After defeating Memphis on Tuesday, the Nuggets are the Western Conference leaders, becoming the latest club to take its turn atop the West’s standings. The Nuggets, who also briefly held the No. 1 seed for a couple days in mid-November, are the fourth team to lead the West so far in December, as the conference’s would-be contenders play musical chairs with the top seeds.
Since the regular season began in October, eight different teams have held the No. 1 spot in the West, with five of those clubs spending at least six days atop the conference. Of those teams, only one has spent more than 10 days holding the top seed — the Suns have led the West for 23 days so far this season.
While the Suns look like a worthy contender to finish the season as the West’s best team, they’ve been in a tailspin in the last couple weeks, losing six of their last nine games. The absences of Cameron Johnson (due to injury) and Jae Crowder (away from the team) have hurt a club that has also dealt with injuries to starting guards Chris Paul and Devin Booker in recent weeks.
The Nuggets, the current West leader, have a strong starting group led by two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and own the conference’s second-best offense (behind Phoenix), but they still need to get more from their bench and improve their defense, which ranks 24th in the NBA.
The Trail Blazers have led the conference for 10 days so far this season, but have had some rough patches and currently hold the No. 7 seed, albeit just 2.5 games behind Denver. Like the Nuggets, they’ve had some defensive lapses and are focused on improving a unit that ranks 23rd in the league.
The Grizzlies and Jazz have each been atop the West for nine days, though they’ve appeared headed in opposite directions as of late. Even after losing their last two games, the Grizzlies have won nine of their last 12, while Utah has dropped 10 of 16 since opening the season with a 12-6 record. The Jazz have proven to be surprisingly resilient for a club viewed as a tanker entering the season, but it’s probably safe to assume the Grizzlies will be the better team the rest of the way.
The Pelicans held the West’s top seed for six days earlier this month and remain very much in the hunt for that spot, just one game behind the Nuggets. Former No. 1 pick Zion Williamson has been firing on all cylinders in the last few weeks and we still haven’t seen New Orleans at full strength — Brandon Ingram has been sidelined since November 25 and will add another dimension to the team’s offense once he’s ready to return from his toe injury.
The Warriors (three days) and Clippers (one day) technically held the No. 1 spot in the West briefly during the early part of the season and were considered two of the best bets to make the NBA Finals entering the fall. Injuries have disrupted their momentum so far, but as long as they secure playoff berths and get healthy by the spring, no one will want to face them in the postseason.
Of the remaining seven Western teams who haven’t led the conference at all this season, the Kings (16-13), Timberwolves (16-15), Mavericks (15-16), and Lakers (13-17) are probably the only legitimate threats to make the postseason. It may be be a long shot for a Sacramento squad lacking in playoff experience or a Lakers club lacking in depth to make much noise this season, but Minnesota and Dallas have the star power necessary to make a second-half push.
We want to know what you think. In what appears to be a wide open Western Conference field, which team do you think will finish the regular season as the No. 1 seed? Do you expect the same team to represent the conference in the NBA Finals, or do you like another club to win the West in the postseason?
Head to the comment section below to weigh in with your two cents!
Just going to point out that Dallas doesn’t have depth either. They have Luka, Christian Wood, and a bunch of roleplayers. And Wood isn’t a second star, nor is Kidd playing him like it.
Denver is a work in progress as they continue to gel with their new acquisitions in Brown and KCP along with Murray getting the rust off when that happens their defense will improve. They’re starting to play better as a unit if holding Memphis to 91 pts is any indication.
The article mentions that the Pelicans are missing Ingram. His return will help them out quite a bit. The Grizz are missing Bane which has a lot to do with their recent offensive struggles. These teams also have the means to make a move if someone else like the Bulls or Raptors decide to blow it up.
I’ll never count the Warriors out but it may be too late by the time Steph returns. The Clippers actually have everyone at their disposal!
The Kings are a better team than the Lakers and the Jazz will continue to slide.
1. Nuggets
2. Suns
3. Grizz
4. Pelicans
5. Clippers
6. Kings
7. Blazers
8. Warriors
9. Timberwolves
10. Mavs
11. Lakers
12. Jazz
13. OKC
14. Spurs
15. Rockets
With the exception of the Blazers,Mavs and Kings I think any of the top 10 teams could come out of the West though. If I’m picking one it’s the Nuggets but honestly it’s still too early to tell.
It’s funny because the Jazz can beat any team on any given night. However, they’ve shown they can lose to anyone as well. At this point, it’s better to lose more than win. Don’t want a losing culture, but can’t always be helped if they keep having guys out.
As a clippers fan I say it definitely won’t be them at the end of the season or playoffs for many reasons they don’t have a prayer to win the west !
I’ll go with grizzlies or Nuggets
Pelicans will make the WCF and play the Nuggets with what it looks like now. Clippers and Griz can gel and get there. Chris Paul has not looked the same but maybe with Camerson back they can gel if they can get something for Crowder.
The Kings got off to a tremendous start and had visions of granduer, that said, they have since cooled off and are now coming back down to Earth. They need a legit, back up SF and a better option at the 5 spot. The roster is way, way out of balance. Too many PF and Centers.
I’m still predicting a 41 – 41 season, barring any major injuries.
Better option than Domas? We need a better back up than Holmes or Metu sure, but we have our starting center.
Would love to them swing for Collins and make a push this year. Let Keegan develop and hope Barnes can get some of his old self back. Happiest I’ve been as a Kings fan in a decade but plenty of room for improvement.
DEN is the top team in the West, that’s for sure!
DAL and NOP are the contenders!
SAC and LAL the dark horses!
MIN should be elite as well… but… they need to play much more for KAT when he returns, everything depends on him, but he ain’t getting anywhere enough touches!
The rest of the teams are just fillers!
I haven’t seen a clear top choice this season, in the West.
Denver has always had bad luck on the injury front. Can’t say they will avoid that going forward. However, Jokic can’t be counted out if he dominates. If they’re healthy then they’re likely the best team. Always a big problem every year.
The Suns could still come out on top of they somehow pull off a big trade for Crowder. Cam Johnson could return in 1-2 months. If they’re healthy then they could be the best team.
Memphis isn’t as good as they were last year, but could still win a series or two. Pelicans are good but need Ingram to be healthy to make any noise. Dallas could go far like last year because of Luka.
The rest, don’t quite have enough to go far. Lakers would need a miracle of health for them and bad health for everyone else to make any noise. Lol
Boston and Bucks are easy to see in the East. Miami always seems to surprise in the playoffs, though. Orlando is a fun dark horse with Banchero playing so well so early. The rest are just too inconsistent. We’ll see how the second half of the season goes.
It’s an old young split between Denver and New Orleans. Green is the coach of the year so far makes it the Pelicans by a nose over the Nuggets.
Someone earlier said the kings had a hot start and are coming back to earth. They started 0-4, nba Last 2 minutes acknowledged the refs have blown at least 2 games. Those 2 games were not a part of that 0-4 start. Add 2 sub 2 and that would’ve had them at 19-11 at worst. They also just had a 6 game road trip back east and went 3-3. If Sabonis and Fox didn’t get jumped constantly with zero whistles they would be scary. De’aaron had to get 2 stitches above his eye and nothing was called. Obviously I’m a homer when it comes to them but this isn’t the same group of guys. Fox WANTS the ball at the end and is 2nd in the league in clutch points. Sabonis is on another level.
The Kings are a lot more legit than ancient, overpaid and injury,prone Lakers, if Nuggets get everyone healthy they will be the top team.