The Suns' difficult schedule to close the season could result in missing the playoffs. (Twitter/@Suns)

Michael Corvo: It’s a shame that one of these teams out West has to miss out. Dallas looks in after winning four straight, so it comes down to Phoenix and Memphis. As of Friday, Phoenix sits one up, and both teams have similar strength of schedules left. There’s an easy answer to this predicament, though, because these squads face-off in the season’s penultimate game. The winner of that will take the final seed. In the East, it looks like Atlanta will eke it out. The Knicks made a push, but after a few bad losses the Hawks sit two up in the loss column, with a more favorable schedule to close it out. 

Law Murray: Dallas has a two-game lead, and Memphis is going to have an opportunity to sweep the Suns. That leaves Phoenix out, which would mark the fourth time the franchise misses the playoffs with a winning record. As for the East? Yikes. The Hawks don't want the spot, but I think they'll sneak in there. The Cavaliers are too far behind, while the Knicks have to deal with teams that have something to play for.

Russell Simon: The NBA schedule makers should pat themselves on the back for what they did in the final games in the Western Conference. Dallas, Phoenix, and Memphis are all within a game of each other, and they all play each other once more before the year winds down. In all likelihood, the winner of the Suns-Grizzlies game on April 14 will be the team that gets the final spot. I like Dragic and that Phoenix offense to just eke out a win over the Grizz, so I think Memphis will be the team left on the outside looking in.

It’s tragic that the 46-32 Grizzlies could miss out on the playoffs while the 35-43 Hawks will make it. The battle for the final spot in the East is practically over already, and as the Knicks crawl to the finish line, Atlanta will limp into the playoffs.

Roy Hibbert and Paul George have fallen off sharply since the season began. (Twitter/@Pacers)

Corvo: The most glaring issue with Indiana is their offensive troubles. In their last nine games, they’re averaging just 82.9 PPG. More abstractly, though, this team is suffering from the trials of a long season. Veteran teams (such as Miami and San Antonio) know when they need to turn it up for a night, and when to take others off. Indiana (admirably) played so hard from the get-go  that they finally hit a wall. Hopefully, they find their rhythm again to set up that tasty Conference Finals rematch with Miami.

Murray: When the Pacers traded for Evan Turner, this is what I tweeted. It's one thing to trade Danny Granger - his legs are shot. But what did they expect from Turner, seriously? He needs the ball in his hands to be successful, and the Pacers have too much of that offensively as it is. The offense was never good, but since the All-Star Break, only the 76ers have been worse. They don't get good shots from anywhere, and the two All-Stars, Paul George and Roy Hibbert, have struggled mightily with their looks. The Pacers are already contenders due to their size, defensive philosophy, and the fact that they were a Conference Finalist last spring. But they overachieved early, and reality is biting them just when other teams are growing confidence.

Simon: For all the talk about how Indiana has imploded, they still hold the top spot in the East. That being said, the Pacer offense has been beyond inept over the course of the last month or so. This team was 33-8 at the halfway point of the year, but as Paul George has struggled the Pacers have been unable to put up points. Roy Hibbert has been a total offensive nightmare and Indy simply doesn’t have any other scoring threats besides George. When he is off, they have a hard time winning. If George can turn his offensive game around, Indiana still could have enough to take Miami, provided they get the top seed in the East.

The ageless Tim Duncan and his Spurs are title favorites once again. (Twitter/@spurs)

Corvo: As magnificent as the Spurs have been again this season, I’m not putting them as the favorite. They’ve best the best team out West, but the postseason is about matchups, and both OKC (who swept the season series) and the Clippers will be difficult matchups due to their respective athleticism. And finally, even if San Antonio makes it out of the West, they don’t have LeBron. Pop’s squad is certainly capable of winning it all, but I wouldn’t call them the best bet.  

Murray: Reactionary? Please. For one, I had them winning this year's title in October, so I am not surprised that they're doing what they always do. However, they need to put a hit out on the Thunder, because we all know that they can't really see Oklahoma City right now. The Spurs defend extremely well, the offense is rock solid, and there is no cause for experience concerns. But they will need a break in the postseason matchups to fulfill their promise. Then again, all the champs take advantage of some level of fortune.

Simon: Last year proved that while the Spurs always fly under the radar because of their location in a small market, they always have to be considered title contenders. This year is no different, as the 60-18 Spurs have another ho hum brilliant year. They are ranked first in assists per game, seventh in points per game and fifth in points allowed. This is a complete team from top to bottom, and they have to be favorites to make it out of the West.