One month from today, the NBA Playoffs begin. Promos for first round matchups will infect our billboards, television screens, and social media feeds. With a 41-26 record, 15 games to go, and an eight-win advantage over the ninth-placed Sacramento Kings, the Portland Trail Blazers are almost guaranteed a spot in the postseason bracket. The only question: Where?
If the season ended today, Portland would finish fifth and kick off their postseason in Oklahoma City. But there is still plenty of season to go and this conclusion is far from certain. To help determine how everything will shake up, we will look at the strength of schedule for the top 10 teams in the Western Conference.