5 NBA teams to watch out for during the final stretch of the regular season

With under 30 regular season games left on every team's plate, the finish line is visible at the horizon. The NBA Playoffs tip-off on April 18th and teams will be itching to give it their all in these final few games to fabricate a solid foundation for a deep postseason run.

While the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers have separated themselves from the pack, the rest of the promising squads are playing for a better playoff seeding and eventually, home-court advantage. A closer look at the crammed standings in each conference gives us a feeling that a bunch of teams won't enter the postseason with their current rankings.

With the All-Star break done and dusted, it is time to get back to business as usual. Franchises will set their sights on the matchups remaining in the 2019-20 regular season and hustle with their opponents to collect as many wins as they can.

Let's skim through those five squads on whom we should definitely keep an eye during this final stretch of 20 odd games.

#1 New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans were 17-27 when Zion was sidelined

Ever since Zion Williamson's debut on January 22, the New Orleans Pelicans are 7-5 and showing an evident surge in intensity. The team held the second-worst record in the West for a long time, despite Brandon Ingram putting together All-Star numbers.

As of now, the Pels are sitting at the 10th spot on the West standings with a much improved 25-32 (0.439) win-loss record. Having won seven of their last ten matchups, NOLA has kicked into top gear at just the right time.

They are just 3.5 games behind the eighth seed Memphis Grizzlies and hoping to make a legit playoff push down the stretch. They're playing every game with a new-found drive and have the third easiest remaining schedule for this last stretch. It would be interesting to see how and if this young core edges past the Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies to bag a playoff spot at the eleventh hour.

#2 Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers are stacking their roster to the brim.

With the starting and bench lineup stuffed with quality talent, the Los Angeles Clippers are yet to impress in an extraordinary fashion. Recently, Kawhi Leonard and co. have dropped three straight games, with the latest loss coming against the ailing Sacramento Kings.

There have been genuine reports of an undercurrent of locker room issues, but the abundance of professional ballers on the roster has managed to take over. However, the team is evidently lacking a veritable desire to win despite possessing adequate personnel onboard.

After having lost four of their last five, the Clippers are somehow hanging onto their third spot on the West standings with an underwhelming 37-19 (0.661) record. They don't have the hardest remaining schedule in the league by a mile and should look to patch their pieces together before adversity hits in the form of the postseason.

#3 Portland Trail Blazers

Portland have the 5th easiest remaining schedule.

After having dropped three in a row, the Portland Trail Blazers managed to register a much-needed win against the Detroit Pistons, fueled by Carmelo Anthony's epic night. Sifting through a season marred by injuries to key names, Damian Lillard and his Blazers are on the verge of missing the playoffs this year.

With only 24 games left, Portland currently stand 3 games behind the eighth seed Memphis Grizzlies, with an unimpressive 26-32 (0.439) win-loss record. Lillard's scoring rampage and Melo's shooting touch is projected to make up for an exciting end to what has otherwise been a disappointing overall campaign for this team.

#4 Houston Rockets

The Rockets are using small ball in its most extreme form.

The Houston Rockets traded away Clint Capela and acquired 3-and-D wing Robert Convington, to fortify their small-ball lineup. Furthermore, they added Jeff Green and DeMarre Carroll to the rotation and have never looked back since.

Coach Mike D'Antoni is pulling all stops to alleviate player matchup problems on defense and improve their playoff seeding by choosing to play without a bonafide center on the roster. Not only does it sound like a risky proposition heading into the playoffs, but the consequences of fielding a 6-foot-5 PJ Tucker at the center spot are also indeed stifling.

Although they have some of the easiest games at hand during this final stretch, Houston's bold experiment will be examined closely at each step.

#5 Miami Heat

The Heat have been one of the most exciting team this season.

The Miami Heat lost six of their last ten games and as a result, slipped to the fourth spot on the East standings. Their current 36-20 (0.643) record deserves to be better, considering the revolutionary year they've had so far.

The inclusion of Andre Iguodala has seen him coming off the bench to average 4.6 points, 4.8 boards and 1.6 assists per game so far. Miami would be looking to elevate those numbers if they plan on using Iggy's postseason expertise on both ends of the floor. Moreover, Jimmy Butler (personal) and Tyler Herro (right ankle) have both missed games lately.

It would be interesting to see if this dynamic squad steps up to finish as a top 3 seed in the East and solidify Erik Spoelstra's case even more for the 'Coach of the Year' honors.