Top Games Remaining in the 2008 NBA Western Conference

With 3 weeks remaining in the 2007-2008 NBA season, the playoff races are in full force. In the Western Conference, the margin for error has been as small as its ever been. A 5 game difference is all that separates the top seed and the final seed. A loss at this point can come back to haunt that team by the end of the season.

The following are the top 10 games remaining in the Western Conference for playoff ramifications, in order by date.

1. Dallas Mavericks at Denver Nuggets
Thursday, March 27

The first game of this TNT doubleheader will feature one team trying to hold on and another trying everything they can to simply land a spot. Unfortunately for the Mavericks, they will not have Dirk Nowitzki available after his ugly-looking leg injury last Sunday against the Spurs. They will need to find someone else to step up and take big shots. The Nuggets certainly know how to score, but do they want to defend hard enough to win more games? Even without Dirk, the Nuggets' defense will be tested.

2. Golden State Warriors at Denver Nuggets
Saturday, March 29

The Warriors will be playing in Denver on the first night of back-to-back games before returning home for another big game against the Mavericks. The over/under for total amount of points scored might reach the 250 mark. The Nuggets have the advantage inside with Marcus Camby and Kenyon Martin, but the Warriors can place five guys on the court at any given time that can shoot the 3 or drive to the hoop. Both teams can be a handful to guard. The final playoff spot could very well come down to this game.

3. Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors
Sunday, March 30

After trying to keep up with the Nuggets the night before, the Warriors will face a well-rested Mavericks team that will be on 2-days rest. Once again, Dirk Nowitzki should not be ready for this game. Josh Howard, Jason Terry, and Jerry Stackhouse all average in double figures, so they will need to take over the scoring load. At 111 PPG, the Warriors have plenty of scoring options. Most impressive, however, is that Baron Davis, Stephen Jackson, and Monta Ellis all score over 20 PPG on zero days rest. This should be a high-scoring affair.

4. Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs
Sunday, March 30

The Game of the Week for ABC features the defending champions against the hottest team in the league since the beginning of 2008. With only 3 losses since Yao Ming was lost for the year at the end of February, the Rockets have shown that Tracy McGrady is a franchise player. The Spurs are surprisingly only in the 6^th position currently, which goes to show the high-quality of play in the West. A win by the Spurs could lead them past the Rockets and into a higher seed once the playoffs begin.

5. San Antonio Spurs at Utah Jazz
Friday, April 4

The first game of the ESPN doubleheader is a rematch of last year's Western Conference Finals, won by the Spurs, 4-1. The Spurs are in the midst of a tight race in the Southwest division, while the Jazz have a small lead over Denver in the Northwest. The Jazz have only lost 4 home games this year, proving that they will be hard to beat. The Spurs have struggled on the road lately, dropping 5 straight in the middle of March before finally winning at Chicago. A win by the Spurs would signal they are once again ready for the rigors of the playoffs.

6. New Orleans Hornets at Los Angeles Lakers
Friday, April 11

With a slim half-game lead over the Lakers right now, the Hornets will need to keep playing flawlessly to land the top spot in the West. A win in Los Angeles would show that they are indeed a threat to the rest of the West. The Lakers will have Pau Gasol back by this point, and could also have Andrew Bynum if all goes well. Team chemistry will be a major question once Bynum reenters, as he has yet to play with Gasol. A possible Western Conference Finals preview.

7. Denver Nuggets at Utah Jazz
Saturday, April 12

With only 3 games currently separating these teams, this could be a battle for the top spot in the Northwest. On the road, Denver is clearly not the same team as they are at home at 6 games under .500. Utah is one of the league's best teams on their home court, and will look to secure the top spot in the division.

8. San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Lakers
Sunday, April 13

This nationally televised game on ABC will showcase the 2 teams that have been the most dominant in the Western Conference since 2000. With the close standings, this could be a possible look at a first-round matchup. The Spurs will need to improve on their play away from home, and a win in Los Angeles would be just what they need. The Lakers will be looking to hold off the Suns in the Pacific division and the Hornets for the top seed in the West.

9. Golden State Warriors at Phoenix Suns
Monday, April 14

Another big game for the Warriors, who must face 8 possible playoffs teams the rest of the way. The Suns are still adjusting to the Shaquille O'Neal experiment, but did string together 7 straight wins before an overtime setback in Detroit. Amare Stoudamire has been absolutely unstoppable since Shaq came in and Shawn Marion was shown the door, and the Warriors small lineup will have their hands full.

10. New Orleans Hornets at Dallas Mavericks
Wednesday, April 16

The final day of the regular season should still bring back-and-forth positioning between these playoff teams. Dirk Nowitzki could be back by this time, as he will be a little over 3 weeks removed from his injury. If he does end up sitting this game out, the Hornets will need to take advantage in order to secure a high playoff spot. A possible make-or-break game for the #1 playoff seed for the Hornets.

*All stats courtesy of ESPN.com*