We are nearing the end of the NBA season, with about a month remaining in the regular season. Four of the best teams to start the season have all been struggling to play well as of late. “Every team will have struggles, it just so happens that many of the good teams are struggling at the same time,” said SMW junior, Brandon Ortega.

In the Eastern Conference, the Indiana Pacers and the Miami Heat have lost a combined eight out of their last 10 games, which is causing teams below them to get closer to them in the standings. Good thing for them that the East is basically a two team show, though.

It seems as though ever since Russell Westbrook has returned for the Oklahoma City Thunder, they have been struggling on offense, and their wins have been suffering. People often forget that the Thunder started the season 21-4 with him playing though.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Portland Trail Blazers have also been struggling in the Western Conference. The Thunder have lost five out of their last nine, and the Blazers have lost five out of their last six. Portland has fallen to 5th place now in the conference.

The Western Conference has been heating up as of late, with the Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets playing their best basketball of the season. They are a combined 25-5 in their last 30 games. It’ll be interesting to see who claims the top spots in the West, while the East should be locked up for Indiana and Miami.