With the NBA playoffs right around the corner, everyone is fighting for playoff seeding to bolster their chances in the big dance. Looking at the Western Conference landscape, many are worthy of mention, but here are my top three Western Conference playoff teams plus an honorable mention.
Honorable Mention: Denver Nuggets
It pains me to have the Denver Nuggets as an honorable mention spot to represent the Western Conference in the finals. Despite Denver having one of the best offenses in the NBA, they are too inconsistent for me to take them as a real contender. It will genuinely take a Herculean effort by Nikola Jokić to drag this team to the finals. With Jamal Murray’s hamstring being in question and the depth of this roster, I do not see a scenario in which the Nuggets reach the finals. They have nice players in key spots. We love Jokić, but outside of their starting five that includes Michael Porter Jr. and Christian Braun, this is not a championship-level team. Jokić can’t play all 48 minutes, and when he sits; I expect this team to collapse. That is why I have them as my honorable mention team.
Third: Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are the third-best team to represent the Western Conference in the NBA finals. They have been a dominant defensive team all season long, ranking in the top 10 in many categories: points allowed per game (4th), opponent field goal percentage (7th), opponent three-point percentage (3rd), and steals per game (3rd). When healthy, we know the caliber of player Kawhi Leonard can be when the lights are at their brightest. My only question for this team is how James Harden will play in the postseason. We have seen his play dwindle when past playoffs have rolled around. This team is loaded with key players with defined roles. For example, you have your superstar, Kawhi Leonard; your facilitator; James Harden; your big man, Ivica Zubac; your pure scorer, Norman Powell; and key defensive players, such as Derrick Jones Jr. and Kris Dunn. If the bracket falls right, do not be surprised to see the Clippers make a deep postseason run.
Second: Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers will have two of the three best players on the court in any playoff series. We know come April, Luka Dončić is a walking 30-point triple-double. What this team lacks in size and height, they make up for in length. They have arguably the best player of all time in LeBron James and a nice supporting cast. Serious injuries have not plagued this team as it enters the playoffs. The Lakers will have one of the best offenses in the tournament. They are one of the dominant home teams in the NBA, with a record of 30-10 at home. They sit in third place in the Western Conference and are 3.5 games back of the Houston Rockets. The downside to this team is their two below-average defenders on the court in Dončić and Austin Reaves. They also lack a true rim protecter. However, with that being said, I LOVE the Lakers’ chances to represent the West in the finals.
First: Oklahoma City Thunder
All bias aside, there was no doubt that the Oklahoma City Thunder would be first on this list. They have the best record in the NBA and have the potential MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. What is there not to like about this team? They have their superstar and a fantastic supporting cast of young, hungry players, including Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. They also have the best defense in basketball and have been the most dominant team all season long. The only thing not to like about this team is if you can limit their points in transition and keep Shai off the free-throw line, their offense can become stagnant and challenging to execute on a night in and a night-out basis in a playoff series. However, I will give them the respect they have deserve after a dominant regular season. I have them number one in my top three teams to represent the Western Conference in the NBA finals.
Closing
The Thunder are the favorites to represent the Western Conference in the finals but don’t count out the two LA teams and Jokic and the Nuggets. It should be fun to watch these teams tussle for a spot in the finals.
