As we get closer to the 2014 NBA Playoffs, the push to secure a playoff berth and playoff positioning is the daily topic of conversation around the league. Let's take a look at five teams who are fighting for their playoff lives and the positioning to move on past the first round.

Tom Thibodeau's impact on point guards with the Chicago Bulls

There's something about Tom Thibodeau and the impact he has on point guards. He helped accelerate the natural growth of Derrick Rose immediately when he took over as coach of the Bulls. When Rose went down, he created an environment for Nate Robinson to thrive in as a reserve scorer who changed the game. This season, he's helped turn D.J. Augustin into a real NBA point guard.

Augustin struggled everywhere he played after his first two seasons with the Charlotte Bobcats. He became a shooter who couldn't shoot and struggled in his stop with the Indiana Pacers and his brief stint with the Toronto Raptors. Picked up off the NBA scrap heap, Thibodeau has helped Augustin become a weapon once again. He's averaging 14.9 points and 5.0 assists in 30.4 minutes. He's even regained his stroke from outside with a 41.3 percent accuracy from downtown. Perhaps Thibodeau is some kind of point guard whisperer. Imagine what he could do with Jimmer Fredette.

Zach Randolph stepped up for the Memphis Grizzlies 

Zach Randolph's 32-point, nine-rebound effort in the playoff-clinching win over the Phoenix Suns Monday night was huge and showed the impact he's had on the Grizzlies during their most important stretch of the season. Over his last five games, the Grizzlies have excelled on offense with him on the floor. They've scored 110.3 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor, and while the defense hasn't been stellar, they've been good enough to win the most important games. 

During this stretch, Randolph averaged 17.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 33.0 minutes. He made 55.1 percent of his shots during these five games. After getting blown out by the San Antonio Spurs to begin this stretch, he helped them rattle off four straight wins and clinch their fourth consecutive playoff berth. The only year the Grizzlies haven't made the playoffs with Randolph on the roster was his first season with the team. 

The Atlanta Hawks' ball movement kept them alive

All season long, the Atlanta Hawks have embraced the system of first year coach Mike Budenholzer and moved the ball in an attempt to replicate what the Spurs have done for 17 years. They make the extra pass and try to work for better shots for their top shooters. When the team had a healthy Al Horford to go with Paul Millsap, Kyle Korver, and Jeff Teague, they looked like a pretty decent team out in the East. Since then, they've been decimated with injuries and have been counting on the New York Knicks being awful and their own ability to move the ball to guarantee themselves a postseason berth.

For the season "Bud Movement" on offense has kept them second in the league in assists per game when adjusting for pace. Since the All-Star break, the Hawks have had Korver play in 23 of their 30 games, Millsap play in 24 of 30, and Horford has missed every game since December 26. And yet they've managed to still register 10th in assists per game when adjusting for pace in the past 30 games. They have gone just 12-18 but considering the lineups they've thrown out there, their commitment to moving the ball and making extra passes kept them afloat and playoff bound.

Serge Ibaka as a great offensive safety valve for the Oklahoma City Thunder

Serge Ibaka has been filling in a similar role to what Chris Bosh gives the Miami Heat this season. The Oklahoma City Thunder's defensive anchor has been giving the team a huge boost on offense and his ability to be the safety valve on a drive-and-kick when superstars Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook have the ball is key to their success. Since the All-Star break, the Thunder are scoring 111.4 points per 100 with him on the floor. He's making 43.9 percent of midrange shots and 40.0 percent of his 3-point attempts.

He's been a consistent shot-maker all season long for the Thunder and has even extended his range out to the 3-point line, although he doesn't even take one per game. Ibaka has gone from being "the guy the Thunder should have traded instead of James Harden" to one of the most reliable options on the team and their best defensive player. He won't bring the flash Harden does but he's helping this team on both ends of the floor.  

DeAndre Jordan's defensive impact for the Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers surprisingly have a really good defense. They're in the top 10 in the NBA in defensive rating and effective field goal percentage given up. A big part of that has been the growth of DeAndre Jordan under the tutelage of Doc Rivers. Jordan has gone from a jump-happy shot blocker to a much more disciplined rim protector. He still makes mistakes out there and his hunting for blocks can lead to the team getting hurt on the offensive glass, but they've improved in the most important time of the game.

Last season, the Clippers had the third worst defense in crunch time situations and gave up the highest field goal percentage in the clutch. This season, they've improved to a top 10 clutch defense and allow the seventh lowest field goal percentage in clutch situations. A big part of that is Jordan buying into not having to make the highlight play but just playing solid defense. If the Clippers are going to be true contenders, Jordan will have to stay consistent on that end of the floor.