Thunder: Playoff positions becoming clear

The NBA’s Western Conference playoff outlook is much clearer, as we go into the final seven days of the season. The Thunder is headed for the sixth, seventh or eighth seed.

Here are the current standings: 1. Lakers 55-22; 2. Mavericks 51-27; 3. Nuggets 51-27; 4. Suns 51-27; 5. Jazz 51-28; 6. TrailBlazers 48-30; 7. Spurs 48-30; 8. Thunder 48-30.

Here are the remaining games for each team.

Lakers: at Denver, at Minnesota, Portland, Sacramento, at Clippers

Mavs: at Portland, at Sacramento, at Clippers, San Antonio

Nuggets: Lakers, San Antonio, Memphis, at Phoenix

Suns: at Oklahoma City, Houston, Denver, at Utah

Jazz: at New Orleans, at Golden State, Phoenix

Blazers: Dallas, at Lakers, Oklahoma City, Golden State

Spurs: Memphis, at Denver, Minnesota, at Dallas

Thunder: Phoenix, at Golden State, at Portland, Memphis

So let’s do this. Let’s say every team wins its home games and loses its road games. Under that scenario, here are the final standings.

1. Lakers 57-25; 2. Denver 54-28; 3. Phoenix 53-29; 4. Utah 52-30; 5. Dallas 52-30; 6. Portland 51-31; 7. San Antonio 50-32; 8. OKC 50-32. Under that scenario, the Thunder is headed to a series with the Lakers.

But let’s say each team wins its home games and wins it road games against non-playoff teams. Under that scenario, this is the final standings:

1. Lakers 59-23; 2. Dallas 54-28; 3. Denver 54-28; 4. Utah 54-28; 5. Phoenix 53-29; 6. Portland 52-30; 7. Oklahoma City 51-31; 8. San Antonio 50-30.