With the NBA Playoffs just over a month away, it's fair game to begin taking a look to see how the competition from each conference stacks up against the other. If regular-season records against teams currently slated for postseason play is any indicator, a Milwaukee Bucks-Denver Nuggets matchup in the NBA Finals could be upon us:
Not surprisingly, the 49-16 Bucks have dominated their Eastern Conference competition. They boast a legitimate league MVP candidate in Giannis Antetokounmpo, while also owning a plus-9.2 point differential, far and away the highest mark in the league. They have gone 33-8 inside their conference overall, including 13-1 in their division, which holds two additional teams slotted to join them in the playoffs.
Also not surprisingly, the Western Conference is cluttered. Entering play Friday, just 3.5 games separates the third-place Oklahoma City Thunder from the eighth-place Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers (and San Antonio Spurs) are closer to the third seed in the West than being outside of the playoffs. That level of parity has allowed for a four-win difference between teams 1-7 on the head-to-head list.
Where there is a surprise is in the fact that the Nuggets, who sit a game behind Golden State, are atop the West list. They won't have to wait long to try to overthrow the top spot, as the two teams are set to meet Friday night. Denver still owns a stretch of five straight games in April against teams currently slotted for the playoffs, so while these lists give insight now, check back in a month for an even clearer picture.
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