Whoever devised the NBA schedule for the stretch run deserves a considerable raise.
With exactly one week left in the 2013-2014 campaign, a swarm of thoroughly exciting matchups awaits the hardwood fandom.
Playoff seeding for both conferences will remain in a state of constant and compelling flux through next Wednesday. Squads occupying No. 1 through No. 9—a non-playoff seed—from both the East and West will indeed find themselves in circumstances that are anything but secure.
The defending champion Miami Heat host their Eastern rival Indiana Pacers on Friday for the last preview of a potential conference finals. There’s also a mere one-half game between the top-two juggernauts entering Wednesday (April 9).
Home-court advantage is somewhat of a big deal in case you hadn’t noticed.
Meanwhile, the bottom-four seeds out West—Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies—are all separated by just one game. However remote, there is a chance that one of these quality clubs doesn’t actually make the postseason.
And come the final day of the regular year (April 16), we might recommend calling in sick to work—there’s simply too much epic ball-night action.
On that note, let’s endeavor a brief rundown of the biggest remaining NBA matchups.
Wednesday, April 9
No. 7 Charlotte Bobcats (39-38) versus No. 6 Washington Wizards (40-37)
The otherwise irrelevant Bobcats earn a spot on this list for propelling themselves beyond .500 mediocrity.
They’re also just a single game back from the Wizards in the standings.
The winner will take a firm step toward facing either the Toronto Raptors or Chicago Bulls in the first round, while the loser will face the prospects of the Heat or Pacers.
Who would you rather match up with?
No. 1 Miami Heat (53-24) versus No. 9 Memphis Grizzlies (45-32)
Say hello to the East’s best squaring off with a team aiming to take on that conference counterpart out West.
LeBron James and Co. need a mental boost after their controversial last-second loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday. Falling to 0-4 on the season to an inferior opponent is not the way the Heat want to enter the biggest game of the year (more on this later).
The Grizzlies, on the other hand, are fighting for their playoff livelihood.
A win, combined with a loss by the Phoenix Suns (to the New Orleans Pelicans), would place them dead even in the standings. And already owning the tiebreaker over Phoenix would temporarily secure Memphis the eighth and final seed.
Even if that means playing the 60-win Spurs in the opening round.
No. 2 Oklahoma City Thunder (56-21) versus No. 3 Los Angeles Clippers (55-23)
If either team harbors any desire to ascend the Western hierarchy, this is undoubtedly their most favorable opportunity.
Chris Paul’s high-scoring bunch (No. 1 overall) would not only move within one-half game of Oklahoma City, they would also win the season series 3-1. That would place ownership of the tiebreaker into the Clippers’ hands.
As for the Thunder, it’s rather simple—a win would all but guarantee them the No. 2 slot out West.
This game tips off at 10:30 PM ET.
Thursday, April 10
No. 1 San Antonio Spurs (60-18) versus No. 7 Dallas Mavericks (48-31)
Gregg Poppovich’s crew might care little for this matchup of Texas-based foes. The chances of the Spurs falling out of the top spot—losing this game or not—are slim to none.
Yet, the Mavericks must win every game from here on out. A loss here would nearly relegate them to non-playoff status.
Plus, these two could also meet in the first round. Dallas might want to win one out of four in the regular year before seeing the indomitable conference leaders in the postseason.
After all, fragile psyches aren’t always conducive to playoff success.
Friday, April 11
No. 2 Indiana Pacers (53-25) versus No. 1 Miami Heat (53-24)
If this article featured the headline, “Biggest NBA Matchup Down the Stretch,” then this latest selection would surely qualify as numero uno.
The Pacers are 1-5 since last beating Miami and are 3-8 over their past 11 contests. In other words, they’re struggling—and struggling mightily.
Taking out the defending champs for the third time this year would give them both the season series and first place in the Eastern Conference. It would reaffirm their identity as title contenders—even if only in their eyes.
Flip it around, and a victory for the Heat would place them firmly in the driver’s seat.
Owning home-court advantage in the playoffs would provide them with an indescribable psychological edge over Indiana if a Game 7 ever materialized.
This is must-see regular-season TV at its finest.
No. 8 Phoenix Suns (46-31) versus No. 1 San Antonio Spurs (60-18)
Much like Thursday’s highlighted game, this matchup is significant for one, but not so much for the other.
The Spurs sit fat and happy with 60 wins and the top Western seed. Phoenix, unfortunately, holds just a tenuous grasp on the last available playoff spot.
The Suns need a win, not to mention all the reps they can get against a potential—and superior—opening-round opponent.
Saturday, April 12
No. 8 Phoenix Suns (46-31) versus No. 7 Dallas Mavericks (48-31)
Our apologies for sounding like a broken record.
Western seeds six through nine can ill afford a single loss the rest of the way.
Asking for back-to-back victories of the Suns isn’t fair, but there’s simply too much at stake. Losing to Dallas—let alone both these games—coupled with a Grizzlies win on Friday would remove Phoenix from the playoff picture all together.
The Mavericks, of course, must keep pace with the rest of the pack. There isn’t much leeway for them either.
Sunday, April 13
No. 2 Oklahoma City Thunder (56-21) versus No. 2 Indiana Pacers (53-25)
Any preview of a potential NBA Finals on the final Sunday of the regular season is a recipe for an all-day couch-a-thon for hardwood enthusiasts.
And for those on the West Coast, watching while still in bed is a distinct possibility for this 10:00 AM PT matchup.
In any case, arguably the two best teams in the Association square off for a classic battle royal.
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook need a final tune-up against a viable opponent. The Thunder’s remaining schedule includes the already eliminated Pelicans and Detroit Pistons.
Paul George and Co, for their part, must show the world they can still go toe-to-toe with the best—and win. Home-court might also be on the line.
Either way, this game will serve up a host of highlight-reel plays from tip-off to final buzzer. Stay tuned.
No. 6 Golden State Warriors (48-29) versus No. 5 Portland Trail Blazers (50-28)
Regardless of how the week beforehand unfolds, this contest will bring far-reaching implications for both clubs.
But for the sake of argument, let’s say Portland goes 1-1 and Golden State wins both of its games before Sunday.
That would mean the Blazers would hold just a one-half-game lead in the standings.
If the Warriors prevail on the road, they would move into No. 5 while also securing the all-important head-to-head tiebreaker. Their last two games are against the 10th-place Minnesota Timberwolves at home and the 33-44 Denver Nuggets—easy enough.
The Blazers would then face a must-win on Wednesday versus a No. 3 Clippers squad seeking to supplant the second-place Thunder—not easy enough by any means. Falling to the sixth seed and potentially dealing with San Antonio in the semifinals is something all Western teams want to avoid.
Now, if Portland emerges victorious this weekend, all of this is mere conjecture.
But if it doesn’t, well, you get the picture.
Monday, April 14
No. 1 San Antonio Spurs (60-18) versus No. 4 Houston Rockets (51-25)
It seems that the broken record isn’t so broken after all.
The Spurs are surprisingly winless against the Rockets this year (0-3). That doesn’t exactly bode well for San Antonio if these two squads meet in the conference finals.
Even a seemingly imperturbable squad like Popovich’s bunch needs a decisive win during the otherwise meaningless (to them) regular season.
And if Houston sweeps its in-state rivals, that would go a long way toward bolstering the confidence of an already championship-capable squad come playoff time.
No. 9 Memphis Grizzlies (45-32) versus No. 8 Phoenix Suns (46-31)
Okay, so maybe that record is back to its repeat-filled ways once again.
All joking aside, the Grizzlies sit just one game behind Phoenix. If they win, their previously cemented tiebreaker would provide a huge playoff-cushion going into the final day of the season.
The Suns, for their part, could put Memphis out of its misery for good.
Wednesday, April 16
We’ll just go ahead and offer a (hopefully) quick snapshot of all that’s riding on Game 82 for a collection of different playoff-worthy clubs.
The Warriors, Mavericks, Suns and Grizzlies could all rise in the standings or fall out of the postseason completely based on Wednesday’s results.
Golden State is a fringe title-contender and must solidify its positioning. The other three want a shot at an upset special in the first round.
The Blazers must mirror the Warriors against the bona fide contending Clippers, who will potentially be vying for the No. 2 overall spot out West. Second-place Oklahoma City must hold serve against the inferior, but powerful and frontline-loaded Pistons.
In the East, the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks could very well be aiming for the eighth slot in respective matchups. No. 6 Charlotte will host the fourth-seeded Chicago Bulls, while the No. 3 Raptors will be fending off Chicago versus the playoff-hopeful Knicks.
Crazy, right?
The Nets and Wizards will also seek better seeding versus lesser, yet dangerous opponents with nothing to lose in the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics, respectively.
And if either the Heat or Pacers fall on their face to a sub-.500 adversary—and potentially lose the ever-coveted home-court advantage—a fan backlash and media firestorm might ensue.
Here’s to a legendary stretch run filled with hardwood classics for the 2013-2014 NBA campaign.
Follow me on Twitter @jlevitt16