The Western Conference is so deep that there might be a dozen teams with a realistic chance of making the playoffs. Who has the best chance of making the finals?
Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving had a terrific playoff run last season and now they add Klay Thompson to the mix. If Klay can find his shooting stroke, Dallas can make another deep run.
Denver Nuggets
Any team with Jokic and Jamal Murray is going to have a chance. It just feels like the other teams in the Western Conference have gotten stronger, and I’m not sure that Denver has.
Golden State Warriors
This is a new, younger Warriors team that shoots the ball really well, but the question is how they are going to stack up against teams that have more rebounding and big men.
Houston Rockets
I’m a huge fan of the Rockets and think that they’re way deeper than most people realize. They’re also supremely well-coached. If they can get into the playoffs, their defense might allow them to make a deep run.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers lost Paul George to the Philadelphia 76ers, and I think that will diminish their chances of making an impact in the Western Conference.
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Los Angeles Lakers
It’s going to be a very interesting season for the Lakers. They have a new coach (JJ Reddick) and we’re going to get to see Bronnie James play with his father. Dalton Knecht was one of the best players that I saw in the NBA Summer League; it’ll be interesting to see if he gets enough opportunity to play.
Memphis Grizzlies
It’s easy to forget how good Ja Morant is, but when he’s on the court, he’s one of the best players in the NBA. They also drafted Zach Edey, who’s going to be a mismatch on offense. I think Memphis is a deep sleeper this season.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota just traded Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle, Dante DiVincenzo, and a draft pick. I think this trade actually helps Minnesota, as DDV is one of the best 3-point shooters in the league, and he can give them about 25 to 30 minutes a game of run.
New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans was close to having a big season in 2023, and I think they take another step up in 2024. Zion Williamson is a mismatch against any opponent, and if Dejountae Murray can make a huge impact at point guard, they’re going to be another team that can win 50-plus games.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The one thing that Oklahoma City was missing last year was a rebounding presence and they went out and added Isaiah Hartenstein in the offseason. Hartenstein is the perfect fit for this offense as he doesn’t need the ball to score; he just needs to get rebounds and put-backs. Adding Alex Caruso was another stroke of genius, as he’s one of the best defensive players in the NBA at his position.
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Phoenix Suns
This might be the last run for the Suns, who need to see their top three of Booker, Beal, and Durant finally stay healthy. If one of them gets hurt I’m not sure this team is deep enough to make the playoffs.
Portland Trail Blazers
Portland is still about two or three seasons away from making the playoffs, but I do like the addition of Donovan Clingan, as well as the playmaking ability of Scoot Henderson.
Sacramento Kings
Sacramento brought in DeMar DeRozan who is an offensive scoring machine to go along with Fox and Sabonis who are already All Stars. They’re very well coached and I think they’re going to be a tough out in the playoffs.
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs added Chris Paul in the offseason to provide some stability on offense. They have a freakish talent in Wemby, who is probably the most fun player to watch in the NBA, but I still think they need another player or two if they want to make the playoffs this season.
Utah Jazz
The Jazz always find a way to do the most with the least amount of talent. Danny Ainge is acquiring picks and will find a way to improve this team while staying somewhat relevant.