Cris

Ranking 1-9... (With 1 being the easiest remaining SOS)

1. LOS ANGELES LAKERS

Games remaining: 13 home, 8 road

Record against teams still to play: 19-8

Composite winning percentage of remaining opponents: .515

Games left against teams with records over and under .500: 12 over, 9 under

Toughest stretch: March 14-20, with four straight road games against the Hornets, Rockets, Mavericks and Jazz.
Outlook: The Grizzlies will continue to be subjected to bitter jabs from the Lakers' conference rivals for handing Pau Gasol to Los Angeles for nada. But the schedule-makers are bound to wind up as the No. 2 target once the other West teams realize Kobe and Co. have the closest thing to a cake schedule over the next six weeks. No team in the West's top nine has fewer road games remaining, and the Lakers have just three back-to-backs left. They can make a real push for the No. 1 seed, even if Andrew Bynum doesn't make his comeback from a knee injury before the playoffs.
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DALLAS MAVERICKS

Games remaining: 12 home, 8 road

Record against teams still to play: 17-12

Composite winning percentage of remaining opponents: .506

Games left against teams with records over and under .500: 11 over, 9 under

Toughest stretch: March 27-April 6, with five of six games on the road and a home date with their old pals from Golden State.

Outlook: The Mavs opened a crucial flurry of home games with a lifeless loss to a Houston team they have routinely handled for years. But Dirk Nowitzki was out on a one-game suspension, and Dallas -- sporting the West's No. 2 home record at 25-4 -- still plays eight of its next nine games at home with only a trip to Miami. There are lots of challenging dates in that run, but the Mavs clearly play better in Big D. The games also are favorably spaced out, with only two back-to-backs left. Given what some of the competition has to cope with, Dallas can't ask for much more in its ongoing search for the continuity and defensive cohesion that has yet to materialize with Jason Kidd.
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3. HOUSTON ROCKETS

Games remaining: 10 home, 11 road

Record against teams still to play: 21-10

Composite winning percentage of remaining opponents: .512

Games left against teams with records over and under .500: 11 over, 10 under

Toughest stretch: March 19-April 6, with eight of 10 games on the road.

Outlook: The Rockets' remaining home schedule includes only four teams with winning records -- the Hornets, Lakers, Celtics and Suns -- so their road challenges obviously will be tougher. Yet I have to say the team I saw firsthand Thursday night was the most confident and unified group of Rockets since Yao Ming arrived in Houston ... even with Yao out injured. Given that they have won 11 in a row on the road and have begun playing at a faster tempo sans Yao, they might be able run with teams like Golden State and Denver. I don't see anything on the schedule that suggests they will be slipping out of the top eight.
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4. Utah
5. Suns
6. Nuggets
7. Warriors
8. Spurs
9. Hornets

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Eternal

Lakers definitely seem to be the favorite to win the West as it looks now. Hopefully we can get Bynum and Ariza back this year a few games before the playoffs (I doubt both will be available at this time), and get some team chemistry with them and Gasol in the lineup.

Whoever we play in the first round is going to be real tough.

23AJ

Saw that on the weekend dime as well. Things are really looking up for the Lakers. Just wish the Lakers would have a healthy Bynum for the playoffs.

afobisme

i think if the rockets are still on a streak by the time we get there, we're gonna be the ones who are gonna burst the bubble.. that would be awesome! it's definitely something that is going to get kobe all worked up.

23AJ

You, and I both know the Rockets streak will still be alive when the Lakers have to play them.

The Rockets next game is a home game against the Nets.

Then the Rockets have the Hawks on the road. (Hawks could spoil the Rockets run, but I doubt it)

Then the Rockets have the Bobcats at home.

Of course next game up, Rockets have our beloved Lakers at home.... Just so everyone's on the up and up this game will also be on NBA TV. So I hope all the LA faithful here have NBA TV. No doubt will it be a thrilling game. Also the Lakers have a tough game against the Hornets on the road before this Rockets game, but it's not a back to back. Things are about to get really interesting.

DaRizzle

Just to let you all know...Rockets are losing to the Nets