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A simple guide to the Spurs' potential playoff seeding

The seeding situation in the Western Conference is complex. Let's try to make it simple by running through the scenarios that could land the Spurs second, third, fifth or sixth in the West.

"So if the Rockets lose but the Grizzlies win..."
"So if the Rockets lose but the Grizzlies win..."
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

It's the last day of the regular season and seeding in the Western conference has not been decided yet. The Spurs control their own destiny and could clinch the second seed with a win. That's the most important thing to remember. But they could also finish second even if they lose and could slide down all the way to sixth if certain results happen.

That's why we've created this cheat sheet for you to easily be able to figure out where the Spurs will end up depending on who wins and who loses among the teams still vying for position.

The Spurs will finish with the second seed if:

They beat the Pelicans. The other results don't matter.

The Spurs will finish with the third seed if:

They lose to the Pelicans and the Rockets lose.

The Spurs will finish with the fifth seed if:

They lose to the Pelicans, the Rockets win and the Grizzlies lose.

The Spurs will finish with the sixth seed if:

They lose to the Pelicans and the Rockets and Grizzlies win.

Potential opponents for every seed:

The Spurs have a very good chance to finish with the second seed. If that happens, they will face the Mavericks in the first round. If they finish fifth, they will face the Trail Blazers with homecourt advantage, since they have a better record. Those appear to be, on paper, they easiest matchups.

If they finish third they would face either the Rockets or the Grizzlies but will have homecourt advantage. If they finish sixth, they will face the Clippers without homecourt advantage.