Only the top 8 teams in each conference make the NBA playoffs. This means that each year 14 teams in total are left on the outside looking in. And the great thing about this time of the year is that there are only about 15 games remaining for each team. So of course, this means that there is a lot of jockeying going on in the standings.

The first thing to keep an eye on is the teams at the top of both the Eastern and Western Conference. The Detroit Pistons are currently leading the East by a game and a half over the Cleveland Cavaliers. With so many games to be played, this race is as good as even at this point.

In the Western Conference, the Dallas Mavericks are a bit more comfortable with a four and a half game lead over the second place Phoenix Suns. But despite this cushion, if the Mavs stumble down the stretch expect Steve Nash and company to pick up the slack and earn the top seed in the playoffs.

Now for the real excitement; the teams who are fighting for the last playoff spot in each conference. In the East, the Indiana Pacers are holding down the final spot but the Orlando Magic and New York Knicks are only a half game back.

The West is a bit more crammed with the Golden State Warriors in the eighth spot. They are followed by the Los Angeles Clippers who are one game back, the New Orleans Hornets who are one and a half back, and the Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves who are both two and a half games back.

Over the next few weeks the jumble at both the top and the eighth spot will begin to work its way out. For the teams fighting for postseason position, a good portion of their season will be judged on how they perform in the weeks to come.

Source: steve-nash.net