Here are the teams we should look out for: For Spurs pick, keep a close eye on: Dallas: Not that it really matters much, but Dallas is only about .5 game above the Spurs, so they will need to secure their record for us to have the 28th pick in the draft. Detroit: They still have the best record, but Dallas and San Antonio are making a push. Detroit must remain hungry if we are to get the 28th pick instead of 29th or 30th. L.A. Lakers: The Lakers currently have the eighth seed. If the Jazz get a hold onto the third seed, the Lakers will need to secure the eighth seed and the Nuggets will miss the playoffs meaning we will have a lottery pick by June. For Nuggets pick, keep a close eye on: Utah: They?re only 2.5 games behind Denver for the third seed in the playoffs. Now getting back Carlos Boozer, if the Jazz can secure the third seed, it means the Nuggets will be fighting for an eighth seed. L.A. Lakers: The Lakers currently have the eighth seed. If the Jazz get a hold onto the third seed, the Lakers will need to secure the eighth seed and the Nuggets will miss the playoffs meaning we will have a lottery pick by June. Sacramento: They?re only 2.5 games behind the Lakers, so if they get an eighth seed, it will be between the Lakers and Nuggets at 9th and 10th. This is only if Utah does its job and keeps the third seed. Teams to kind of watch out for: Houston: They?re definitely talented, but injuries really affected their season. They?re still capable of making the playoffs, but they will secure an eighth seed at best. Minnesota: They?re 5 games behind in the Northwest division, but if they make some ground, we can have Utah and Minnesota giving the Nuggets some serious pressure. They currently stand at: 19th and 28th.
