NBA

5 Perennial Contenders That Could Miss The 2015 NBA Playoffs

5 Perennial Contenders That Could Miss The 2015 NBA Playoffs

A photograph of the NBA Playoff logo with a bunch of Basketballs. Where the Dallas Mavericks took on the San Antonio Spurs in Game Five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2014 NBA Playoffs on April 30, 2014 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
Garrett W. Ellwood - Getty Images

There are a few teams that seemingly are always in contention to win the NBA Championship. Here are my top five annual contenders that would miss the playoffs in 2015.

5. San Antonio Spurs

Spurs NBA basketball
Getty Images

5. San Antonio Spurs

Spurs NBA basketball
Getty Images

The Spurs are probably the best NBA franchise in the past 20 years, but it seems like the era in San Antonio may be coming to end. The Spurs are still over four games ahead of the ninth-place team in the Western Conference, but if they continue to struggle, there is still an outside chance they could get pushed out in the tough west.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder

Getty Images
Getty Images

4. Oklahoma City Thunder

Getty Images
Getty Images

The Thunder are only one game ahead of the Pelicans, and two and a half games ahead of the Suns for eighth place in the Western Conference. I don't think they will get overthrown by either, but if their injury woes continue, you never know.

3. Miami Heat

Miami Heat Pic 2a
Getty Images

3. Miami Heat

Miami Heat Pic 2a
Getty Images

There are six teams within three games of each other contending for the seventh and eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. Luckily for the Heat, they are in seventh. However, Chris Bosh is out for the season and Dwyane Wade isn't always the healthiest of players. It's not looking great for a franchise that has won two titles in the past four seasons.

2. Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics v Los Angeles Lakers
Andrew D. Bernstein - Getty Images

2. Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics v Los Angeles Lakers
Andrew D. Bernstein - Getty Images

The Celtics are miraculously only two games out of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, but they are far from the team that won its fifth straight division title just a few years ago in 2012. The face of the franchise is now Isaiah Thomas. Dark times are ahead for a franchise that has the most NBA Championships ever.

1. Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers
Stephen Dunn - Getty Images

1. Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers
Stephen Dunn - Getty Images

The Lakers have 16 wins, and are so bad that they celebrate when they finally win one game after losing eight straight. Kobe Bryant is out for the year and looks like he will never be the same. It's a sad time for the Lakers, who were in contention just four short years ago.

Share Tweet