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0 The Western Conference playoff race is heating up as teams vie for playoff spots. The competition is fierce and the playoff picture is hazy. The difference between teams is slim, making it a tight race to the finish. The conference is so strong that it may even be possible to see LeBron James and Stephen Curry miss the playoffs, which is rare.
As of now, James’ LA Lakers are in ninth place, with Curry’s Golden State Warriors in tenth place. The two teams would face each other in the Play-In Tournament, with the loser being eliminated and the winner still needing to win another game to make the playoffs. From top to bottom, the West has been a grind, with teams struggling to maintain their positions in the standings. The LA Clippers, led by Kawhi Leonard, are currently in fourth place and are just 2.5 games away from the top seed.
The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder are currently sitting at the top of the standings with matching 40-17 marks, making the playoff race even more unpredictable. The next few weeks are going to be crucial for teams as they race to secure their positions in the playoffs.
The Play-In Tournament will take place from April 16-19, with the seventh and eighth seeds in each conference playing each other. The winning team will earn the seventh seed, while the eighth seed will face the winner of the ninth and tenth seeds to see who gets in. Miami and the Lakers were both in the Play-In Tournament last season, with the Lakers going on a run to the Western Conference finals.
As of now, Sacramento is in the seventh spot and would host Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks. The loser would draw either the Lakers or the Warriors, with either James or Curry being knocked out, or both.
The Western Conference is known for being tough, and this year is no exception. The conference has several potent and capable teams that can win on any given night. The reigning champion Denver Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic, are one of the most formidable teams in the league. However, with injuries to key players, Nuggets coach Michael Malone has stated that he will prioritize health over chasing a particular seed.
The Warriors, who have won four titles behind the nucleus of Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson, are getting some younger help in the form of Brandin Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue also deserves credit for reshaping the team into a contender after the arrival of James Harden.
The Timberwolves are looking to finish the regular season at the top of the Western Conference for the first time since 2003-04, led by Kevin Garnett. The team is focused on consistency and doing the right things to secure their spot in the playoffs.
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