NBA Playoff Picture for February 15-21

NBA All-Star Weekend is officially a wrap. You know what that means, right?

THAT'S RIGHT GUYS! It's finally time to start paying attention to the NBA!

Every hardcore NBA fan knows what All-Star weekend really represents to the NBA. It represents a time when the switch goes from "halfway on" to "ON". This is the time when NBA players really turn it up because they know what's right around the corner.

And what's right around the corner you ask?

DING DING DING! That's correct. The NBA playoffs are right around the corner and if there's one thing the NBA does extremely well....it's playoff basketball. Most NBA fans don't really start paying attention to the NBA until after All-Star weekend. Football is finally over and ASW turns the attention to the NBA because the players are playing harder and the fans are actually watching. With the playoffs looming, we get some of the best regular season basketball that we can ask for because every team is playing for a playoff spot.

So which teams are currently in the lead for a playoff spot and what would the playoffs look like if they started today?

Glad you asked because I have the answers.

NBA Playoff Picture (week of February 15-21)

Eastern Conference 

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (38-14)

2. Toronto Raptors (35-17)

3. Boston Celtics (32-23)

4. Atlanta Hawks (31-24)

5. Miami Heat (29-24)

6. Indiana Pacers (28-25)

7. Chicago Bulls (27-25)

8. Charlotte Hornets (27-26)

On the trail: Detroit Pistons (27-27), Washington Wizards (23-28), Orlando Magic (23-29), New York Knicks (23-32), Milwaukee Bucks (22-32)

Western Conference

1. Golden State Warriors (48-4)

2. San Antonio Spurs (45-8)

3. Oklahoma City Thunder (40-14)

4. Los Angeles Clippers (35-18)

5. Memphis Grizzlies (31-22)

6. Dallas Mavericks (29-26)

7. Portland Trail Blazers (27-27)

8. Utah Jazz (26-26)

On the trail: Houston Rockets (27-28), Sacramento Kings (22-31), Denver Nuggets (22-32), New Orleans Pelicans (20-33)

If The Playoffs Started Today:

Eastern Conference

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

vs.

8. Charlotte Hornets

2. Toronto Raptors

vs.

7. Chicago Bulls

3. Boston Celtics

vs.

6. Indiana Pacers

4. Atlanta Hawks

vs.

5. Miami Heat

Western Conference

1. Golden State Warriors

vs.

8. Utah Jazz

2. San Antonio Spurs

vs.

7. Portland Trail Blazers

3. Oklahoma City Thunder

vs.

6. Dallas Mavericks

4. Los Angeles Clippers

vs.

5. Memphis Grizzlies