Playoff Push

As the end of the season quickly draws near, teams across the league are looking to improve upon their playoff positions and fine tune every aspect of their game. In the western conference, the Los Angeles Lakers have virtually clinched the number 1 spot, but the remaining 7 spots are still up for grabs. The San Antonio Spurs, who are in the second spot, and the Dallas Mavericks, who are currently holding strong to the eighth and final spot in the western conference, are separated by only 5 games, leaving a lot of space for teams to jockey for the remaining spots in between.

The Phoenix Suns, who have slowly inched their way closer to the Dallas Mavericks, currently sitting 3 & 1/2 games back, are on the outside looking in. The Mavericks have the tougher schedule between the two teams, but the Suns have been very inconsistent this year, especially since Amare Stoudemire went out with an eye injury, shortly after the All-Star break. With less than 15 games left in the season, the Suns will need a major collapse by the Mavericks and also a win in Dallas on Apr. 5th, when the two teams meet for the final time this season.

In the eastern conference, the Boston Celtics and the Orlando Magic are battling for the 2nd and 3rd spots, as Cleveland has made no plans to relinquish their hold on the top spot in the east. The race for the final spots in the east are not nearly as exciting as the race in the west but the fight for the eighth spot is providing much excitement. Lose 1 or 2 games in a row, and a team on the outside could capture your spot in the playoffs.

In other news around the league, the Houston Rockets have lost key reserve, Carl Landry, for at least 2 weeks, after Landry was shot in the leg following a win over the New Orleans Hornets on Tuesday. After going out to celebrate in Houston, a car hit Landry's SUV, forcing him to crash into a utility pole. Landry got out of the car to inspect the damages when the two occupants in the car fired two shots at him. Landry then fled from the scene, running from one of the shooters. In doing so, he was shot in the leg and fortunate to make it to an occupied home close to the scene.

"I could have been dead," Landry said. "The shooter was 10 yards or less away. I'm 6-9 and I had a bright shirt on. I don't know how he missed, but thank God he did and he hit the lower part of my leg."

As of now, Houston police have no leads on the suspects but hope to find the shooters in a timely matter. Landry is expected to make a full recovery and will be back to full-contact within the next week or two.

That's all for this installment! Not much going on in the league besides playoff position jockeying, but expect to hear much more news as the end of the season draws nearer, and we get a better idea of who will be in the playoffs and the possible 1st round match ups.