10 remaining games that will help shape the Western Conference playoff race

Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley (10) moves past Portland Trail Blazer forward Derrick Jones Jr. (5) during the game at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City on Thursday, April 8, 2021. | Annie Barker, Deseret News

There is one week remaining in the NBA’s regular season, and although five of eight playoff berths have been clinched in the Western Conference, there is still very little clarity concerning seeding.

At this point, the teams can best be grouped into a few tiers:

• The Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns are fighting for the top seed
• The LA Clippers and Denver Nuggets are battling for the third seed
• The Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Lakers should finish 5-7 in some order
• The Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs should finish 8-10 in some order (the teams that finish 7-10 will compete in a play-in tournament to determine the 7 and 8 seeds for the playoffs).
• While the top 10 teams have probably been determined, the New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings have not been mathematically eliminated from contention.

Although each remaining game for each team is magnified as far as determining seeding goes, contests featuring two of the above-listed teams will obviously bring bigger shifts in the standings than others.

Over the final week before the end of the regular season, there are 10 such contests between Western Conference squads that are in playoff contention.

Sunday, May 9

• Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers, 8 p.m. MT, NBATV

Monday, May 10

• Utah Jazz at Golden State Warriors, 8 p.m. MT, NBATV

Tuesday, May 11

• Dallas Mavericks at Memphis Grizzlies, 6 p.m. MT
• Phoenix Suns at Golden State Warriors, 8 p.m. MT

Wednesday, May 12

• Portland Trail Blazers at Utah Jazz, 7 p.m. MT

Thursday, May 13

• Portland Trail Blazers at Phoenix Suns, 8 p.m. MT

Saturday, May 15

• Phoenix Suns at San Antonio Spurs, Time TBD

Sunday, May 16

• Memphis Grizzlies at Golden State Warriors, Time TBD
• Denver Nuggets at Portland Trail Blazers, Time TBD
• Phoenix Suns at San Antonio Spurs, Time TBD

As far as the top spot is concerned, while all of the Suns’ remaining five games are against teams in Western Conference playoff contention, the Jazz’s other contests beside the two listed above are a May 14 road contest against the Oklahoma City Thunder and a May 16 road tilt versus the Sacramento Kings to close out the regular season.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/3tt3pt3