The stretch run means that it’s do or die time for a handful of NBA teams. The bottom of the playoff picture still isn’t set in stone, and there are several teams vying for a chance to make a run to the NBA Championship. With so much still left undecided, it’s fun to see that most teams are still competitive instead of resting players for the playoffs.

There is also the small matter of the Warriors trying to break the NBA’s single season wins record, and that has only added intrigue to an already entertaining season. Let’s go around the league and see which five teams are in absolute desperation mode down the stretch.

1. Golden State Warriors

This might be counterintuitive, as the Warriors have the top seed locked up following Thursday's blowout win over San Antonio and are clearly the best team in the NBA. However, they have outright stated that they want to break the record. A recent loss to Minnesota didn’t help, which means they’ll have to win out to break the record. This team doesn’t believe in taking its foot off the gas pedal, and they will be playing for that record against the Spurs and Grizzlies. Let’s not forget that the Warriors could also play spoiler and give the Spurs their only home loss of the season on Sunday. Will it happen? There is still much to play for, even as this team approaches the playoffs locked in as the number one seed.

2. Boston Celtics

The Celtics are another team that has locked up a playoff position, but their desperation is to avoid playing the Cavaliers before the Eastern Conference Finals. If the Celtics can move up to the 3 seed, they’ll have a more favorable first round matchup and then would play presumably the Raptors in the second round. LeBron James has been a thorn in Boston’s side, but they have done the same for him as well. If they can hold off playing Cleveland until the ECF, they’ll come into the series with confidence and a hunger to end the king’s reign in the Eastern Conference. To get that to happen, though, they’ll have to move up two spots in the standings.

3. Detroit Pistons

I wanted to put the Chicago Bulls here, but they don’t honestly look like they have any interest in taking that eighth seed in the east. Detroit all but has that spot locked down, up 3 games with only 3 to play, but they’ll be desperate to seal the deal and return to the playoffs for the first time in a long time.

A playoff birth would tie the bow on one of Stan Van Gundy’s more impressive coaching performances, but they also have the opportunity to look beyond just making the playoffs and actually moving up to seventh and avoiding the Cavaliers in the first round. Toronto is no pushover, but Cleveland is a different team in the playoffs. Detroit will be desperate to hang on to their playoff spot, and potentially move past the first round as well.

4. Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis has had an incredibly injury-ravaged season, yet they still find themselves in the thick of the playoff hunt. They’ve locked up a spot, but with the Trail Blazers hard charging behind them, Memphis will be desperate to keep their fifth seed and avoid a first round date with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.

They fare much better against the Clippers than they would against OKC, especially without their best players active this season. It may not matter who they end up facing, but if they want to give themselves the best chance possible, they’ll have to fend off Portland to stay where they are now.

5. Utah Jazz

Last but not least is the Utah Jazz. Utah was on the verge of a playoff berth last year, but fell just short. Now they have the opportunity to make the postseason, and they currently hold the eighth spot in the west. The Houston Rockets are actively throwing away any and all hope they had, so Utah is in an excellent position to close it out.

Facing Golden State in the first round also wouldn’t faze them, as they’ve played the Warriors extremely tough this season. If they can hold on, it would not only put Houston out of its misery, but would also bring playoff basketball back to Utah, where it was enjoyed for so many seasons in the past.