Playoff Race

The NBA season is coming to a close. Everyday another team realizes it won't make the playoffs. I think the west is set. The Suns are the only ones that have a chance to change the current playoff grouping, but being 3 games back with 12 to play might be more than they can handle. Even if Dallas only plays .500 ball down the stretch, the Suns would have to win 9 of 12. If Dallas were to win more than that, which seems likely, the Suns basically need to win out. Considering they've already won 5 in a row, making it a 17 game win streak seems unlikely. Had they been playing this way all season, they'd probably be in, but alas. I think the more important race is between Dallas, Portland and Utah to not face the Lakers in the first round, they're separated by a game and a half,

In the east, there are still several things that could change. Seven of the teams are set. The Bobcats are one and a half games behind Chicago and the Bucks are 2 games back. The Bulls and Bucks have 11 games left and the Bobcats 12. I think the 2 game difference will be too much for the Bucks to overcome, especially with the Bulls playing well. The Bobcats have a chance, but I think it's a small one. They were blown out on the road by Indiana in their last game and have eight road games left. I think Chicago could win 8 of 11, which means the Bobcats need to win 9 of 12 to tie, which the Bobcats win on head to head games. The key could be when the Bobcats play the Bulls in the last week of the season. I should also mention that this is a race to lose to Cleveland in the first round. The Cavs will be the number one seed and they've only lost one game at home.