:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/29980245/120377953.0.jpg)
With a dozen or so games--depending on the team--remaining in the NBA D-League regular season, each game counts now more than ever. With the playoff picture appearing so close from top to bottom, let's take a look the top 10 teams and what the future holds for them.
If the playoffs were to start Thursday, Idaho is on the outside looking. Texas has won five games in a row, making an unlikely push for the eighth and final playoff spot as well.
| Seed |
Team Name |
Record |
Average Opp. Win % |
Home | Away |
|
1 |
Rio Grande Valley Vipers | 27-13 | .475 | 7 | 4 |
| 2 | Fort Wayne Mad Ants | 24-15 | .429 | 6 | 5 |
| 3 |
Reno Bighorns |
24-15 | .545 | 5 | 6 |
| 4 | Canton Charge | 25-16 | .479 | 3 | 6 |
| 5 | Los Angeles D-Fenders | 23-15 | .524 | 5 | 7 |
| 6 | Santa Cruz Warriors | 24-17 | .521 | 5 | 4 |
| 7 | Sioux Falls SkyForce | 24-17 | .473 | 5 | 4 |
| 8 | Iowa Energy | 22-16 | .554 | 8 | 4 |
| 9 | Idaho Stampede | 21-19 | .575 | 5 | 5 |
| 10 | Texas Legends | 20-22 | .483 | 8 | 4 |
Currently, the top two teams (Rio Grande Valley and Fort Wayne), each have the easiest schedules remaining, while ninth-place Idaho arguably has the toughest remaining schedule.
Nobody will challenge likely the Vipers for the top seed at this point in the season, but every other seed is up for grabs right now.
Who will finish the season strong? Besides the Legends' late season surge, both Rio Grande Valley and Fort Wayne are 7-3 over their last 10 games. It's no coincidence both teams find themselves at the top of the D-League standings.
Only five D-League teams have winning road records this season--Rio Grande Valley (13-8), Fort Wayne (11-9), Reno,(10-9) Los Angeles (10-8) and Santa Cruz (11-10), all of which are playoff bound if the postseason started today.
Here are some solid playoff seeding predictions.
| Seed | Team Name |
| 1 | Rio Grande Valley Vipers |
| 2 | Fort Wayne Mad Ants |
| 3 |
Reno Bighorns |
| 4 | Santa Cruz Warriors |
| 5 | Canton Charge |
| 6 | Los Angeles D-Fenders |
| 7 | Iowa Energy |
| 8 | Sioux Falls SkyForce |