{"numbering":"no_numbering","slides":[{"title":"1. Phoenix Suns","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Booker_D_Paul_C_USA.jpg","credit":"USATSI","published":1619026821,"caption":"

Not enough can be said about the impact Chris Paul has had on the young Suns, and they are just getting started.

Phoenix enters Wednesday's action in second place in the West, just one-and-a-half games back of the Utah Jazz.

But Paul, Monty Williams and Devin Booker are on a mission. Paul's leadership, playmaking ability and steady, unflappable nature have elevated the Suns from NBA Bubble restart darling to legitimate title contender.

I expect them to finish what they started and catch the Jazz before the season ends.

"},{"title":"2. Utah Jazz","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Mitchell_D_Gobert_R_USA.jpg","credit":"USATSI","published":1619027993,"caption":"

The Jazz have been impressive this season, but I'm still not sold they are a real title threat.

Utah has seen its hold on the top spot in the conference narrow, and now, with Donovan Mitchell expected to miss several games due to a sprained right ankle, I think the Suns will catch and pass them.

However, the Jazz are 4-1 without Mitchell this season and face the easiest remaining schedule. That should allow them to easily lock up the No. 2 seed and give Mitchell, Rudy Gobert and Co. some rest before the playoffs begin.

"},{"title":"3. Los Angeles Clippers ","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Leonard_K_USA.jpg","credit":"USATSI","published":1619028397,"caption":"

Kawhi Leonard's sore foot should keep him out for a least a week, but Paul George can carry the load against the seventh-easiest remaining schedule in the NBA.

The Clippers enter Wednesday three games back of the Jazz and one-and-a-half games back of the Suns, but Leonard's nagging foot issue and LA's desire to be healthy come playoff time will keep the Clips from overtaking one of the top two seeds.

If Leonard, Serge Ibaka and Patrick Beverley were fully healthy, I'd pick the Clips to grab the second seed, but I can't do that with them down some key contributors.

"},{"title":"4. Los Angeles Lakers","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/James_L_Davis_A_Schroeder_D_USA.jpg","credit":"USATSI","published":1619028895,"caption":"

You have to hand it to Frank Vogel and the Lakers, they've been very competitive in the absence of both LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

With Davis set to return this week and James progressing to "light work," it appears the cavalry is on the way for the defending champions.

LA enters Wednesday two-and-a-half games back of the fourth-place Denver Nuggets, but I expect Davis' return, along with the injury to Jamal Murray, to eventually propel the Lakers to the four seed.

"},{"title":"5. Denver Nuggets","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Jokic_N_Gordon_A_USA.jpg","credit":"USATSI","published":1619029328,"caption":"

Nikola Jokic is most likely your NBA MVP for this odd, truncated season played during the throes of a pandemic.

No knock on The Joker, he's been both sensational and available, something the rest of the league's stars can't claim.

But the loss of Murray to a torn ACL will put more pressure on Jokic, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr.

The good news is they have the 11th-easiest schedule down the stretch. But if James and Davis return in time, I don't think they'll be able to win enough to hold off the Lakers.

"},{"title":"6. Portland Trail Blazers","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Lillard_D_McCollum_C_Anthony_C_USA.jpg","credit":"USATSI","published":1619029598,"caption":"

The Trail Blazers are skidding and even Damian Lillard hasn't had the ability to pull the emergency brake of late.

After Tuesday night's loss to the Clippers, the Blazers now have lost seven of their last 10 games and are only one-and-a-half games up on the seventh-seeded Dallas Mavericks.

Lillard hasn't been torching the nets of late, as defenses have adjusted, forcing him to give up the ball and force his teammates to direct the offense.

Portland is sliding, but with the Blazers staring at the possibility of falling into the play-in tournament, I expect Lillard to put on his cape and come to the rescue once more.

Dame time. Six seed. Lock it in.

"},{"title":"7. Dallas Mavericks","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Doncic_L_USA.jpg","credit":"USATSI","published":1619029995,"caption":"

The Mavericks have wasted a golden opportunity to catch the sliding Blazers, going 2-5 in their last seven games to remain one-and-a-half back of Portland.

Dallas has the second-easiest schedule remaining, but the Mavs' up-and-down play this season hasn't given me the confidence that they can catch the Blazers.

The Mavs are one game up on Memphis and two up on the Warriors, but I don't think either team can sustain a run down the stretch to catch Luka and Co.

Much to Doncic and Mark Cuban's chagrin, the Mavs will be the top seed in the play-in tournament. That's exactly where they belong.

"},{"title":"8. Golden State Warriors","video":"FP4rYmjfzbsr","thumbnail":{"uri":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/short_form_video/hero/4-19_CURRY_ON_ACCOMPLISHMENTS.jpg","alt":"Steph Curry is just 'letting the game come to him' during historic run","title":"Steph Curry is just 'letting the game come to him' during historic run"},"credit":"USATSI","published":1619030391,"caption":"

Steph Curry is just impaling every opponent that dares to try and defend him.

We know how unconscious Curry has been over his past 10 games, but the Warriors are only 6-4 in those contests and still sit in ninth place.

But Golden State is just one game back of the Grizzles, and I think Curry's torrid run will eventually be enough to see the Warriors claim the No. 8 seed, with their showdown on the final night of the regular season possibly proving to be the difference.

Never bet against Wardell Stephen Curry II.

"},{"title":"9. Memphis Grizzlies","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Morant_J_USA.jpg","credit":"USATSI","published":1619030754,"caption":"

The young Grizzlies have been playing well behind the hot shooting of Grayson Allen and the overall stellar play of Ja Morant. The impending return of Jaren Jackson Jr. should help as will the fifth-easiest remaining schedule.

But the Grizzlies are volatile and I think they and the Warriors will jockey back and forth for the eighth seed down the stretch, wanting to avoid a win-or-go-home matchup against the No. 10 seed in the first play-in tournament game.

I'll take Steph over Ja in that final game, with the winner having a small weight taken off their back.

"},{"title":"10. New Orleans Pelicans","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Williamson_Z_USA.jpg","credit":"USATSI","published":1619031153,"caption":"

I'll admit, this almost certainly is the wrong choice.

With 14 games to go, the Pelicans are four games back of the San Antonio Spurs for the 10th seed and final play-in tournament spot.

Perhaps it's just me wanting to see as much of Point Zion as possible and the desire to watch Zion in a do-or-die play-in game against Steph or Ja, but I have to believe Williamson and Brandon Ingram can do enough to spark a run for the Pelicans over the final stretch. I'm going to take a page from LaVar Ball's book and try and speak it into existence.

Now, New Orleans has done nothing to warrant me believing that. The young Pelicans don't box out, don't get back on defense and are great at squandering late leads.

But the Spurs own the second-toughest remaining schedule, which includes two games against the Jazz, two against the Suns, and games against the Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Blazers and a showdown with the Pelicans.

I'll bet on Zion and Ingram to make it interesting during the final week and spoil the Spurs' planned return to the postseason.

"}]}

2021 NBA playoff predictions: How West standings will finish