NBA Western Conference Playoff Picture

Current Standings
1. L.A. Lakers - 54-20
2. Dallas Mavs - 49-25
3. Utah Jazz - 49-26
4. Phoenix Suns - 48-26
5. Denver Nugs - 48-27
6. OKC Thunder - 45-28
7. Portland Blazers - 45-29
8. SA Spurs - 44-29

Only a few games left. So to see how I think the season will end.

Lakers Remaining Schedule
@Atlanta - Loss
Utah - Win
SA - Win
@Denver - Loss
@Minny - Win
Portland - Loss
Sacramento - Win
@LAClips - Win

Final record - 59-23 - 1st

Mavericks Remaining Schedule
@Memphis - Win
Orlando - Loss
OKC - Win
Memphis - Win
@Portland - Loss
@Sacramento - Win
@LAClips - Win
SA - Win

Final record - 55-27 - 3rd

Jazz Remaining Schedule
GS - Win
@LALakers - Loss
OKC - Win
@Houston - Win
@NewOrleans - Win
@GS - Win
Phoenix - Win

Final record - 55-27 - 2nd

Suns Remaining Schedule
@NJersey - Win
@Detroit - Win
@Milwaukee - Loss
SA - Win
@OKC - Loss
Houston - Win
Denver - Win
@Utah - Loss

Final record - 53-29 - 4th

Nuggets Remaining Schedule
Portland - Loss
LAClips - Win
@OKC - Loss
@LALakers - Loss
SA - Win
Memphis - Win
@Phoenix - Loss

Final record - 51-31 - 6th

Thunder Remaining Schedule
@Boston - Loss
@Dallas - Loss
Minnesota - Win
@Utah - Loss
@Denver - Win
@Phoenix - Loss
@GSW - Win
@Portland - Loss
Memphis - Win

Final record - 49-33 - 7th

Trail Blazers Remaining Schedule
New York - Win
@Denver - Win
@Sacramento - Win
@LAClips - Win
Dallas - Win
@LALakers - Win
OKC - Win
GS - Loss

Final record - 52-30 - 5th

Spurs Remaining Schedule
Houston - Win
Orlando - Loss
@LALakers - Loss
@Sacramento - Win
@Phoenix - Loss
Memphis - Win
@Denver - Loss
Minny - Win
@Dallas - Loss

Final record - 48-34 - 8th

That would pit
1-LA Lakers
8-SA Spurs

2-Utah Jazz
7-OKC Thunder

3-Dallas Mavericks
6-Denver Nuggets

4-Phoenix Suns
5-Portland Trail Blazers

Should be an interesting playoffs.

Jazz in Hollinger's PER system

According to ESPN's John Hollinger's Player Efficiency Ratings, the Jazz have the 4th best point guard, the 9th best shooting guard, the 8th best small forward, and the 7th best power forward in the NBA. And the 32nd best center.

PG - Deron Williams - 4
SG - Kyle Korver - 9
SF - Andrei Kirilenko - 8
PF - Carlos Boozer - 7
C - Mehmet Okur - 32

Rest of roster:
PG - Ronnie Price - not in top 50
PG - Sundiata Gaines - not in top 50
SG - Wesley Matthews - 46
SF - CJ Miles - 47
PF - Paul Millsap - 23
C - Kyrylo Fesenko - not in top 50
C - Kosta Koufos - not in top 50

So by this, of the Top 250 players in the NBA, the Jazz have eight. Eight times thirty is 240, so there are teams out there that have 9 or 10 or even 11.

Now going by the actual PER number, the league average is 15.00. Channing Frye ranks as a 15.00. LeBron James is 1st, at 31.85. James Posey is 250th, at 8.55.

So who are the best teams if you go just by their PER's of their top players?

1. Cavaliers. 2. Magic. 3. Lakers. 4. Suns. 5. Jazz 6. Nuggets.