Western Conference standings update, 3/17

A look back on the weekend, and ahead to the week.

Things are getting exciting in the NBA’s playoff picture, especially in the Western Conference. And that excitement brings both optimism and pessimism for the Golden State Warriors.

It was another successful weekend for the Dubs, who beat the New York Knicks on Saturday, in their lone game of the weekend. It was an impressive win that gave them a seven-game winning streak, and pushed them to an eye-popping 14-1 when Jimmy Butler III plays. With Golden State’s impressive run — and some teams losing momentum around them — we’re starting to shift our eyes further up the standings. When I started this series of bi-weekly standings updates, we were checking in on teams outside of the play-in tournament, and not looking beyond the sixth seed.

Now we say goodbye to the No. 11 Phoenix Suns (eight-and-a-half games behind the Dubs), No. 10 Dallas Mavericks (seven games back), and No. 9 Sacramento Kings (five-and-a-half games). And we bring in every team above the Warriors, save for the No. 1 seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.

Yet despite all of that, the Warriors are still clinging to the sixth seed, and with no room for error. One minor slip, and they’ll return to play-in tournament seeding.

Here’s a look back on the weekend, and a look ahead to the upcoming schedule for all the teams the Warriors are battling.

No. 8 — LA Clippers (38-30)

The Clippers handled business over the weekend, blowing out the Atlanta Hawks on Friday and the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday. After losing six out of seven games, they’ve responded by winning six out of seven to keep their sixth-seeded dreams alive ... they’re still just one-and-a-half games back of the Dubs. They get some time off this week, but their one game is a doozy.

Next games up: Tuesday vs. the Cavaliers

No. 7 — Minnesota Timberwolves (40-29)

The Timberwolves just seem to match the Warriors win for win. Neither team is playing like they deserve to be anywhere near the play-in tournament, but that might be how it shakes out. The Wolves swept their weekend set, beating the Orlando Magic on Friday and the Utah Jazz on Sunday. They’ve won eight in a row, and you have to imagine they’re a bit frustrated about not having passed the Warriors yet. They’re technically no games behind the Dubs, but have a lower winning percentage as they’ve both won and lost one more game than Golden State. The Warriors have also clinched the tiebreaker, critically.

Next games up: Monday vs. the Pacers, Wednesday vs. the Pelicans

No. 5 — Los Angeles Lakers (41-25)

For a while, the Lakers looked like they’d run away with the No. 2 seed. But an injury to LeBron James has sent them in a serious tail slide, and suddenly they’re just two-and-a-half games ahead of Golden State. The Lakers lost on Friday to the Denver Nuggets, but recovered on Sunday, breaking a four-game skid with a win over the Suns. They’ve clinched the tiebreaker over the Warriors, so it’s still likely that they finish ahead of the Dubs, but if their struggles persist, things will get very interesting when the teams face off in early April.

Next games up: Monday vs. the Spurs, Wednesday vs. the Nuggets, Thursday vs. the Bucks

No. 4 — Memphis Grizzlies (43-25)

For a while it looked like the Grizzlies were going to tumble down the standings, but they’ve recovered. They’ve won four of their last five, after splitting the weekend series, with a Friday loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers and a Sunday win over the Miami Heat. They’re three-and-a-half games ahead of the Warriors, and are about to kick off a five-game road trip that could determine a whole lot.

Next games up: Monday at the Kings, Wednesday at the Blazers

No. 3 — Denver Nuggets (43-25)

The Nuggets have an identical record to the Grizzlies after an inexplicable Saturday loss to the Washington Wizards, which followed a Friday win over the Lakers. After winning nine straight games, Denver has gone .500 over their last 12, and are suddenly at risk of falling down the standings. They’re still three-and-a-half games up on the Warriors ... though that could change tonight.

Next games up: Monday at the Warriors, Wednesday at the Lakers

No. 2 — Houston Rockets (43-25)

Three teams are knotted in the standings with identical records. For a while it looked like the Rockets were the team the Warriors might catch up to, but they’ve recovered following a skid. They beat the Mavs on Friday and the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, giving them a surprising six-game winning streak and keeping them three-and-a-half games ahead of the Warriors. We can all but rule out the Warriors jumping over all of these teams, but each team, individually, is in play.

Next games up: Monday vs. the 76ers, Wednesday at the Magic

As for the Warriors, they’ve got a busy week as they finish off their seven-game home stand with a Monday night game against the Nuggets, a Tuesday night contest against the Milwaukee Bucks, and a Thursday showdown with the Toronto Raptors. Things could look very different by the time Friday arrives.

Here’s a look at the full standings.