NBA Western Conference Playoff Seeding Predictions: Hornets Buzzing Strong Atop the NBA's West, Dallas & Golden State Hang On

To say that this year's NBA season has been interesting would be a gross understatement. Amidst multiple blockbuster trades, the resurgence of storied franchises in the Lakers and Celtics, and the development of young stars in Chris Paul and Lebron James, we now have a ridiculous 9-team playoff chase for the sole 8 spots in the Western Conference. And we are talking about a possibility of all those teams finishing with at least 50 wins, a truly awesome and unprecedented feat in NBA history. Not since the Michael Jordan dynastic era has there been a better time to be an NBA fan.

Just consider this: with only one and a half weeks of basketball left in the regular season, we have only two teams--New Orleans and Los Angeles Lakers--that have clinched a berth in the playoffs. And another astounding tidbit: only 2.5 games separate the 1st seed from the 6th. Not only has this race been ultra-competitive, but no team can truly rest its players as every game leading up to the playoffs will have drastic implications.

With that being said, here is how I see the playoff seeds shaping out with a small reasoning for each of my picks (while also including some insights into how each team would fare come postseason):

1. New Orleans - They currently hold the first spot in the Western Conference by 1.5 games, and I do not see them relenting it for the remainder of the season. Their remaining schedule consists of a mixed diet with four formidable teams and three not so formidable. Out of those formidable ones--Dallas, Los Angeles, Utah, Golden State--I only really see them losing to Los Angeles and Utah, though Dallas and Golden State are always questionable, depending on which team shows up that night. Even though people might question their experience or legitimacy, they have a great chemistry and depth and under Paul's leadership, I do not see them giving up the one seed soon.

2. L.A. Lakers - As of today, they are currently tied with the SAS for the 2nd seed, but I see them owning the sole possession at the end of the regular season. They were supposed to have the easiest remaining schedule left (out of all the contenders), especially when you consider most of their games will be at home, but uncharacteristic slip-ups to Charlotte and Memphis (and almost Washington) have to leave some wondering if the team is prepared for this kind of top tier spotlight. Still, we have to consider the fact that Pau Gasol was out a few games due to a minor ankle injury, which might have peppered their previously-savory chemistry. And with Kobe at the helm, no team will want to face them in the playoffs, regardless of their seeding.

3. San Antonio Spurs - They have battled injuries and questions about age all season long, but they always seem to pull it together at the right time, just as they have in seasons past. It is hard to put them behind the Lakers in the seedings--it might really come down to that decisive showdown on April 13th--but I think they will have tough challenges in Phoenix and Utah.

4. Utah Jazz - The fourth seed is all but locked up at this point, with officially clinching/winning being a mere technicality. They are here at this point because of their youth, athleticism, depth, and efficient style of play all season long. And they will not drop lower than this seed due to the automatic top 4 seed in winning their division. With Denver being 4 GB so late in the season, Utah could pretty much look forward to preparing for the playoffs and/or threatening to undo the top 3 seeds.

5. Phoenix Suns - It seems like the "Shaq-tus" experiment is starting to prove strong and pay dividends at the right time of year. Although it was a shaky start trying to mix the big man in the middle--and effectively tampering with their super-uptempo style of play--Coach D'Antoni has brilliantly learned how to tweak their style while adapting to a slower, though much bigger, center. Even though they might not clinch a top 4 seed, I would rank this team as having the second best chances to come out of the West, with San Antonio being the strongest contender.

6. Houston Rockets - After the wake of an unbelievable 22-game winning streak, now the Rockets have once again looked as most have proposed after Yao Ming went down: defeatable. While they were playing with an uncanny sense of chemistry and string of clutch role players during that streak, the Rockets have recently been exposed in the half-court game without a legitimate big-post threat (sorry, Mutumbo). Scoring will become much more of a chore when the outside shots aren't falling and there is no big man to feed inside. Thus, I don't see them overcoming Phoenix for the fifth seed (or higher), especially with a Utah-Denver back to back. However, it's the defense that really makes this team so menacing, and as regards the playoffs, if T-Mac can somehow conjure up some more spectacular individual performances, they might take a tough 7 games to force out of the first round.

7. Dallas Mavericks - What to make of these dark-horse desperados from the Lone-Star state? Ever since the Jason Kidd trade, Dallas has looked mercurial at best--with signs of brilliance at times when Kidd is weaving in and out of those defenses with grace and precision, and at other times, confused when shots aren't piling in and the tempo is slowed. Most people were ready to count them out when Dirk Nowitzki went down with that nasty injury 2 weeks ago, only to revive them when he made such a quick and miraculous recovery. And since the Kidd swap, they have been winless against teams over .500 until only a few nights ago, when they lampooned a Warriors team that has done nothing but torment and haunt their dreams since last season.

8. Golden State Warriors - Perhaps this is a sentimental pick more than anything else, but when this team has it together, they are a truly tough opponent. Some might refer to them as a poor man's Suns, and that is definitely one way to put it, but they play with a grit and determination that is unique to this team alone. Not enough accolades could be sung of Stephen Jackson, who has been an example on and off the court, with his much needed scoring ability and leadership, or of Baron Davis, who--crossing fingers--might finally see his first full 82-game season come to completion since...since...do you even remember? With Denver's tough remaining schedule, one that includes Utah, Houston, and a decisive game against the Warriors, I see GS eking out the last and final position of the Conference.

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9. Denver Nuggets - Barely missing the cut. I would hate to see Iverson not making the playoffs, but alas, such is the result of an abnormally fierce Western Conference. I guess there's always next year, with more time to "practice" and wait around for those who get eliminated at the fishing docks.