NBA Playoff Race Update: Do the Los Angeles Lakers Stand a Chance of Making the Postseason?

Western Conference - Sure Things

(1) Golden State Warriors (42-16, 100.0%)
(2) Denver Nuggets (39-18, 100.0%)
(3) Oklahoma City Thunder (37-20, 100.0%)

The Warriors seemed like they might've actually been mortal for a brief period earlier this season, but then DeMarcus Cousins came back healthier than we all expected, and now you'd have a hard time finding anyone who would pick any other team (or even the field) over them. Our algorithm only gives them a 18.3% chance of winning the title, which actually trails the Milwaukee Bucks at 22.0%, but FanDuel Sportsbook has them at -210, which implies a 67.7% probability.

The Nuggets and Thunder have been great stories this season, and they're pretty well locks to make the postseason, but neither is quite on Golden State's level.