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Once again, the loaded Warriors are the team to beat in the West
The Cavaliers and Celtics are battling for the top seed in the East
CNN
—
As teams make the final push toward the NBA playoffs, not much has changed from a year ago.
That’s because the same question looms as it did in 2016: Can anyone stop the Golden State Warriors?
The regular season ends April 12. The playoffs start April 15. Sure, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers are the defending NBA champions, and they’re a favorite to return to the NBA Finals for the third consecutive year.
But the talk all season has been about the super team assembled in Golden State, having added Kevin Durant to an already loaded roster with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.
NBA playoffs
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A year after setting the NBA regular-season wins record with 73, the Warriors once again are at the top of the Western Conference heading into April. As in 2016, Golden State is closing in on home-court advantage for the postseason, with the San Antonio Spurs close behind.
The Warriors aren’t on the blistering pace they were last year, and they’re currently without Durant, who has been out the past month because of a sprained medial collateral ligament and bone bruise in his left knee.
The team is hopeful Durant will be back for the postseason. On Wednesday, the Warriors said Durant “has made very good progress” and “a return to game action prior to the end of the regular season remains a possibility.”
If you were a member of the NBA champion Boston Celtics during the 1983-84 season, this diamond cloverleaf ring might look familiar. Here's a look at some other NBA title rings from the past 40 years.
NBA Photos/NBAE/Getty Images
The Los Angeles Lakers' ring in 1985 featured a diamond basketball to resemble the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
NBA Photos/NBAE/Getty Images
In 1987, the Lakers marked their fifth Los Angeles title with five diamonds on the front of the ring. Note the name Johnson on the side -- this was the ring for Lakers star Magic Johnson.
NBA Photos/NBAE/Getty Images
The ring for the 1989-90 Detroit Pistons featured a large diamond surrounded by 20 smaller diamonds. On the side of the ring are the words "back to back" -- signifying the team's consecutive championships.
NBA Photos/NBAE/Getty Images
The Chicago Bulls' ring in 1993 featured a jewel-encrusted red bull. Note the name Jordan -- as in Bulls iconic guard Michael Jordan -- on the side of the ring.
NBA Photos/NBAE/Getty Images
The Houston Rockets' ring in 1994 featured the Rockets logo, 14 diamonds and the words "Clutch City" on the side. It was their first of back-to-back titles.
NBA Photos/NBAE/Getty Images
During the 1995-96 season, the Chicago Bulls set an NBA record by winning 72 regular-season games. They went on to win the title and this ring, which signifies the franchise's fourth championship.
NBA Photos/NBAE/Getty Images
Ever seen spurs made of diamonds and gold? You have now. This ring comes from the San Antonio Spurs' championship season in 1998-99.
NBA Photos/NBAE/Getty Images
Triangles were the theme of the Los Angeles Lakers' championship ring in 2001-02. The triangles signify the team's third consecutive world title -- and they're also a nod to the team's "triangle" offense.
NBA Photos/NBAE/Getty Images
In 2003, the San Antonio Spurs won their second league title.
NBA Photos/NBAE/Getty Images
This ring was created for the Detroit Pistons' championship in 2004.
Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images
Here's Shaquille O'Neal's championship ring that he earned with the 2005-06 Miami Heat. It was the franchise's first title.
Victor Baldizon/NBAE/Getty Images
Boston Celtics fans might like these championship baubles that were made in 2008 for the team's "Big 3": Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.
Brian Babineau/NBAE/Getty Images
This 2009 championship ring includes the Lakers' logo and the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks won all the marbles in 2011. Here are three of their championship rings from that year.
Glenn James/NBAE/Getty Images
Norris Cole shows off the championship ring he won with the Miami Heat in 2014.
David Dow/NBAE/Getty Images
Here's the ring Stephen Curry -- No. 30 -- won for his contribution to the Golden State Warriors' championship in 2015.
Noah Graham/NBAE/Getty Images
In 2016, the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrated their first NBA championship with this ring featuring the team logo.
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images
The evolution of the NBA title ring
But even if Durant isn’t available, the 2016 runners-up and 2015 champs are still title favorites. Can anyone else make waves in the West? The Spurs – in the playoffs for the 20th consecutive season – are 2-1 against the Warriors this season.
The Houston Rockets, led by MVP candidate James Harden, are making a run as well. However, they went 1-3 against the Warriors in the regular season.
In the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers don’t have a stranglehold on the top spot. This year, the reigning champs are in a battle with the Boston Celtics for the No. 1 seed, and having home-court advantage could be pivotal should the two teams face each other in a best-of-seven series in the Eastern Conference finals.
And lately, Cleveland hasn’t rocked. The Cavs went 7-10 in the month of March and have dropped five out of their last eight games.
“We’re just in a bad spot right now,” James said after losing to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday. “Not disappointed with the effort. We’re just in a bad spot. We’re going to try to figure it out.”
Also lurking nearby in the East are the Toronto Raptors, who reached the Eastern Conference finals last season, and the Washington Wizards.
Additionally, look out for potential upsets in the early rounds. Depending on where they’re seeded, triple-double machine Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder could scare a first-round opponent in the West.Westbrook has 39 triple doubles, two away from tying Oscar Robertson for the most in a season.
In the East, the Miami Heat – who started the season 11-30 – have been scorching down the stretch. Now, it appears they’ll reach the playoffs and will be a team no one wants to play.
But make no mistake: Everyone is chasing Golden State. And for the third year in a row, a Cavs-Warriors NBA Finals is a real possibility. Will it happen again? Stay tuned.
