The Final Stretch: Sizing Up the NBA Western Conference Playoff Race

The last stretch of the season is upon us, and the stakes have never been higher in the Western Conference. With nine teams fighting tooth and nail for those eight sacred playoff spots, the final 20 games are going to unfold like a roller coaster when the tension mounts and finally tips over the edge into a thrilling rush of twists and turns. One thing is already apparent: With so many good teams in the west, one club is destined to be ravaged with disappointment. So which team is going to be the odd one out? Let’s take a look at the final stretch of the regular season:   Remaining Games Team   +.500   Home   Away   B2B   East   West   SAN 15 12 12 6 7 17 LAL 12 13 9 2 3 19 NOR 14 11 13 7 13 11 UTA 12 13 9 4 7 15 HOU 12 11 12 5 5 18 PHX 16 11 12 5 4 19 DAL 13 13 9 2 6  ... (link)