Western Conference Standings Positions Predictions
The Western Conference has won more championships in 20 years than the East, twelve to eight. Regardless, the East has been on the rise, and records within the East have been farther and farther apart while the West is very close. Last year the Lakers were able to secure a playoff spot based on one game, which rose then from eleventh to eighth in the West. But this year, I feel, will be very different.
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1/ Denver Nuggets
The champions have to stay on top. Despite having the worst record in the West for most of this season, they stayed on top in a very closely battled Western Conference.
2/ Los Angeles Lakers
The contingency here is that Anthony Davis stays healthy; if he cannot, expect the Lakers to drop to the fifth or eighth seed.
3/ Sacramento Kings
After recently signing the European League MVP, Aleksandar Vezenkov, the Kings are bound to continue moving up.
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4/ Los Angeles Clippers
If Kawhi Leonard and Paul George can stay healthy, I believe they have a genuine shot at a high seed. However, don’t expect this to happen.
5/ Phoenix Suns
In my eyes, Kevin Durant made a lateral move from the Brooklyn Nets to Phoenix Suns. I believe he will stay about the same as if he were still in Brooklyn.
6/ Memphis Grizzlies
Just because Ja Morant will be out for a good quarter of the season, it’s hard to see Memphis in a top-five seed.
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7/Dallas Mavericks
8/ Golden State Warriors
9/ New Orleans Pelicans
11/ Oklahoma City Thunder
Chet Holmgren and a lot of these new guys are going to shock the NBA. I wouldn’t be surprised if they ranked anywhere from ninth to the eleventh seed.
12/ Minnesota Timberwolves
TIM REYNOLDS, Associated Press
13/San Antonio Spurs
Wemby is not the player they think he is, at least not yet. He just got drafted, and San Antonio won't put too much pressure on him to win right away. That’s not the way Greg Popovich likes to run his team.
14/ Houston Rockets
15/ Utah Jazz
