The NBA Western Conference: My perception

I’m going to have a look at the state of play in the Western conference as of me writing this. I just wanna give a few of my thoughts on the teams in there and where I think they are going for the rest of the season and with some a closer look at beyond that. I’ll start off talking about the teams at the bottom and working my way up.

L.A Lakers

This has been a historically bad season for the Lakers. They have had numerous injuries to key men such as Kobe and Nash and they have played an assortment of misfits throughout the season. They are officially out of the playoff race and can now build to the future. The Lakers going forward have a bright future. Kobe will return from injury and knowing him will pick up where he left off. Despite all his injuries I just can’t see his performance dropping. Steve Nash on the other hand is a lost cause. His return the other night where he got 9 assists in only 11 minutes play was encouraging but he is now 40 years old and next season will definitely be his last in basketball. Pau Gasol will go this summer which he really needs as for years he’s been blamed for the Lakers failures. They will have a high draft pick this summer as their awful record will give them an opportunity of a top five pick. If they draft correctly and use the money they will save from Gasol leaving and if they decided to waive Nash they could make a play for a good free agent (Melo) and the rebuilding process can be advanced. I know Kobe has done so much for the Lakers but the max extension they gave him could come back to haunt them as it will stop them from building a big three philosophy that seems to be sweeping the league. This season was a disaster but with the right decision the future is bright and one of those right decisions I believe will be too get rid of Mike D’Antoni who has clearly lost the respect of Kobe Bryant. If Kobe doesn’t like you then I’m afraid its more than likely goodbye. I don’t think too many Lakers fans will lose sleep if they decide to do this.

Utah Jazz

Anyone who thought the Jazz would be a good team this season seriously needed their head checking. Letting their two best players in Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap leave in free agency with the idea of freeing up more time for Enes Kanter and Derrick Favours was probably the right choice in the long-term as both player could develop to be very good players but in the short-term was always going to result in a losing record and a season of tanking. The Jazz have some good young pieces in those two, Alec Burks, Trey Burke and Gordon Hayward (as long as they decide to retain him in restricted free agency) and plenty of cap room with Richard Jefferson and Andris Biedrins coming off the books this summer so as long as they draft correctly this summer and use their cap space efficiently they won’t be down here too long either.

Sacramento Kings

Do you know what? I actually like the Kings. They have some very good players. DeMarcus Cousins is going to be a great player. If he can lose his attitude problem then he will become one of the dominant big men especially on the offensive end. Rudy Gay is a different man and if he can continue to play like he has then he can really help the Kings. I would expect next season he may resort to his old ways as he is in a contract year and we all know what he is usually like. Isiah Thomas is a very underrated point guard and just seems to keep getting better. They have a couple of young players I would love to see take the next step and breakout in Ben Mclemore and Derrick Williams. If they can both take the next step and improve then the Kings will have a good starting five. I still think they are a few years in the works so Kings fans should continue to be patient for the future.

New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans should just write off this season and focus on the future. They have a potential superstar in Anthony Davis who is going to be an absolute beast. He’s really broken out this season and I just see him getting better and better. The team around him though I’m not too sure on. They’ve had an injury hit year but still I don’t really think they will get much better. Tyreke Evans has shown glimpses but he still doesn’t no his proper position plus he is such a similar player to Eric Gordon and Jrue Holiday I just don’t see them all meshing. They have the same problem as the Kings they have too many ball dominant players who don’t like to share. The Pelicans should consider trading one of the three of these and get more of a team player to compliment Davis. They need to really build all around Davis and know one else. He is the future of this Franchise and to be successful they need to play to his strengths.

Denver Nuggets

Oh how times have changed for the Nuggets. Last season they were almost unbeatable at home and this year they are a joke. Losing Iguodala in the offseason was a massive mistake and the season ending injuries to both Gallinari and McGee have destroyed them. Even with those two returning next year I don’t see them being a legitimate threat to anyone in fact I see them as one of the weakest teams in the strong West. Teh lack of an elite player since they traded Melo will mean that they will never be a title contender. Losing George Karl as well last year was a ridiculous decision as Brian Shaws system does not suit the players at his disposal. The Nuggets need to look to shake things up this offseason if they want to become relevant again. Even if they do shake things up I can’t even see them being playoff contenders.

Minnesota Timberwolves

I was so excited to see the Timberwolves in action this season. Their main problems before this year was a lack of 3pt shooting and so so many injuries. This season they had the 3pt shooting after the arrivals of Kevin Martin and Corey Brewer and they have largely stayed clear of injuries so surely they have been amazing right? Wrong. They have been a .500 team all season long and have been awful closing out tight matches. MArtin and Brewer have been great acquisitions but their lack of a decent bench has hurt them. Ricky Rubio still doesn’t know how to shoot and has regressed massively. Pekovic is overpaid especially with the revelation of Georgiou Dieng who looks a very decent prospect. Why on earth would the best power forward in the game (with Blake Griffin) went to stay at a team who has never made the playoffs while he’s been here? The Wolves won’t keep hold of Love so they will be best at looking for trade packages for him this summer as this guy is so good he deserves the chance to win. They technically can still make the playoffs but that would need a massive win streak combined with an even bigger collapse from the teams above them. The Wolves need to plan for the future and I’m afraid for them that future will not be centered around Kevin Love.

Phoenix Suns

The Suns are the feel good story of the NBA this season. Everyone expected them to tank massively with the squad they had and then they could recruit heavily this offseason with cap space and a ton of good picks. How wrong we all were. They have been a joy to watch and so many ‘average’ players have proved they are anything but that. Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic have been one of the best backcourts in the NBA and you wonder if Bledsoe hadn’t got injured would the Suns still be right in the middle of the playoff pack and not on the fringes. That being said how ridiculously good has Gerald Green been? He is my personal most improved player and he is so fun to watch. He has a highlight dunk every game and is an elite 3pt shooter. If he can carry on playing like this then he will finally fulfill his potential. I think maybe this year the Suns will just miss out on the playoffs as the teams above them just have that little bit extra but underestimate the Suns at your own peril for next season. They are here to stay.

Memphis Grizzlies

You wonder where the Grizzlies would be if Marc Gasol hadn’t got injured at the beginning of this season. Without him the Grizzlies are an awful basketball team. With him they personify grit and grind. Their win against the Easts version of them the Pacers last night proved they are the kings of shutting teams down. Courtney Lee has been a revelation since signing and with having his 3pt shooting along with the ball handling skills of Mike Conley they are in good shape in the backcourt. I haven’t even mentioned Tony Allen and his stifling defence. Up top with Randolph and Gasol they have one of if not the most intimidating backcourt in the West. If they finish in 8th then expect the top seeds to be very worried about playing them. They will not be underestimated as remember this is the same team that went to the conference finals last year. They will want to avoid San Antonio in the first round as they destroyed them last year so expect them to finish the season very strongly. They’re not very fun to watch but trust me the Grizzlies are very very good.

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavs are an extremely fun team to watch. Offensively they are brilliant. Lead by the ageless Dirk Nowitzki they have the best shooting big man in the history of the NBA. Motna Ellis is his partner in crime and he this season has mainly resisted his gunner style. On defense and their strength in-depth is the Mavs main problem. Their front court would get destroyed on the defensive end say against the Spurs or Clippers. They won’t be able to outshoot the elite teams as those teams can null the threat of Ellis and Nowitzki out of those two I don’t see too many threats. I think the Mavs will get surpassed by the Grizzlies even though they have a favorable schedule between now and the end of the season. All of the top teams will look at them as the best draw in the lower half of the playoff bracket. I can’t see the Mavs getting through the first round but with that being said if Nowitzkki dominates anything can happen. But still they won’t get past the first round. Sorry Mavs fans.

Golden State Warriors

Ok so I’m slightly biased when it comes to the Warriors. They are my team but I’m gonna look at this in a neutral way. I don’t think the Warriors can win the NBA title this season. With that being said it wouldn’t surprise me if they did. On their day the Warriors can beat anyone. They have an elite defense lead by Bogut, Iguodala and the criminally underrated Klay Thompson. They then have the best backcourt in the NBA (not biased) in the splash brothers Curry and Thompson. If those two are hot they can destroy anyone. Hell Steph Curry by himself can destroy anyone. I’ve literally just watched the Spurs vs Warriors game and even they lost you can see why they’re a dangerous side. On the one hand they turn the ball over FAR too much and against great teams like the Spurs, Thunder or Clippers they will be destroyed but if they can sort that problem I don’t see many problems with this team. Their bench has improved dramatically with the additions of Steve Blake and Jordan Crawford with Blake taking some of the ball handling responsibility off of Curry and also giving him a rest. They sort out their turnover situation then they can beat anyone. Bogut for example destroyed Splitter in last nights game and even though he will be more than likely given the sterner test of Timmy I can still see him being big in the playoffs. If they’re hot the Warriors are an elite team. If they’re shooting poorly and turning it over better teams (the three I mentioned before) will destroy them. They’ve got a decent schedule between now and the end of the season so I can see them passing Portland but not the Rockets. Which would make a Warriors vs Rockets playoff series so interesting. If they finish sixth it will be the Clippers. Either way basketball fans are in for a treat when it comes to watch the Warriors this postseason.

Portland Trail Blazers

The Trail Blazers have been a distinctly average team for most of this season. The reason they’re so high up is because of their ridiculously hot start. They will finish in the top six this season as long as they maintain their .500 ball and they get LaMarcus Aldridge back. Offensively this team is ridiculously good but defensively they are poor. This will haunt them in the playoffs as like the Warriors they are likely to play either the Rockets or Clippers. Both teams are great on both ends and are too strong for the Blazers. But the Blazers like the Warriors can beat anyone on a given night. Aldridge and Lillard are All Stars and if both are on their game they can beat anyone. They have great pieces around them as well in 3pt shooting from Matthews, rim protecting from Lopez and criminally underrated play from Batum. Their bench is much better than last year but could still do with improving for this reason I can’t see the Blazers getting out of the first round. In the lower seeds I can only see the Warriors or Grizzlies beating a higher seed. The Blazers are almost there but they’re not quite an elite team just yet. Maybe next year.

Houston Rockets

The Rockets are good. Very good. They have a big three of such in Howard, Harden and Parsons and a ton of players who compliment them perfectly. Jones and Beverley have been brilliant this season with both being great defenders and also chipping in big points along the way. Both of these two have a great future in the NBA. Off the bench they get points from Lin, Garcia and have a great backup big in Asik making their frontcourt one of the biggest in not just the conference but the league. Howard is looking more and more like the Dwight of old. If he can continue to be dominant in the playoffs then Houston have every chance of going all the way. I haven’t even mentioned the Beard yet. He has been on a tear of late and is the best shooting guard in the league now. He will put up big numbers in the playoffs and if Howard has his back then there is no reason the rockets can go all the way. Parsons is the last piece of the Rockets puzzle as he has turned into a top 3pt shooter. Those three make up an elite trio which is comparable with the best in the conference. With rumors that the Rockets would like Melo to complete their big three this is definitely PArsons chance to show the Rockets that they don’t need to go all out for Melo as he is the missing piece of their puzzle. Expect the Rockets to contend for sure but they will have a tougher ask dispatching the Warriors than they will the Blazers. Bogut vs Howard and Curry vs Harden (in terms of point being put up) will be big big battles.

L.A Clippers

Well the Clippers are 110% the best team in L.A. Their destruction of the Lakers proved that. Now that they also have an elite coach in Doc Rivers I really think they can do it this year. In fact I would say they are my personal second Favorites to win the West (I’ll tell you number one in a bit). Chris Paul is the best point guard in the league and Blake Griffin is now the joint best Power forward in the league. His development this season has been ridiculous. Paul went down and injured and the way in which he carried the team was phenomenal. He is not just a dunker anymore that is for sure. DeAndre Jordans development as well has been staggering he is now an elite defensive player and their frontcourt of Griffin and Jordan I think is the best in the league but surpassing the Grizzlies. They have strength in-depth with Darren Collison, Glen Davis, and Matt Barnes around. They also have the best 6th man in the league in Jamal Crawford who can go off on any night. The piece though that I believe takes them over the top is Danny Granger. He is an amazing acquisition and if he can get playing time his numbers will get better and better. For this reason the Clippers are a legitimate threat and on paper are the best team maybe in the NBA not just the West. I’m fully expecting a Spurs vs Clippers final. Well not expecting more hoping as if the Warriors ain’t gonna be there then I would like the Clippers there.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Ok so hear me out here. Yes the Thunder are an amazing team. Yes they will be there or there abouts when it comes to the Western conference title. Yes they have the MVP in Kevin Durant. Yes they have the best duo in the whole league in Durant and Westbrook. But despite all of this do I think they will win the West? No. I say this and they probably will because if Durant and Westbrook are dialed in then they can beat anyone. Those two are so good that no matter who they face they can destroy. They have a good team around them but this is where I think their flaw is. They have a good team but not a great team around them. They have a gaping hole at center as big Perks is just god awful. Ibaka is a very good player and then after that they have some decent defenders and young players but know one who jumps out to me. If you’re going a 8 on 8 rotation (the playoffs will always have tighter rotations) then the Clippers, Spurs, Rockets and even in my opinion the Warriors have a better rotation. I just think the Clippers and especially the Spurs are better all around teams and Scott Brooks is a very good coach but Doc and Pop are just more experienced and are just that extra bit better. They are the Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho of the NBA. They’re winners. Also since Westbrook has got back the Thunder have been distinctly average which is very worrying for them. Without him KD was destroying everyone in his path and the team was winning. Since his return KD is still destroying everyone but they’re not winning. They need to address that if they want to win. Also with Westbrook it seems we are now waiting for him to get injured again. If he stays fit and they can all gel together again then the Thunder could be unstoppable but I just have this feeling the Clippers and Spurs are that little bit better.

San Antonio Spurs

Just wanna say I’m not a massive Spurs fan in terms of the basketball they play but my god do I respect them. They are jut so so good year after year. All these pundits write them off every year saying they’re too old. As long as they have Parker, Duncan and Pop on the bench then they will be there or thereabouts. Their rotation is perfect and Pop gets the best out of every player in that rotation. They play perfectly as a team and they have now won 12 straight and in my opinion will finish with the best record in the league. They were seconds away from winning the league last year and I expect them to be in the conference finals again this year. The one thing that may hinder them is that all of their key players are a year older. The playoffs are grueling and I do worry they may run out of steam. If I was going with a team to win the West in terms of on paper I would say the Clippers but you can never rule out the Spurs. Duncan is still a machine and why do people every year rule out Tony Parker. He is one of the top 3 point guards in this league with Westbrook and Paul. Leonard is going to be a top player and Ginobili after being written off last year is one of the 6th men of the year candidates. Add in the 3pt threat of Danny Green and Marco Bellinelli then this spurs team is so so good. They’re my tip to win the West. You should never ever bet against this team.

Predictions

This is what I reckon the playoffs will look like this year in the West

1st Round

San Antonio Spurs (1) vs Dallas Mavericks (8) – Spurs will win series 4-0. Exactly.

Houston Rockets (4) vs Golden State Warriors (5) Tough to call but the Warriors have more will win series 4-3

L.A Clippers (3) vs Portland Trail Blazers (6) L.A will win it 4-1

Oklahoma City Thunder (2) vs Memphis Grizzlies (7) The Thunder will struggle but prevail 4-2 or 4-3

Semi Finals

San Antonio Spurs (1) vs Golden State Warriors (5) The Spurs beat the Warriors without their stars in the main season and will win again much like last year 4-1 or 4-2 as I expect the Warriors to fight.

Oklahoma City Thunder (2) vs L.A Clippers (3) Blake Griffin and Chris Paul will win this battle of the superstars as they have a superior coach and group surrounding them going 4-2 to the Clippers.

Western Conference Finals

San Antonio Spurs (1) vs L.A Clippers (3) Such a hard one to call. If the Spurs have longer series than I expected then the Clippers are younger so I can see them winning but if the Spurs come in fresh I’m going with them but it will need a game 7 regardless of prior events. Spurs just 4-3