The NBA season is almost over, and teams across the NBA are preparing for their final push to the playoffs. Four teams in the Western Conference have been battling for the top seed all season. Adding pieces before the trade deadline in hopes of securing homecourt advantage for the entirety of the Western Conference playoffs. Each team is distinctively different. Ranging in experience and playstyle. With the fourth place team only being three games back from first place. Increasing the importance of each remaining game this season. There is still a lot of basketball played. As it stands, the top spot is up for grabs. Below we look at each of the four teams, and how legitimate of contenders they are.
Minnesota Timberwolves
RECORD: 41-17
GB: 0
PROJECTED STARTERS: Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert
DEADLINE ACQUISITIONS: Monte Morris
Led by two former number one picks, Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards, the Minnesota Timberwolves have taken the league by storm. Unexpectedly becoming one of the NBA’s top teams. Currently sitting in first place in the Western Conference. Anthony Edwards has now made Minnesota his team. Something debatable when first drafted in 2020. Who’s team would it be Towns or Edwards? A question no longer, as Edwards is on his way to superstardom.
The duo Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns has made for one of the league’s best frontcourts. A trade that was seen as one of the league’s worst trades in recent memory, trading for Gobert to pair him with Towns, has done a complete 180. Create matchup issues for almost every team. Having a lineup with two seven footers. One of the league’s best shooting bigs, and one of the best defenders. Along with Naz Reid off the bench, Minnesota arguably has the best bigs in the league. Making for one of the league’s biggest lineups.
Experience is the biggest thing playing against Minnesota currently. Being led by one of the league’s youngest stars. Last season the Wolves were eliminated in round one by the eventual champions Denver Nuggets. Clawing their way out of the play-in tournament, and finishing with the eighth seed in the Western Conference. Bruce Brown, a former Nuggets player during the 2022-2023 championship run, would go on to state Minnesota was their hardest matchup of the playoffs. Meaning Minnesota’s regular season run is no fluke, and they should be one of the most feared teams heading into the playoffs.
Oklahoma City Thunder
RECORD: 41-17
GB: 0
PROJECTED STARTERS: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren
DEADLINE ACQUISITIONS: Gordon Hayward
The rebuild is finally over. The NBA’s most unexpected, contender Oklahoma City Thunder, has been a force to be reckoned with. Tying with Minnesota for the second best record in the NBA, and best record in the Western Conference. Doing so while being one of the youngest teams in the NBA. Superstar guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is performing once again at an MVP level; however, this time winning basketball games. Averaging 31.2 PPG, 5.6 REBs, and 6.5 ASTs. Good enough for second place in the MVP race behind Nikola Jokic. At the deadline, OKC made a deal with Charlotte that would send Gordon Hayward to the Thunder. Add in young pieces like Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams alongside SGA, and you have a trio ready to terrorize the NBA for the foreseeable future.
The Thunder’s years of rebuilding have put them in a position where they are comfortable for some time. Stocking up on draft picks, and using them as assets to go and grab pieces to build a championship roster. Last season the Thunder began to find their stride late. Finishing their season in the play-in race before eventually losing and falling out of the playoffs. However, last season we did not get to see current rookie sensation Chet Holmgren. With the addition of Holmgren, the Thunder went from one of the NBA’s most promising teams to one of the NBA’s elites. Therefore, with Shai receiving first-team All-NBA Honors, it is safe to assume the Thunder would have been in playoff contention last season. Likely still finding themselves eliminated early, but gaining valuable experience.
Oklahoma City has long been known for having one of the best playoff environments in the NBA. Having one of the NBA’s most passionate fanbases. The past few postseasons have been quiet in OKC; however, we can expect all of that to change. Bringing back one of the best homecourt advantages across the league. Many OKC fans remember the days of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant dominating the NBA. Now it’s time for the Shai-Gilgeous Alexander and Chet Holmgren duo, as the two will play in their first ever post season together. Whoever OKC plays in the first round will be no slouch, as currently the Lakers, Warriors, Mavericks, and Kings occupy the play-in spots. All teams have playoff experience. The thunder’s lack of size is one huge area of concern. Rostering one center in Bismack Biyombo. Making size their biggest weakness heading into the postseason. Though the Thunder are one of the league’s elites, they have a challenge in any team they face in the playoffs.
Denver Nuggets
RECORD: 39-19
GB: 1.5
PROJECTED STARTERS: Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic
DEADLINE ACQUISITIONS: N/A
The reigning NBA Champions, led by two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, are once again one of the NBA’s premier teams. Currently sitting in third place in a competitive Western Conference. The NBA still has yet to figure out the duo of Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic. Making for one of the league’s deadliest one-two punches, as either is a threat to terrorize defenders any given night. Add in the unselfishness of Jokic, and shooters such as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Michael Porter Jr., Denver is giving opponents fits on defense every night. Playing a style of team basketball similar to the San Antonio Spurs or Golden State Warriors.
Denver will head into the playoffs with a target on their backs. Being the league’s defending champions, every team they face will be eager to dethrone the kings. Nikola Jokic is once again putting up MVP numbers. Averaging 26.1 PPG, 12.3 REB, and 9.3 ASTs, and reaching a career milestone of a triple double against each of the NBA’s 30 teams. Joining only Lebron James and Russell Westbrook to achieve those honors. Jokic is currently the favorite to win the MVP this season. Adding a potential third to an already historic career.
Championship experience is one of the most valuable, as now the Denver Nuggets know what it takes to reach their goals. However, if the Nuggets want to repeat, they’ll have to work even harder. As every team in the Western Conference has been gameplaning for Jokic and Murray all season. Hoping to stop their seemingly unstoppable two-man game. However, the lack of size in the Western Conference should play in Denver’s favor. Nikola Jokic is one of the league’s toughest covers at center. The only teams in the conference who match up with Denver in terms of size are the Lakers and Timberwolves. With Denver currently sitting in third place, we could potentially see a rematch of the Nuggets and Timberwolves in round two of the playoffs. Potentially altering the outcome of the rest of the playoffs.
Los Angeles Clippers
RECORD: 37-19
GB: 3
PROJECTED STARTERS: James Harden, Terrance Mann, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac
DEADLINE ACQUISITIONS: N/A
One of the league’s biggest what-ifs ever since the team up of superstars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George has seemed to catch their stride. With a record of 34-17 since acquiring James Harden earlier this season. An experiment that many saw as a failure early in the season, as there were too many stars and only one ball. Leonard’s availability this season is also noteworthy. Playing in as many games as he did last season, and recording his most efficient season in his career. With career high percentages in every shooting category. With Harden’s ascension as a playmaker since leaving Houston, George and Kawhi now have a point guard who can set the table for them and give them easy baskets. Add in Harden’s ability to score, the Clippers are a threat to outscore you any given night. Creating matchup problems for defenses across the league.
The Clippers’ dominance this season should come as no surprise. Pairing arguably the league’s best coach with arguably the league’s best wing duo. Last season was another season plagued by injuries for the Clippers, and yet another year wasted in the Kawhi Leonard and Paul George experiment. The league has yet to see the duo in a playoff series, as the two have barely seen the court together in previous seasons. With another injury to Leonard in the playoffs last season. Losing to the Phoenix Suns in the first round. However, with their resumes of postseason excellence in the past, we can expect the duo to live up to the hype come playoff time.
As it currently stands, the fourth seed Clippers are viewed as the second biggest threat to come out of the West according to Vegas behind Denver. Marking another year where it is ring or bust for the squad. With the acquisition of James Harden earlier this season and Russell Westbrook last season, the Clippers will have a list of aging stars with championship experience and aspirations. With Kawhi Leonard winning finals MVP in 2019, and Harden and Westbrook competing in the 2012 NBA finals losing to Lebron James and the Miami Heat. Height will be one of the main concerns for the Clippers, as they only have two bigmen on a roster filled with guard and wing depth. Something that may potentially be an issue if they were to face a team with size similar to Denver and Minnesota. However, with the team’s experience and the coaching of Ty Lue, we can expect the Clippers to have a strategy to overcome this come playoff time. A potential rematch of last season’s playoff matchup against Phoenix is currently looming, as Phoenix is sitting in sixth place. Regardless of who they face, the Clippers will be one of the NBA’s most threatening teams come playoff time
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