Trail Blazers among teams most likely to secure playoff spot

The Western Conference will have 13 teams competing when the NBA returns in late July after having its season postponed amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, and Phoenix Suns are looking to clinch playoff berths. A play-in tournament will ensue should any of the teams remaining finish the year within four games of the eight seed, but which squad will come out on top? We break down what outcomes are most likely below while taking the adjusted schedule into account. Each team will play eight games to close out the regular season.

The Grizzlies (-143) are the favorites to finish in eighth on DraftKings Sportsbook, and they’re trailed by the Pelicans (+300) and Trail Blazers (+400). The Kings (+1100), Spurs (+1300), and Suns (+6000) are longshots. There’s almost no chance the Mavericks (+50000) will drop a spot, as they are seventh in the standings and seven games ahead of the eighth-place Grizzlies.

Although Memphis is the favorite to come out on top, no team’s playoff odds have been hurt more by this new format. The young squad is led by Rookie of the Year frontrunner Ja Morant and added Justise Winslow to a core group that includes Brandon Clarke and Jaren Jackson Jr. ahead of the break. While Winslow gives the Grizzlies more playmaking and defensive upside, he hasn’t played a game for Memphis this season. The Trail Blazers and Pelicans are only 3 ¹⁄₂ games back, so it’s very likely that a play-in series will occur — especially since the Grizzlies will face the Utah Jazz, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, and Milwaukee Bucks.

Although many will be banking on Zion Williamson and the Pelicans making a run, the Trail Blazers seem like a better bet. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum have plenty of experience playing meaningful playoff games together, and Portland will get a back a vital post piece in Jusuf Nurkic, who has missed all of this season because of a leg injury he suffered last year, to play alongside Hassan Whiteside. An All-NBA talent like Lillard with experienced role-players around him is a dangerous combination. The Pelicans have a much easier schedule, but Portland is better equipped to win a series.

LaMarcus Aldridge ands Kelly Oubre Jr. have both been ruled out for the remainder of the season because of injuries, so the Spurs and Suns have slim odds to make a convincing run. Even though the Kings are also 3 ¹⁄₂ games back from the Grizzlies, they don’t have a go-to All-Star to depend on. That’s a major disadvantage. Despite having underwhelming regular season that was plagued by injuries, the Trail Blazers are set up to make an impressive surge and break into the playoff picture.

Here’s a list of each team’s schedule.

Dallas Mavericks

• vs. Houston Rockets on Friday, July 31 (9:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• vs. Phoenix Suns on Sunday, August 2 (9:00 p.m. ET)
• vs. Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, August 4 (2:30 p.m. ET)
• vs. LA Clippers on Thursday, August 6 (6:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
• vs. Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, August 8 (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• vs. Utah Jazz on Monday, August 10 (3:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
• vs. Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, August 11 (5:00 p.m. ET)
• vs. Phoenix Suns on Thursday, August 13 (TBD, TBD)

Memphis Grizzlies

• vs. Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, July 31 (4:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
• vs. San Antonio Spurs on Sunday, August 2 (4:00 p.m. ET)
• vs. New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, August 3 (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• vs. Utah Jazz on Wednesday, August 5 (2:30 p.m. ET)
• vs. Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday, August 7 (4:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
• vs. Toronto Raptors on Sunday, August 9 (2:00 p.m. ET)
• vs. Boston Celtics on Tuesday, August 11 (6:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
• vs. Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, August 13 (TBD, TBD)

Portland Trail Blazers

• vs. Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, July 31 (4:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
• vs. Boston Celtics on Sunday, August 2 (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
• vs. Houston Rockets on Tuesday, August 4 (9:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
• vs. Denver Nuggets on Thursday, August 6 (8:00 p.m. ET)
• vs. LA Clippers on Saturday, August 8 (1:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
• vs. Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, August 9 (6:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
• vs. Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, August 11 (5:00 p.m. ET)
• vs. Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, August 13 (TBD, TBD)

New Orleans Pelicans

• vs. Utah Jazz on Thursday, July 30 (6:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
• vs. LA Clippers on Saturday, August 1 (6:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• vs. Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, August 3 (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• vs. Sacramento Kings on Thursday, August 6 (1:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
• vs. Washington Wizards on Friday, August 7 (8:00 p.m. ET)
• vs. San Antonio Spurs on Sunday, August 9 (3:00 p.m. ET, ABC)
• vs. Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, August 11 (9:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
• vs. Orlando Magic on Thursday, August 13 (TBD, TBD)

Phoenix Suns

• vs. Washington Wizards on Friday, July 31 (4:00 p.m. ET)
• vs. Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, August 2 (9:00 p.m. ET)
• vs. LA Clippers on Tuesday, August 4 (4:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
• vs. Indiana Pacers on Thursday, August 6 (4:00 p.m. ET)
• vs. Miami Heat on Saturday, August 8 (7:30 p.m. ET)
• vs. Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, August 10 (2:30 p.m. ET)
• vs. Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, August 11 (4:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
• vs. Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, August 13 (TBD, TBD)

Sacramento Kings

• vs. San Antonio Spurs on Friday, July 31 (8:00 p.m. ET)
• vs. Orlando Magic on Sunday, August 2 (6:00 p.m. ET)
• vs. Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, August 4 (2:30 p.m. ET)
• vs. New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday, August 6 (1:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
• vs. Brooklyn Nets on Friday, August 7 (5:00 p.m. ET)
• vs. Houston Rockets on Sunday, August 9 (8:00 p.m. ET)
• vs. New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, August 11 (9:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
• vs. Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, August 13 (TBD, TBD)

San Antonio Spurs

• vs. Sacramento Kings on Friday, July 31 (8:00 p.m. ET)
• vs. Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, August 2 (4:00 p.m. ET)
• vs. Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, August 3 (8:00 p.m. ET)
• vs. Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, August 5 (4:00 p.m. ET)
• vs. Utah Jazz on Friday, August 7 (1:00 p.m. ET)
• vs. New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, August 9 (3:00 p.m. ET, ABC)
• vs. Houston Rockets on Tuesday, August 11 (2:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
• vs. Utah Jazz on Thursday, August 13 (TBD, TBD)