What number of wins will it take to make the playoffs?

A nice shot, but not correct. The reason is that top eight have to play with each other and the point total of the 8th seed counts.

Let us put it this way. Assume X is the number of winning games with which a NBA team can mathematically to avoid missing the playoff. X = 82 is definitely OK. But we are looking for the least possible number of X.

To find a lowest possible X, we have to assume that:
1. Top-8 teams does lose to top-8 teams only
2. Top-8 teams win roughly the same number of games.

The task has reduced to find a group of 8 teams which plays the least number of games between them.

As we know it, the teams will play at least 3 times between each other, therefore a top-team has to play at least 21 games against other top-8 teams. We can see now that the 8th seed will lose no less than 11 games. So X = 71 is good too.

I can prove X=70 is OK too. But not worth the time.

 

Even 50 W isn't guaranteed in the Western Conference.

Last time team that missed playoffs with 50+ Wins was 82' season I think or 72', can't remember exactly, doesn't matter really.

Rockets have really tough scheduele upcoming so even 14-9,13-10 overall would be great assuming that they have no Yao Ming.

Playoffs is what really matters.