The playoffs are less than 15 games away and some teams still haven’t found their groove. The standings could change dramatically in the coming days, as the 4-12 seeds in the west are all within 4 games of each other. There have been many surprises this season, from blockbuster trades, to shake ups in the standings, so let’s take a look at everything that’s happened this season team by team.
The Western Conference
Pacific Division
Sacramento Kings: The Sacramento Kings have jumped from a team not even in the play-in last year, to the two seed and they have De’Aaron Fox and Domontas Sabonis to thank for that because they have been huge for them this year.
Phoenix Suns: The Phoenix Suns are currently in the 4 seed, but that doesn’t tell their full story. They recently acquired Kevin Durant, but he has only played in a handful of games due to a sprained ankle during warm ups that is keeping him sidelined, they are looking deadly once Durant comes back.
Los Angeles Clippers: The Los Angeles Clippers are tied with the Suns, and it seems that when both their stars, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard play, they are pretty good, unfortunately they will be without one of them for the next 2-3 weeks so they could be done for.
Golden State Warriors: Next we have the Golden State Warriors who are a game behind the Clippers and have been an interesting story this season. They have gone from the 3 seed and winning the championship last year, to the 6 seed and only two more wins on the road, as they have losses at home.
Los Angeles Lakers: The last team in the Pacific Division is the Los Angeles Lakers, who have had a similar story to last season, struggling to get anything going, but with the acquisition of D’Angelo and other pieces, they could make some noise if they can make it into the playoffs and get LeBron James back from injury, which could be soon.
Northwest Division
Denver Nuggets: The Denver Nuggets are another team that has been surprising this year, they have gone from the 6 seed to 1 seed in just a year, thanks to fabulous play once again from two time MVP Nikola Jokic who is looking to become just the fourth player ever to win three consecutively, but also from Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr, who have both constantly been injured in the past. They have also clinched a playoff spot.
Minnesota Timberwolves: The Minnesota Timberwolves acquired Rudy Gobert during the off season, but he hasn’t quite clicked with the team, and they sit at the 7 seed for the second year in a row.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Right now the OKC Thunder are the 11 seed, but they have had stellar play from guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as well as Josh Giddey and their rookies. They look to improve with their many, many picks they can use as trade pieces or to draft players, but also make it into the play-in.
Utah Jazz: The Utah Jazz started out with the league on notice, even without Donovan Mitchel and Rudy Gobert, but they have slowed down tremendously and are on the outside of the play-in looking in, but only a half game from it, and have seen the growth of Lauri Markkanen into a star.
Portland Trail Blazers: The Portland Trail Blazers don’t have CJ McCollum anymore, but it seems they have found a replacement in Anfernee Simons, despite this, they have still struggled and are a bottom three team in the west.
Southwest Division
Memphis Grizzlies: The Memphis Grizzlies are in the same spot they were last season, the 2 seed, have clinched a playoff spot, and they have almost everyone back, Ja Morant is back from his suspension, and Stephen Adams could be back if they make a run in the playoffs.
Dallas Mavericks: The Dallas Mavericks, who were looked at as potential contenders, are currently in the play-in and Kyrie continues to be injured, and even with him the team has not performed well.
New Orleans Pelicans: The New Orleans Pelicans are another team that started out hot, but have really struggled recently, possibly because Zion Williamson is once again injured, they are currently the 9 seed and in the play-in.
San Antonio Spurs: Everyone knew the San Antonio Spurs would be bad, after they traded away their best players, Jakob Poeltl and Dejounte Murray, but they are really bad, sitting at the 14 seed with only 19 wins.
Houston Rockets: The Houston Rockets are also incredibly bad, at the bottom team in the west with 18 wins, but on the bright side, their young core continues to grow.
The Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
Philadelphia 76ers: The Philadelphia 76ers are on a roll right now, winning 8 games straight, Joel Embiid in MVP conversations, and James Harden leading the league in assists, they sit at the 3 seed and have clinched a playoff spot.
Boston Celtics: The Boston Celtics are currently a half game up on the 76ers, and they are the 2 seed and are looking to make it back to the finals for the second year in a row, and have some pretty good chances too.
New York Knicks: The New York Knicks have surprised the league this year. After not even making the playoffs last year, they have played well with the same roster, besides the acquisition of Jalen Brunson in the off season, they sit at the 5 seed, but have struggled recently with Brunson being out.
Brooklyn Nets: The Brooklyn Nets started out the season looking like contenders again, until they blew the team up right before the trade deadline, sending Kyrie Irving to the Mavericks and Kevin Durant to the Suns. Since then they have struggled, but acquisition Mikal Bridges has shone on his new team, they sit at the 7 seed, which is probably around where they will sit until the end of the season.
Toronto Raptors: The Toronto Raptors have had a downgraded season compared to last year, not really changing anything about the roster, they are currently sitting at the 9 seed.
Central Division
Milwaukee Bucks: The Milwaukee Bucks are looking good, once again, sitting atop the conference looking to win their second title in three years and have clinched a playoff spot.
Cleveland Cavaliers: The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking dangerous, both right now and for the future of the franchise. Their young core will continue to grow and they are already extremely good, sitting at the 4 seed.
Chicago Bulls: The Chicago Bulls, who were the six seed last year, are currently a game and a half into the play-in at the 10 seed and have struggled, and similarly to the Raptors they haven’t changed anything about the roster and Lonzo Ball continues to be unable to play due to injury.
Indiana Pacers: The Indiana Pacers aren’t exactly in a winning situation, but could make it into the play-in if things play out right. Tyrese Haliburton has been great and rookie Bennedict Mathurin has too, so Indiana could be playoff bound once again in the coming years.
Detroit Pistons: The Detroit Pistons are the worst team in the conference, at the 15 seed, and Cade Cunningham has been out for most of the year, so they still look to rebuild and gain more young pieces.
Southeast Division
Miami Heat: The Heat, who were the 1 seed last season, are sitting at the 6 seed, only a half game up on the Nets, which is causing some frustration within the organization.
Atlanta Hawks: The Atlanta Hawks acquired Dejounte Murray during the off season, and it hasn’t changed much, they still sit at the 8 seed.
Washington Wizards: The Washington Wizards are in a tough situation, their core is getting older, they don’t have many young pieces, but they also aren’t good, and are currently the 12 seed, so they either need to go all in or rebuild the team.
Orlando Magic: The Orlando Magic have struggled, which is to be expected, but rookie Paolo Banchero has looked amazing, and Markelle Fultz has started to grow as he actually plays. Jonathan Isaac, who hasn’t played for multiple seasons, came back for a few games then went out with injury again, so hopefully he can get healthy, and this team could be dangerous in the future, they are the 13 seed.
Charlotte Hornets: The Charlotte Hornets have about half the amount of wins they had last season right now, due to LaMelo Ball spending extensive time sitting out with injury and the loss of Miles Bridges during the off season, the Hornets organization needs to figure something out because it’s not working right now, they are sitting at the 14 seed.
