NBA Playoffs Getting Clearer

Well in both conferences at least 6 teams have clinched a playoff spot. In the East it looks like this: 

Eastern Conference

Team		GB
1.	y-Chicago	--
2.	y-Boston	3.0
3.	y-Miami	3.0
4.	x-Orlando	8.5
5.	x-Atlanta	13.5
6.	x-Philadelphia	17.5
7.	x-New York	18.0
8.	Indiana	22.5
9.	Charlotte	25.0
10.	Milwaukee	26.0

It looks like the Bulls will have home-court throughout the playoffs now. It is only a 3 game lead over Boston and Miami but I think that should stick with only 5 games remaining for all three teams. The injury to Shaq will have a big impact on the Celtics in the playoffs; he was the one big presence they had besides Jermaine O Neal. Miami seems to be really coming together the past few weeks winning 8 of their last 10, but Chicago has been the hottest team in the East since the All-Star Break. Those are the only 3 teams to clinch their division so far. 

In the West it looks like this:

Western Conference

Team		GB
1.	y-San Antonio	--
2.	y-LA Lakers	3.5
3.	x-Dallas	5.5
4.	x-Oklahoma City	7.5
5.	x-Denver	11.5
6.	x-Portland	14.0
7.	New Orleans	14.5
8.	Memphis	15.0
9.	Houston	18.0
10.	Phoenix	21.5

  

San Antonio has been limping to the finish line with a 4-6 record their past 10, and injuries killing their team but the Lakers loss last night might guarantee home-court throughout for the Spurs. The Lakers have been red-hot since the all-star break with only 3 losses (2 straight though). In my opinion the Lakers are the most talented team in the entire league and are likely to repeat again. Dallas has been the 3rd best team in the West all season but due to the injuries to the Spurs I would rank them as the second best team now. Third best would be the surprise Nuggets who since the Carmelo trade have been on absolute fire, including beating the Lakers this week. They are 15-4 since trading the star, and look like one of the best teams in not only the West the entire league.