NBA
NBA Playoff Race Update: Do the Los Angeles Lakers Stand a Chance of Making the Postseason?
Will LeBron James miss the playoffs for the first time since 2005? We try to answer that question and more as we break down the playoff probabilities of all 30 NBA teams.

Western Conference - Sure Things

(1) Golden State Warriors (42-16, 100.0%)
(2) Denver Nuggets (39-18, 100.0%)
(3) Oklahoma City Thunder (37-20, 100.0%)

The Warriors seemed like they might've actually been mortal for a brief period earlier this season, but then DeMarcus Cousins came back healthier than we all expected, and now you'd have a hard time finding anyone who would pick any other team (or even the field) over them. Our algorithm only gives them a 18.3% chance of winning the title, which actually trails the Milwaukee Bucks at 22.0%, but FanDuel Sportsbook has them at -210, which implies a 67.7% probability.

The Nuggets and Thunder have been great stories this season, and they're pretty well locks to make the postseason, but neither is quite on Golden State's level.

Prev Next

Related News

NBA Power Rankings Update: The Los Angeles Lakers Are Reeling

Russell Peddle  --  Feb 22nd, 2019

NBA Market Share Report: Can We Bank on Jabari Parker the Rest of the Way in Washington?

Shae Cronin  --  Feb 22nd, 2019

Updated NBA Championship Odds: The East Improves at the Trade Deadline

Michael Rondello  --  Feb 22nd, 2019