Western Conference | A final week in the form of a “thriller”

There is now less than a week left before the end of the regular season. In the East as in the West, each match will therefore be worth its weight in gold for the different teams that have not validated their ticket for the playoffs or for the play-in.

In the West, we currently know of three qualifiers: denver (52-26), Memphis (49-29) and finally, for the first time since 2006, Sacramento (47-31). Barring disaster, the Nuggets will finish at the top of this conference for the first time since moving from the ABA to the NBA, ahead of the Grizzlies and then the Kings. Kings who should win their division for the first time since 2003, despite particularly strong competition.

It is then that the suspense begins to appear in the West. Maybe not directly, because the 4th place, synonymous with home advantage in the first lap, seems to be promised to phoenix (43-35). The fact remains that four teams can always pick it up or, in any case, challenge these same Suns at the start of the playoffs.

Who to avoid the play-in?

The best placed currently are called the Clippers (41-38) and Golden State (41-38), which could potentially offer us an enticing duel between the Paul-Booker-Durant and Westbrook-George-Leonard trios, or the NBA champions…

But the Lakers (40-38) and New Orleans (40-38), also tied, have the same number of losses as the Clippers and Warriors, with a game behind. Clearly, the teammates of LeBron James and those of Brandon Ingram can still find themselves in the Top 6 and, better, in 5th position (or even 4th) to certainly face Phoenix.

With a Los Angeles derby, a clash between the Suns and the Clippers, as well as a duel between the Suns and the Lakers, the next few days promise to be decisive, while the Pelicans have a supposedly more difficult schedule to manage. As for the defending champions, they will notably have to make the difference outside, where they have struggled all season.

Still, before thinking about the Top 4 and the advantage of the field, it will already be necessary to win if only to avoid going through the play-in box. For the moment, it is the Lakers and New Orleans who are destined for it, but the Clippers and Golden State are not off the hook. Beware of collapse at the end of the race…

The Mavericks in the heart of a zone of turbulence…

Especially since, behind, Minnesota (39-40) and Oklahoma City (38-41) also no longer have the right to make mistakes, both to join the Top 6 and to avoid leaving the Top 10. Because the Wolves, with their supposedly easy schedule, and the Thunder, whose schedule is judged more complicated, remain under the threat of dallas (37-42), even Utah (36-42), in the standings.

But unlike the Jazz, who will have to play against tougher opponents, the Mavericks have the opportunity to capitalize on a more affordable end of the season to put pressure on OKC, for example. It is still necessary that the teammates of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving do not find a semblance of cohesion in their group… and especially that they win two matches more than the Thunder.

Without this, the playoffs will take place without a renowned All-Star tandem but, given the looming posters and the balance of power which wants to be more balanced than ever, this should not prevent this 2023 campaign from being particularly enticing. and fun to follow.

United States estimates

Calendar Difficulty (according to Tankathon)