With only a few games left in the regular season, the NBA playoff teams are almost set. The spot with the toughest competition is the eight seed in the Western Conference. Three teams (Phoenix, Houston, and Utah) are separated by just 1/2 a game. Phoenix and Houston are currently tied for the last spot (Phoenix holds the tie breaker) and Utah is a 1/2 game back. Here is the outlook for all three teams moving forward.
Phoenix Suns- The Suns currently have the eight seed and are the hottest of the three teams right now having won 7 of their last 10 games. They also have the experience factor with a veteran roster and a lot of guys who have played in the post season. The biggest problem they have is their schedule. They have 5 games left and while 4 of them are at home, all 4 of those are against playoff teams in OKC, the Clippers, Denver, and San Antonio. The one road game they have happens to be at Utah who is fighting with them for that last spot.
Houston Rockets- The Rockets are struggling after losing 4 straight games. Two of those four losses were to their main competition, Phoenix and Utah. Their remaining schedule is middle of the road in terms of difficulty. They have 5 games left with 3 of those on the road but they only play two playoff teams, at Dallas and at Miami. The remaining games are 2 against the awful Hornets and one against Golden State. The Rockets have a good mix of youth and experience on the roster, I just don't know if they have the star power to get the eight seed.
Utah Jazz- Utah is 5-5 in their last 10 but they are coming off a big triple OT win over Dallas. The biggest thing Utah has going for them is their schedule. They have 4 games left and 3 of the 4 are at home. They have a home and away against Portland who hasn't done much lately, a home game against Phoenix who they are competing with for the last spot, and a home game against Orlando who will almost certainly be without Dwight Howard. The Jazz have the easiest road but are at a disadvantage being 1 game back in the loss column at this point.
So who do you have getting the 8 seed in the West?
Phoenix Suns- The Suns currently have the eight seed and are the hottest of the three teams right now having won 7 of their last 10 games. They also have the experience factor with a veteran roster and a lot of guys who have played in the post season. The biggest problem they have is their schedule. They have 5 games left and while 4 of them are at home, all 4 of those are against playoff teams in OKC, the Clippers, Denver, and San Antonio. The one road game they have happens to be at Utah who is fighting with them for that last spot.
Houston Rockets- The Rockets are struggling after losing 4 straight games. Two of those four losses were to their main competition, Phoenix and Utah. Their remaining schedule is middle of the road in terms of difficulty. They have 5 games left with 3 of those on the road but they only play two playoff teams, at Dallas and at Miami. The remaining games are 2 against the awful Hornets and one against Golden State. The Rockets have a good mix of youth and experience on the roster, I just don't know if they have the star power to get the eight seed.
Utah Jazz- Utah is 5-5 in their last 10 but they are coming off a big triple OT win over Dallas. The biggest thing Utah has going for them is their schedule. They have 4 games left and 3 of the 4 are at home. They have a home and away against Portland who hasn't done much lately, a home game against Phoenix who they are competing with for the last spot, and a home game against Orlando who will almost certainly be without Dwight Howard. The Jazz have the easiest road but are at a disadvantage being 1 game back in the loss column at this point.
So who do you have getting the 8 seed in the West?