Final Standings Predictions – Western Conference

With about a fifth of the season remaining, the final standings can look a lot different. The top 10 spots seem to be cemented to make the post-season. The top 4 teams have separated themselves from the rest of the group and are fighting for the number 1 seed. Seeds 5 through 10 are difficult to predict since there are a lot of uncertainty and unpredictability. This is going be a close race until the end of the season. So, let’s have fun with it.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

          Throughout the entire season, the Thunder have boasted a top 5 offense and defense. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander having an MVP caliber season, Jalen Williams developing into a borderline All-Star, and Chet Holmgren providing efficient shooting and a defensive presence, they have been one of the most consistent teams in the league. The way they are playing, they should be able to stay at the top of the Western Conference.

2. Denver Nuggets

          Nikola Jokic is having another stellar season, averaging nearly a triple-double. The Nuggets looked like they were on cruise-control for most of the season, but since the All-Star break they have turned on the jets winning 8 of their last 9 games and having the 2nd best offense in that span. They have one of the best starting 5 units in the league and will continue to push for the 1 seed, but I think they ultimately fall short and land at 2nd in the West.

3. Minnesota Timberwolves

          The Timberwolves have been in 1st place in the West for the majority of the season. They have been dominant on the defensive side of the ball boasting the number 1 defense in the league led by Rudy Gobert, the clear favorite for DPOY. Even with Anthony Edwards becoming a superstar in the making, their offense has been middle of the pack, and with Karl Anthony-Towns out for about a month, I can’t see them taking back the 1 seed. I have them finishing in 3rd place.

4. Los Angeles Clippers

          It has been an up and down season for the Clippers. After they traded for James Harden they lost 6 straight games, but from November 17th to February 5th, they were the hottest team in the league going 31-8 with the number 1 offense in that span. Since then, they have not looked the same going 7-7 over their last 14 games. They have proven they can be one of the best teams in the league. They are a few games ahead of 5th place, so they should stay where they are in 4th place.

5. New Orleans Pelicans

          The Pelicans have had a quietly good season with little hype surrounding this team. They have been top 10 in offense and defense all season, and the number 1 defense since the All-Star break. This team might be a great regular season team, but I have questions about them when the playoffs start. They are solid all around and good enough to stay in 5th place.

6. Sacramento Kings

          De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis are playing their best basketball of their careers, with Fox averaging a career best 27.2 ppg and Sabonis with career highs in rebound and assists per game. Sabonis is also leading the league in triple-doubles with 22 this season. Since the All-Star break the Kings have the 3rd best offense, but they also have the 4th worst defense. Their defense is what’s going to hold them back from climbing up the standings, but their offense is good enough to beat anyone. They should avoid the play-in and stay in 6th place.

7. Phoenix Suns

          The Suns have had injuries all season long, and it doesn’t help that their bench is not very deep. Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal have only played in 23 games together so far, but when they are all healthy, they have a 10.1 net rating and can beat anyone. With the toughest schedule remaining paired with the injury concerns, I have a hard time believing they can move up the standings. They should be able to hold on to the 7th seed.

8. Golden State Warriors

          This is a weird year for the Warriors. They have kept the championship core group together and are trying to develop their young players. It’s been a mixed bag of great stretches and bad stretches. Steph Curry is still playing at an elite level, Jonathan Kuminga is developing into a really good player, and Brandin Podziemski is having a great rookie season. They have the 5th easiest schedule remaining, so they can put together enough wins to get to the 8 seed.

9. Los Angeles Lakers

          This Lakers team should be better than they are. Throughout the entire season, they have been bottom half of the league in both offense and defense. Since January 15th, the Lakers are 2nd in the league on offense but are in the bottom 5 on defense. You can never count out LeBron James in the playoffs, but the Lakers are a veteran team who haven’t had good regular seasons the past 2 years. They will finish in the play-in again, but they might make a run in the playoffs just like last year.

10. Dallas Mavericks

          Luka Doncic is having the best statistical season of his career. If the Mavs were at the top of the Western Conference, he would be the favorite to win the MVP. They had a good stretch in February with a 7-game winning streak, and were looking like a contending team. However, since the All-Star break they are 5-5 and boast the worst defense in the league by far. If they can put it together, they can end up in a better spot, but right now I see them falling all the way to the 10th spot. 

11. Houston Rockets

          Alperen Sengun is emerging into an all-star caliber player for the Rockets posting career high number in almost every statistical category. He can become the face of the team for years to come. As for this year, they had a good start to the season with a 13-9 record, but have fallen out of the playoff race. They have a bottom 10 offense, but the bright spot on this team is their defense, which is 7th in the league. If they can develop their young players they can make a jump into the playoff race next season. As for now, they will remain just out of the play-in at 11th in the West.

12. Utah Jazz

          The Jazz are in their 2nd year of their rebuild, and they already have a centerpiece with Lauri Markkanen. For most of the season they have been bad on both sides of the ball, but during a stretch from December 13th to January 15th, they went 15-4 and had a top 10 offense and were top half in the league on defense. It’s a small sample size to what this team can become with the right development. They aren’t there this season, as they will finish 12th in the Western Conference.

13. Memphis Grizzlies

          This is a lost season for the Grizzlies with Ja Morant’s suspension and significant injuries to Morant and Desmond Bane. The positive side of this season is that this is a development year for the young players on the roster. With a healthy roster next season, they will regroup and get back to being a contender in the West. As for this season, they will end up toward the bottom of the West.

14. Portland Trailblazers

          The Trail Blazers put together an interesting team with a mix of young developing players and starting caliber veterans. It’s safe to say it hasn’t panned out the way they hoped. They have a group of young guards to build around in Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Anfernee Simons, so it isn’t a total loss of a season. They will finish bottom of the West in 14th place.

15. San Antonio Spurs

          The Spurs have found their guy in Victor Wembanyama, and he has lived up to the hype. He’s the clear favorite to win Rookie of the Year, averaging a double-double and already leading the league in blocks per game. The Spurs have a few legitimate role players on the roster, but the need more talent to pull them out of the bottom of the West, which is where they will finish for the 2nd year in a row.