The fierce battle for the play-in spots in the Western Conference
Up to eight teams still have virtual options to go directly to the playoffs, three of them will go on vacation after the regular season, and two others a few days later.
The Western Conference is the most competitive it has been in years. Few would say otherwise. With just a few games left before the All-Star break, 13 teams are still vying for a spot in the play-in tournament. The competition is fierce, and there's a lot at stake. The race for this season's playoff berths is unlike anything we've seen before.
Since February 12th, the Minnesota Timberwolves have held the seventh spot, the first in the play-in. They have a two-game lead over the eighth-seeded Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks, who surprised the NBA world with the trade for Anthony Davis, are striving to secure their playoff position. However, the margin for error is minimal.
The Sacramento Kings and the Golden State Warriors are ninth and tenth, just half a game behind the Mavericks. The Phoenix Suns, despite having the most expensive roster in NBA history, are a game behind both teams. The San Antonio Spurs, led by Victor Wembanyama, are only two games behind. The Portland Trail Blazers round out the standings, one and a half games behind the Spurs. The playoffs races are usually intense, but none compare to this one.
The NBA introduced the play-in tournament in the 2020-21 season. That year, the Spurs, the tenth seed, finished two games ahead of the New Orleans Pelicans and the Kings. The Timberwolves, thirteenth, were eight games back. The ninth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies finished five games ahead of the Spurs, creating a clear gap.
In 2021-22, the Spurs again occupied the tenth spot, one game ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers. That was the closest margin in play-in history at that time. The Kings and the Trail Blazers finished three and six games behind the Lakers, respectively. Only three teams were in contention for the tenth spot.
The 2022-23 season was the most similar to this year. The Oklahoma City Thunder finished tenth with a record of 40-42. The Mavericks were just two games behind them, while the Utah Jazz trailed by three games. The race was tight, but it lacked the star power of this season.
Last season, the play-in race for 2023-24 lacked suspense. The late surge of the Houston Rockets made things interesting, but they still finished five games behind the Warriors. The Jazz and the Grizzlies ended up 10 and 14 games behind Houston, respectively. The Lakers and the Pelicans comfortably secured their playoff berths.
The current play-in battle
What makes this season unique? The sheer number of stars. The Kings just paired Zach LaVine with DeMar DeRozan at the trade deadline. Domantas Sabonis, another All-Star, remains their centerpiece. The Warriors formed a new big three with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler. The Suns boast Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, three elite scorers with championship aspirations.
The Spurs, in Wembanyama's second season, added De'Aaron Fox on the final day. Chris Paul is also on the roster, making them a trio of All-Stars. Even the Trail Blazers, despite lacking an All-Star, entered the title race with an impressive 11-1 stretch from January 20th to February 7th.
This depth level showcases how stacked the NBA has become. The twelfth seed in the West boasts multiple All-Star caliber players. When teams miss out on the play-in, front offices respond. Some will pivot to full rebuilds, trading their stars for future assets. Others will double down, making win-now moves to take the next step.
The real winners? The fans. With so many stars in the mix, teams will push themselves to secure a postseason berth. High-intensity games, incredible performances, and unpredictable endings are expected. This play-in tournament is shaping up to be the best yet.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La encarnizada lucha por los puestos de play-in en la Conferencia Oeste