If the Mavs finish with the 2nd or 3rd best record in the west, are they eligible for the 2 or 3 seed, or do they automatically slide all the way to 4 because they wouldn't be a division winner?

On espn.com's playoff matchup page, it has dallas as the current 2 seed.

if they have to drop all the way to 4th and play the spurs in the 2nd round, it seems pretty unfair to both them and the spurs.

If they finish as the best non-division winner in the West, they will be seeded where their record ranks them.

So if they finish 2nd in the West behind the Spurs, they will be seeded 2nd.

If they finish 3rd in the West behind SA and LA, they will be seeded 3rd.

The three division winners and best non-division winner get seeded 1 through 4 based on record. The NBA changed it to this to ensure that the teams with the 2 best records in the conference don't play until the conference finals. They changed this after 2006 I believe when San Antonio and Dallas had the 2 best records (both 60+ wins?) and they played in the conference semis, not conference finals.

I'd love the standings to end just as they are right now. Spurs with #1 seed throughout and playing a Utah team waiting to die in the first round, winner of OKC/NO in the second round. In the meantime the Lakers and Mavs get to kill each other off. In the East Boston likely gets Orlando in the 2nd Round and the winner of Chicago/Miami for the Finals.

OK, so just to be clear, the division winner is still guaranteed at least the 4th seed, even if they had the 6th best record in the conference?

That is correct, sir.

However, home court advantage is dictated by record. So it's possible that that 5th seed could have home court advantage in the first round.

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In the meantime the Lakers and Mavs get to kill each other off.

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Absolutely. The best part about finishing first is we are guaranteed to only have to play one of them, and not until the WCF. Of course this is assuming they finish 2 and 3.

If things finish the way they are now, it would be fantastic.

When you compare the Mavs remaining schedule to the Lakers, it is clear that the Mavs will finish 2nd and LA either 3rd or 4th--unless the Mavs just completely fall apart.

OKC might be able to steal the 3rd spot, as they are only 2 games behind the Lakers right now and by eyeballing it, they appear to have a slightly easier schedule than the Lakers to close out the season.

As much as the Lakers have disappointed this season, I sure as heck wouldn't want to play them in round 2. It's safe to assume they'd want to avoid the Spurs as well, so let's hope they pick it up and don't let OKC catch em.

Meanwhile, the two time defending champs are down 9 to the worst team in the league with 3:50 left to play in the 4th.

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unless the Mavs just completely fall apart.

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They usually wait for the playoffs to let the wheels come off