There’s a big dropoff, IMO, from the top 3 in the west (Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets) to the next tier (Houston, Jazz, Thunder, Mavs). The 4-8 playoff order in the west probably won’t be determined until the last week of the season. Key for any team in that tier is to avoid dropping to spots 6,7,8 which likely won’t survive the first round — in other words stay in the top half of that tier.