA (W), @SAC (L), DEN (W??), UTAH (W), CLE (L), @PHO (L), PHO (W), UTAH (W), HOU (W). They'll lose to Cleveland at home because it'll be a back-to-back-to-back! Is that possible?? 7-4 possible, 6-5 likely.

#5 NEW ORLEANS [44-28]: MIL (L), BOS (L), PHO (L), ORL (W), SAS (W), @PHO (W), @POR (W), @SAC (L), @GSW (W), LAL (W).
They are hard to predict, specially with Ingram's uncertain status. A final 6-4, 5-5 or 4-6 are all very possible.

#6 DALLAS [43-29]: @SAC (L), @HOU (W), @GSW (L), ATL (W), GSW (W), HOU (L), @CHA (W), @MIA (W), DET (W), @OKC (W).
Mavs also with 3 games in 3 nights on April 5-7, they'll drop one these 3 home games. 7-3 record with an ok schedule to go.

#7 SACRAMENTO {42-30}: DAL (W), UTAH (W), LAC (W), @NYK (L), @BOS (L), @BKN (W), @OKC (L), NOP (W), PHO (L), POR (W)
Also with 3 games in so many days to end the season, I see them dropping down in the standings with a final 6-4 record.

#8 PHOENIX [42-30]: @DEN (L), @OKC (L), @NOP (W), CLE (W), MIN (W), NOP (L), LAC (W), @LAC (L), @SAC (W), @MIN (L).
This team is hard to predicto too, even with an extra gear that they should activate at some point. I see them dropping a lot of games with the toughest schedule for them. Final 5-5 record.

#9 LA LAKERS [40-32]: @MEM (W), @IND (L), @BRK (W), @TOR (W), @WAS (W), CLE (W), MIN (L), GSW (W), @MEM (W), @NOP (L)
Lakers are on a 4-game winning streak and should take care of business with LeBron at full steam. Final 7-4 record.

#10 GSW [37-34]: @ORL (W), @CHA (W), @SAS (W), DAL (W), @HOU (L), @DAL (L), UTAH (W), @LAL (L), @POR (W), NOP (L), UTAH (W). Penultimum effort by the Curry-Klay-Dray dynasty won't probably be enough to sneak in the play-offs. Final 7-4 record.

#11 HOUSTON [36-35]: @OKC (L), @UTAH (W), DAL (W), @MIN (L), GSW (W), MIA (L), @DAL (L), ORL (W), @UTAH (W), @POR (W), @LAC (L)
Houston has 2 sets of back-to-back-to-backs remaining! What is this lunacy!? 6-5 likely final record and they'll miss the play-in.


PROJECTED FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Denver 59-23
2. OKC 58-24
3. Minnesota 56-26
4. LA Clippers: 50-32 (own the tie-break over the Mavs)
5. Dallas 50-32
6. New Orleans 48-34 (own the tie-break over the Kings)
--
7. Sacramento 48-34
8. LA Lakers: 47-35 (own the tie-break over the Suns)
9. Phoenix: 47-35
10. Golden State: 44-38
--
11. Houston: 42-40

[thinktank]

Personally I would root for a Clippers-Nuggets WCF, because I think they're the 2 best and imo most deserving teams. For that to be possible OKC should keep the 1st seed and LA should not overtake Minnesota for the 3rd. Or else they both should move up one spot. I see the former as the likelier possibility because the Clippers have slipped off a bit lately and are 3.5 games below the Wolves. We'll see.

Why exactly would Clippers especially be more deserving than Wolves, Thunder ? Also I haven't seen much evidence to say Clippers are better team than Wolves at this point. Wolves will beat Clippers if they meet in playoffs

It's mostly subjective, I like them better and I want veterans to have their chance. That's why I stated "in my opinion".

Edit: also, as the standings are and my projections, for the Wolves to meet the Clips it would very likely need to be in the 3rd round. That's very unlikely to happen statistically, so I guess we won't know if Minnesota would indeed beat LA this year.

Clippers dropping like a rock.

Their coach called their identity “soft”.

Wolves over Clippers in round 1.

[Special_Puppy]

1. OKC
2. Minnesota
3. Denver

is still a live possibility

[Marrrcuss]

Houston passes warriors for the play in.
Even more hilarious would be if lakers fall out to warriors( have a game against them ) and rockets.

Hilarious or wonderful?

[Deivork]

Phoenix has passed Sacramento. Minnesota is over OKC for now, Knicks have overtaken the Cavs. Clips and Pels hang on

[MoneyTalks41890]

Actually think 2 seed is a better spot for OKC. Play in will be wild, but I'd rather match up with SAC or NOP or PHX than LAL. Obviously if Mavs end up 7 I don't love that matchup for OKC, but I'd still rather see them than LA.

[mademan]

Actually think 2 seed is a better spot for OKC. Play in will be wild, but I'd rather match up with SAC or NOP or PHX than LAL. Obviously if Mavs end up 7 I don't love that matchup for OKC, but I'd still rather see them than LA.

Today's a huge game for the Kings. If they lose it, theyd be only a game ahead of the surging Lakers for the 8 spot with the Clippers/Knicks/Celtics/Thunder/Pelicans/Suns as 6 of their last 9 games. Bottom of the West is far too much in flux and the 7 seed can belong to any of the Lakers/Mavs/Suns/Kings

[Marrrcuss]

Actually think 2 seed is a better spot for OKC. Play in will be wild, but I'd rather match up with SAC or NOP or PHX than LAL. Obviously if Mavs end up 7 I don't love that matchup for OKC, but I'd still rather see them than LA.

Today's a huge game for the Kings. If they lose it, theyd be only a game ahead of the surging Lakers for the 8 spot with the Clippers/Knicks/Celtics/Thunder/Pelicans/Suns as 6 of their last 9 games. Bottom of the West is far too much in flux and the 7 seed can belong to any of the Lakers/Mavs/Suns/Kings

Sac has the tie-breaker with the lakers

[mademan]

Actually think 2 seed is a better spot for OKC. Play in will be wild, but I'd rather match up with SAC or NOP or PHX than LAL. Obviously if Mavs end up 7 I don't love that matchup for OKC, but I'd still rather see them than LA.

Today's a huge game for the Kings. If they lose it, theyd be only a game ahead of the surging Lakers for the 8 spot with the Clippers/Knicks/Celtics/Thunder/Pelicans/Suns as 6 of their last 9 games. Bottom of the West is far too much in flux and the 7 seed can belong to any of the Lakers/Mavs/Suns/Kings

Sac has the tie-breaker with the lakers

Big + for them, and i dont really see them losing both games to the Mavs so it might be moot, but the Lakers are surging and the Kings have been struggling against some bad teams and winning on heroics. Wouldnt surprise me to see them slip with the schedule looking tough for them to end the year

[tamaraw08]

My predictions with 10/11 games to go for most teams as of March 27, before the day's games:


PROJECTED FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Denver 59-23
2. OKC 58-24
3. Minnesota 56-26
4. LA Clippers: 50-32 (own the tie-break over the Mavs)
5. Dallas 50-32
6. New Orleans 48-34 (own the tie-break over the Kings)
--
7. Sacramento 48-34
8. LA Lakers: 47-35 (own the tie-break over the Suns)
9. Phoenix: 47-35
10. Golden State: 44-38
--
11. Houston: 42-40

wait, Lakers have a chance to beat Sacramento for the 7th seed and avoid Denver?
Then they face the inexperienced and too young OKC?
Then the Clippers duke it out with Dallas, if Clips survives, has a chance to beat Denver with their 3 bigs to minimize Jokic?
Then the Lakers has a hallway showdown with the Clips?
Then the Lakers face Boston in the Finals?

[thinktank]

The word “have” no longer exists.

[Sealab2024]

Huge game in Denver tonight. Wolves tied with OKC a half game behind Denver for 1st. Denver wins it's gonna be really tough for the Wolves to get back into first at all this season. Wolves win they go a half game up in first place with ten to go.

I look for the Wolves to come with their fangs out tonight.

[Marrrcuss]

My predictions with 10/11 games to go for most teams as of March 27, before the day's games:


PROJECTED FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Denver 59-23
2. OKC 58-24
3. Minnesota 56-26
4. LA Clippers: 50-32 (own the tie-break over the Mavs)
5. Dallas 50-32
6. New Orleans 48-34 (own the tie-break over the Kings)
--
7. Sacramento 48-34
8. LA Lakers: 47-35 (own the tie-break over the Suns)
9. Phoenix: 47-35
10. Golden State: 44-38
--
11. Houston: 42-40

wait, Lakers have a chance to beat Sacramento for the 7th seed and avoid Denver?
Then they face the inexperienced and too young OKC?
Then the Clippers duke it out with Dallas, if Clips survives, has a chance to beat Denver with their 3 bigs to minimize Jokic?
Then the Lakers has a hallway showdown with the Clips?
Then the Lakers face Boston in the Finals?

As a laker stan, i have already consumed all koolaid available. If we get healthy, id take my chane with any of them.

[Deivork]

If the Wolves beat the Nuggets today it gets really, really interesting

[Special_Puppy]

1. OKC
2. Minnesota
3. Denver

is still a live possibility

Reupping this

[BlueSan]

Well Sacramento lost twice. They are in some troubles now.
Rickets win against Jazz Barely but they do.
Wolves beat Denver Clippers and OKC win

My prediction

Denver
Okc
Wolves
LA Clippers
Dallas
New Orleans
----------------------
Suns
Lakers
Sacramento
Golden State

I dont think Rovkets will overcome GS. Gs have a tiebreaker and Houston faces some tough games still they are about to drop around 3 games at least I doubt GS will drop 5

[baldur]

sacramento is done. they have a tough schedule. they will likely have to beat 2 of lakers-suns and golden state to make the playoffs seemingly.

[Exp0sed]

Wolves made a huge step to securing the 1st seed and imo they're the best team in the West (i've been saying that for months and haven't changed my mind yet)

Kings are cooked, they're not making the playoffs

if Nuggets can't secure first, I think they'll prefer #3 if it'll look like the Pelicans and not the Mavs. Mavs are a better team than either PHX or the Kings and they are alreay ahead, they'll stay ahead imo, the question is will they overtake Clippers, Pels or both

I think the Wolves stay 1st, Nuggets either lose out to OKC or prefer the 3rd so they will probably finish 3rd and meet the Pels. this might be the same opposum act we saw from Jokic last season, dude really doesn't want the hassle, media, interviews and ceremenoies that will come with another MVP, haha

Mavs probably finish 4th and matchup with the Clippers and if not they might be reversed in order with Clippers having HCA (unlikely imo)

so:

#1 Wolves
#2 OKC
#3 Nuggets
#4 Mavs
#5 Clippers
#6 Pelicans

play-in is up for grabs, Rockets probably making it over the Kings and PHX likely remains 7th
so something like PHX-Lakers and Dubs-Rockets, if Rockets make it to 9th and have HCA they are beating the Dubs and PHX-Lakers in a single game can go either way

likely 1st rd matchups imo:

Wolves - Rockets
OKC - PHX\Lakers
Nuggets - Pels
Mavs - Clippers

[MoneyTalks41890]

If the play in doesn’t change things I’m liking this setup for OKC. SAC and PHX are good teams but better matchups for OKC.

[_AIJ_]

If the play in doesn’t change things I’m liking this setup for OKC. SAC and PHX are good teams but better matchups for OKC.

You guys get the Suns. Dont want any part of that. that team scares the crap out of me.