Tight Western Conference Playoff Race Heating Up in February
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00:05 Western Conference all separated by only four games.
00:09 Then you get a three game drop off to both Phoenix and New Orleans.
00:13 The Pells 33 and 22, the Suns 33 and 22.
00:17 Currently the Suns in the five spot, the Pelicans in the six spot.
00:21 But every team in the play in picture at this moment in the Western Conference,
00:25 seven through ten, Mavericks, Kings, Lakers, Warriors,
00:30 at least a game above 500.
00:33 We have two of the teams in the play in tournament picture in the Eastern
00:36 Conference, the Bulls and the Hawks that are three games below 500 or worse.
00:42 Better teams in the Western Conference makes for
00:45 more fun and exciting playoff race here down the home stretch.
00:49 >> No, it certainly does, cuz if you take a look here, again,
00:53 top ten teams in the Western Conference right now, which includes the play in.
00:56 I think we're locked in there, Ben.
00:58 If you saw that graphic pop up,
00:59 when you get to the Utah Jazz at an 18 to 1 price to make it in,
01:03 that's a true long shot here, and I don't think they're gonna make it in.
01:05 So similar to what we talked about in the Eastern Conference,
01:07 the bottom feeders, right?
01:08 Don't really have a chance to push.
01:10 The Spurs, they're done.
01:11 The Trailblazers are done.
01:12 The Grizzlies, of course.
01:13 The Houston Rockets, still playing decent basketball as a younger team, but
01:16 I don't think they're gonna make that push for the run in.
01:18 And again, the one team that could would be the Jazz.
01:21 But when you take a look at the standings now,
01:22 they're already two and a half games back of the Golden State Warriors.
01:25 Now as much as I don't like the Golden State Warriors,
01:27 they should be able to play 500 basketball the rest of the way in.
01:30 That's probably going to be good enough.
01:32 And as you talked about, the Western Conference is absolutely stacked.
01:35 The fun part of this conference is gonna be,
01:37 obviously, once you get to the playoffs.
01:39 But really, what's that seating going to be before the playoffs?
01:42 Because the Warriors, Lakers, Kings, and Mavericks,
01:44 they all don't wanna be in the play in round here.
01:46 They wanna be in the playoffs and be able to sit back and say, okay,
01:49 who's our opponent actually going to be at this point?
01:51 And they interviewed LeBron James at the break.
01:53 And LeBron James didn't say, hey, you know what?
01:55 We have to be in the play and so be it.
01:56 He basically said, we don't wanna be in the play in round.
01:59 We wanna get that sixth overall seed.
02:01 So the sprint to the finish in the West is gonna be awesome.
02:03 Even though I think we know who's in the playoffs, jockeying for position,
02:07 that should be a lot of fun to watch it play out.
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