By virtue of the Los Angeles Clippers dominating win over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday, we might have to wait until west-coast games come to a conclusion tonight to find out the final NBA Playoff matchups. The Clippers, who now possess a franchise-best 57 wins, still have a shot at stealing the No. 2 seed from Kevin Durant’s Oklahoma City Thunder.
While that’s the big story heading into the final day of the regular season, there are other aspects that still need to be decided before we can completely close the door on the regular season and prepare for the playoffs that start this upcoming weekend.
No. 2 Seed in the Western Conference
If Oklahoma City handles business at home against a 29-win Detroit Pistons club this evening, it will earn the second seed in the Western Conference and take on either the Dallas Mavericks or Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs. If not, the Thunder will have to wait for the outcome the Clippers matchup against a Portland Trail Blazers team that will likely be resting a vast majority of their starters with nothing to play for.
Needless to say, Oklahoma City should win against Detroit going away. And it’s likely the team’s best chance of earning the second seed and avoiding the Golden State Warriors in the first round.
Who Does Golden State Want to Play?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hoIRSPUacs
If you asked this question two months ago, the answer would be rather simple. Match the Warriors up against their cross-state rival Los Angeles Clippers and they would have taken that every day of the week. Two months later, and we can’t be too sure about that.
The Clippers, fresh off a franchise-best 57 wins (and counting), have won 20 of their last 24 games. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin are playing like the best inside-out tandem in the entire Association. With a deep bench and two super stars, there is no reason to believe that the Clippers can’t contend for the conference title when all is said and done. Golden State split its season series with the Clippers 2-2, both teams sweeping at home.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma City has hit a bit of a rough patch. it is 14-12 over the past 26 games after starting the season 44-11. In addition to this, Golden State has played the Thunder tough all season. Mark Jackson’s club was 1-2 during the regular year, but both of their losses came by a combined seven points on the road in Oklahoma City. Either way you spin it, Golden State is in for a major battle in the first round, especially with Andrew Bogut out indefinitely.
Dallas Mavericks at Memphis Grizzlies
Pretty much a win or go home game here. While both Dallas and Memphis have secured a playoff spot, the loser of this all-important 82nd game will have to go up against the San Antonio Spurs instead of either Oklahoma City or Los Angeles in the first round.
It goes without saying that both teams want to win this game and avoid the dreaded Spurs this upcoming weekend. After all, Tim Duncan and Co. have won 62 games this season and are 29-6 since the start of February.
Cluster Mess in the Eastern Conference
Tom Szczerbowski, USA Today: A Raptors/Wizards first-round matchup would be dandy.
The Toronto Raptors need to either win against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden or have the Chicago Bulls lose to the Charlotte Bobcats in order to secure the No. 3 seed. If that happens, the Bulls will wind up with the No. 4 seed and play the Brooklyn Nets.
The Washington Wizards seem entrenched in as the sixth seed, but they either need to beat the Boston Celtics or have the Charlotte Bobcats lose to the Chicago Bulls in order to maintain that seeding. A Charlotte win and Washington loss would give the Bobcats the sixth seed.
Get that? Good.
How the Playoff Picture Looks Now
Western Conference
1) San Antonio Spurs vs 8) Memphis Grizzlies
4) Houston Rockets vs 5) Portland Trail Blazers
3) Los Angeles Clippers vs 6) Golden State Warriors
2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs 7) Dallas Mavericks
Eastern Conference
1) Indiana Pacers vs 8) Atlanta Hawks
4) Chicago Bulls vs 5) Brooklyn Nets
3) Toronto Raptors vs 6) Washington Wizards
2) Miami Heat vs 7) Charlotte Bobcats
Photo: Justin Ford, USA Today