NBA Playoffs Positioning Update: Rockets Trying To Hold On To West No. 2 Seed Against Grizzlies, Clippers, Blazers And Spurs
With a few games left in the regular season, there are still lots to play for in the final week or so of the 2014-2015 NBA regular season. Only six teams— league-leaders Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs— have officially made the 2015 NBA Playoffs as of Monday.
Another squad, the Dallas Mavericks are on the verge of qualifying while three others, the Oklahoma City Thunder, New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns are battling for the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference.
The Fight for the No. 2 Seed
While the Warriors have already clinched homecourt advantage all throughout the playoffs, as many as five teams are still vying for better seeding and at least a first round homecourt advantage in the postseason. The Rockets (53-24) currently have the edge over all other contenders for the number two seed but they are just half one game ahead of the Grizzlies (52-25), which are currently in third place. Even the Trail Blazers (50-26), Clippers (52-26) and Spurs (51-26) have a chance to steal the No. 2 spot with four to five games left for the teams involved.
Here are the respective teams’ remaining schedule— a win or loss in this stretch run of the regular season will most likely which seed they’ll fall, or rise, when the playoffs begin:
Houston Rockets (3 home games, 2 road games): at San Antonio, vs. San Antonio, vs. New Orleans, at Charlotte, vs. Utah
Memphis Grizzlies (2 home games, 3 road games): vs. New Orleans, at Utah, at L.A. Clippers, at Golden State, vs. Indiana
Portland Trail Blazers (2 home games, 3 road games): vs. Minnesota, at Golden State, vs. Utah, at Oklahoma City, at Dallas
Los Angeles Clippers (3 home games, 1 road game): vs. L.A. Lakers, vs. Memphis, vs. Denver, at Phoenix
San Antonio Spurs (2 home games, 3 road games): at Oklahoma City, vs. Houston, at Houston, vs. Phoenix, at New Orleans
The Clippers have arguably the easiest set to finish the season; with games against ran-on teams Lakers and Nuggets and three of their last four outings happening at home. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies, Rockets and Spurs have the opposite; tough games against teams that still have a shot at a postseason slot. The home-and-away game between the Rockets and Spurs will most likely decided if those teams belong to the top four seed or the bottom four. There’s also the Clippers-Grizzlies match-up which will be crucial as well.
Which team will win the battle for the No. 2 seed and a potential first round match-up with the Mavericks?
To contact author of this article, email j.quizon@IBTimes.com.au
