There continue to be movement all over the standings affect the 2013 NBA Playoff Picture. Though there are plenty of possible matchup spending, at least there are only eight teams in contention in the Eastern Conference. However, the West is a completely different story as matchups have yet to be defined and playoff spots are still up for grab and battles remain to be fought. Here is the current playoff picture entering Friday.
Let's start with the Western Conference, since they went through a change at the top of the standings.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Both teams are far from closing out the deal as they are respectively competing for the first and eighth spot in the West. If anything, at least the Thunder know they are in the playoffs. Currently, the Lakers are simply fighting for a spot, but that hasn't ceased Kobe Bryant from talks of a championship run. Both the Thunder and Lakers have three games remaining in their schedule. They both control their destinies and have a chance to square off again in another epic playoff battle.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Houston Rockets
This is another matchup that is completely up in the air. Both teams are .5 games away from moving up in the standings. The Spurs are No. 2 with four games remaining and the Rockets are No. 7 with three regular season games remaining. The Spurs are trailing the Thunder while the Rockets are trailing the Warriors. These next five days will give us an idea of who will matchup against who, but if the playoffs ended today, Jeremy Lin and James Harden would take their show to Texas.
Denver Nuggets vs. Golden State Warriors
While the Nuggets No. 3 seed looks secure as ever, the Warriors have to win if this is to remain the third matchup in the Western Conference.
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Memphis Grizzlies
This is the only matchup that will be remaining the same as they seem to have pretty safe distance from the third seed Nuggets and the sixth seeded Warriors. It should be an amazing grudge match once again.
East
The Eastern Conference is pretty tight, but two matchups appear to be settled.
Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks
With first place secure and the Bucks securing last place (which is more a sigh of relief than a disappointment), the No. 1 and No. 8 seeds are locked up. The world will be looking to see if the Heat stumble early on in the playoffs, but it looks as though the Heat can sweep this series.
New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics
When was the last time the Knicks were the favorite in this battle? Definitely before 2007 before the Celtics signed their Big Three, but the Knicks haven't been competitive in a while. This is their chance to win their first playoff series in over a decade.
The following battles have yet to be defined, but here's where they stand.
Indiana Pacers vs. Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks are threatening to take the No. 5 seed. They are just .5 games behind the Bulls in the East. The Pacers at least, have the third place on lock.
Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls
The Bull seem to want to play the Nets despite them being ranked No. 4 in the Eastern Conference. Why not, they are 3-1 against them and they seem to be defeating the toughest teams in the league.
These are the current NBA Playoff matchups entering Friday.
