This is turning out to be a pretty interesting 2013 NBA Playoff race as the standings show a lot of movement despite there only being one month of regular season basketball remaining on the schedule. Check out the current standings, playoff races and seeds as the NBA is less than a month away from the playoffs.
They already started presenting 2013 Playoff commercials as the NCAA Basketball Tournament continues to roll along.
There it is. All the dunking, slamming, posterizing during the 2013 season will be erased as possibly a new NBA champion will be crowned at the conclusion of the playoffs. However, with the Miami Heat rolling, there is very little doubt that they are the favorite to take it all. Every time a team gets a huge winning streak like this, they win the championship.
Have any doubts? The Los Angeles Lakers took in 1972 after winning an NBA record 33 consecutive games. The year before, the Milwaukee Bucks won it in 1971 after winning 20 straight games in the season. The Lakers did it again in 2000 when they won 19 straight and took the trophy and the 1996 Bulls did it as well winning 18 and taking the trophy.
There were some teams that lost like the Houston Rockets in 2008, but that was the Boston Celtics' year anyways.
The Heat made it 26 straight wins after defeating the Charlotte Bobcats on Sunday.
The New York Knicks have slightly solidified their hold of the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference after winning their fourth consecutive game on Saturday against the Toronto Raptors. In the chase behind the Knicks in the East are the Indiana Pacers who are continue to scuffle and lost their last game against the Chicago Bulls. The Brookly Nets bounced back to beat the Phoenix Suns on Sunday after suffering a tough loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Speaking of the Clippers, let's move it West as the Denver Nuggets are really making a lot of noise winning 15 straight games and taking a hold of the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference standings. They recently defeated the Sacramento Kings 101-95. Next up, the New Orleans Hornets might be the 16th consecutive casualty for the Nuggets.
Further in the standings, the Rockets are holding on firmly to the seventh spot. Golden State Warriors might be looking at the seventh seed as they are struggling maintaining a firm grasp on No. 6. With the Rockets soaring, the Warriors will have to play better ball or find themselves competing for the other lower seeds in the Western Conference. The Rockets are winners of three straight as the Los Angeles Lakers remain in eighth place having lost two straight games. Lucky for them though, the Utah Jazz, who are the ninth seed in the West and currently out of the playoff race, have lost four straight games.
The playoffs tipoff on Apr. 20. There is still plenty of time for upsets and more movement in the standings. Here's what they look like.
(Credit: NBA.com)