NBA Standings & Playoff Picture for December 18

It is Friday which means a full slate of NBA games with 12 games on tap tonight. The Clippers and Spurs are the highlight of the NBA schedule along with a number of other good matchups. Last night, the Cavs held on to win at home against the Thunder on a slow night in the league with only six teams playing. We take a look at the division standings as well as an early look at the playoff picture.

Here is a look at the Eastern Conference standings:

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Atlantic

1. Toronto Raptors

Record: 16-11 Current Seed in the East: 6th
The Raptors lost to the Hornets in overtime but still remain first in the Atlantic.

2. Boston Celtics

Record: 14-12 Current Seed in the East: 10th
The Celtics continue to win despite no clear cut star player. It is solid group of players that have found success playing together.

3. New York Knicks

Record: 12-14 Current Seed in the East: 11th
Don’t let the record fool you, Kristaps Porzingis has brought excitement back to Madison Square Garden.

4. Brooklyn Nets

Record: 7-18 Current Seed in the East: 14th
The Nets continue to sleep in Brooklyn. The future looks dim for the Nets.

5. Philadelphia 76ers

Record: 1-26 Current Seed in the East: 15th
It is a difficult time to be a Sixers fan and there is no end in sight.

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Central

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

Record: 17-7 Current Seed in the East: 1st
The Cavs came up with a big win against the Thunder. They remain first in the Eastern Conference with quite a few teams on their heels.

2. Chicago Bulls

Record: 15-8 Current Seed in the East: 2nd
The Bulls are in a race with the Cavs not just for the division but for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

3. Indiana Pacers

Record: 15-9 Current Seed in the East: 3rd
After a down year, the Pacers are right in the thick of things at the top of the Eastern Conference.

4. Detroit Pistons

Record: 15-12 Current Seed in the East: 8th
The Pistons have had a much better season than many expected. Stan Van Gundy has efforted a quick turnaround in Detroit.

5. Milwaukee Bucks

Record: 10-17 Current Seed in the East: 13th

After coming off a great season, the Bucks have failed to live up to expectations so far this season. The win against the Warriors will hopefully continue to jump start the Bucks’ resurgence.

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Southeast

1. Miami Heat

Record: 15-9 Current Seed in the East: 4th
Dwayne Wade and company are chasing their former teammate in Cleveland for the Eastern Conference crown. They are within striking distance.

2. Charlotte Hornets

Record: 15-10 Current Seed in the East: 5th
The Hornets came up with an overtime victory against a good Raptors team. It was a nice bounce back game after their blowout loss to the Magic.

3. Orlando Magic

Record: 14-11 Current Seed in the East: 7th
After years of being labeled a “talented young team” the talent is finally leading to wins in Orlando. Scott Skiles is proving that the issue for the Magic may have been poor coaching.

4. Atlanta Hawks

Record: 15-12 Current Seed in the East: 9th
While they are not off to the kind of start they experienced last season, the Hawks are still a playoff caliber team.

5. Washington Wizards

Record: 10-14 Current Seed in the East: 12th
The Wizards have been one of the most disappointing teams this season after being one of the better teams in the East last season.

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Eastern Conference Playoff Picture

The difference between the first and the tenth seed in the Eastern Conference is 3.5 games. It is a very close race early on with a number of teams bunched together from three to ten. The Cavaliers find themselves at the top of the Eastern standings but only lead the Bulls by one game.

Here is a look at the Eastern Conference playoff standings:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (17-7)

2. Chicago Bulls (15-8)

3. Indiana Pacers (15-9)

4. Miami Heat (15-9)

5. Charlotte Hornets (15-10)

6. Toronto Raptors (16-11)

7. Orlando Magic (14-11)

8. Detroit Pistons (15-12)

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Click the next page button to see the Western Conference standings and the current playoff seeding.

Northwest

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

Record: 17-9 Current Seed in the West: 3rd
The Thunder fell on the road to the Cavs. Russell Westbrook had an opportunity to send the game into overtime but missed a three pointer with seconds remaining.

2. Denver Nuggets

Record: 11-14 Current Seed in the West: 8th
Despite a difficult start to the season, the Nuggets are in the playoff hunt. Emmanuel Mudiay looks to be Denver’s point guard of the future.

3. Utah Jazz

Record: 10-14 Current Seed in the West: 9th
The Jazz have talent but it has yet to fully come together this season.

4. Portland Trail Blazers

Record: 11-16 Current Seed in the West: 11th
It has been difficult in Rip City without LaMarcus Aldridge. C.J. McCollum has been a bright spot for the Blazers.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves

Record: 9-16 Current Seed in the West: 13th
Give it time Timberwolves fans. This will be one of the best teams in the NBA within the next few years. Karl-Anthony Towns has proved worthy of his number one draft selection and will pair nicely with Andrew Wiggins.

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Pacific

1. Golden State Warriors

Record: 25-1 Current Seed in the West: 1st

Now that the Warriors have lost their first game the focus can turn to just how good the defending champs are.

2. Los Angeles Clippers

Record: 16-10 Current Seed in the West: 4th
The Clippers will prove their worth in the playoffs. They have yet to get over the postseason hump to become one of the elite teams in the Western conference.

3. Phoenix Suns

Record: 11-16 Current Seed in the West: 10th
Despite having one of the most exciting backcourts in the league, it has not led to wins for the Suns.

4. Sacramento Kings

Record: 10-15 Current Seed in the West: 12th
Chaos has surrounded Sacramento to begin the season. It will be interesting to see if things settle down as the season progresses.

5. Los Angeles Lakers

Record: 4-22 Current Seed in the West: 15th
The only thing redeeming the Lakers dismal season so far is the start of the Kobe Bryant farewell tour.

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Southwest

1. San Antonio Spurs

Record: 22-5 Current Seed in the West: 2nd

All the attention has gone to the Warriors, but the Spurs have had a great start to the season as well. The addition of LaMarcus Aldridge makes this an even scarier opponent come playoff time.

2. Dallas Mavericks

Record: 14-12 Current Seed in the West: 5th
There is considerable distance between the Mavs and Spurs. Can they make some headway before the All-Star break?

3. Memphis Grizzlies

Record: 14-13 Current Seed in the West: 6th
The Grizzlies continue to be a player in the West, especially when playoff time is upon us.

4. Houston Rockets

Record: 13-14 Current Seed in the West: 7th
More Dwight Howard drama and this time in a different city. Will the Rockets trade Dwight Howard?

5. New Orleans Pelicans

Record: 7-18 Current Seed in the West: 14th

The Pelicans have been plagued by injuries, and it has effected the team. Pelicans fans are hoping it is not too late to turn around their season.

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Western Conference Playoff Picture

The Warriors have separated themselves from the entire NBA, but the Spurs are quietly right behind them. It will be an interesting stretch run between the Warriors and the Spurs. The West trails the East this season in terms of depth. If the playoffs were to start today, two teams with losing records would make it in the Western Conference.

Here is a look at the current Western Conference Playoff standings:

1. Golden State Warriors (25-1)

2. San Antonio Spurs (22-5)

3. Oklahoma City Thunder (17-9)

4. Los Angeles Clippers (16-10)

5. Dallas Mavericks (14-12)

6. Memphis Grizzlies (14-13)

7. Houston Rockets (13-14)

8. Denver Nuggets (11-14)

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