Dizzying number of outcomes possible in wild Western Conference final weekend

On Saturday, the league provided fans a glimpse of all the different ways the season can end—sixty-four of them, to be exact.

Thanks to the implementation of the play-in tournament, it's never been more important to get one of the top-six seeds. Those teams get five days off between the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs while teams that finish 7-10 meet in the play-in tournament with the other teams resting.

The Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers are the likeliest teams to avoid the play-in tournament. Golden State is in the top six in 48 of the 64 potential outcomes (75 percent) with the Clippers in the top six the second-most at 36 times (56.3 percent). The Pelicans (37.5 percent, Lakers (25 percent) and Timberwolves (3.1 percent) have far fewer paths at making the top six.

Minnesota is eliminated from contention for the No. 5 seed and there are only two scenarios where the Timberwolves reach No. 6. 

Both require them to win their final two games (at San Antonio, home against New Orleans), the Clippers to lose their final two (home against Portland, at Phoenix) and the Jazz to defeat the Lakers. In both instances, Golden State would finish as the five and New Orleans seventh, followed by the Clippers (eighth) and Lakers (ninth).

Conversely, Golden State can finish no lower than eighth, meaning it will at the very least have two chances in the play-in tournament.

Anything other than that requires a rocket scientist to figure out. The best course of action is to pop a bag of popcorn, sit back and watch the pros sort it out themselves.