There’s a pretty clear dividing line between the classes in the Western Conference. The Lakers, Clippers, Jazz, Rockets, and Nuggets are all viewed as locks for playoff spots. Below them, the San Antonio Spurs fight with the rest of the conference for the final three playoff spots.
The competition for those final few playoff spots is always interesting and typically comes down to the final few games of the season. The already tight race was just made more interesting by the Portland Trail Blazers signing of ten-time All-Star, Carmelo Anthony. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski was the first to report the move.