NBA Basketball Betting: Western Conference Teams

NBA Betting: Surviving the West
The best in the West have already clinched. We outline the teams still trying to survive

April 8, 2008

By Carlisle Richards
Bodog Nation Contributing Writer

If you're hating on the NBA this year, you can't be a basketball fan. Or maybe you're just a closet Knicks fan?

The NBA teams and NBA stars in the West have stepped their game up, delivering playoff competition since mid-February and a race that's nine teams deep. Problem is, there are only eight spots to go around.

Six have clinched (New Orleans, L.A. Lakers, San Antonio, Utah, Houston and Phoenix) but three are still fighting for the final two spots - Dallas, Golden State and Denver.

We give you the 411 on how those teams have played down the stretch, look at their chances of clinching and see how they'll do in the playoffs if they make it.

Golden State Warriors

The 411

Unpredictable, helter skelter: That's the best way to describe Golden State's style, and it looks like their season is going to close out the same way.

Golden State has lost eight of their last 14 games and is currently sitting in the ninth spot in the West. They've collapsed down the stretch because they rely on 3s to make up for their matador defense (five up 108 points per game, ranked 30th). And recently, their shooting hasn't been able to keep up.

The Warriors are second among 30 NBA teams in taking 3-pointers but are only 20th in making them. And recently, they had a 3-for-29 performance versus New Orleans, resulting in a 108-96 loss. If they keep clanking treys like that, the playoff race could be over by this weekend.

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