A big swath of NBA media is out on the highest seeds within the Western Conference — and it is sensible, as a result of, for the primary time because the 1996-97 season, the East is way and away superior.
The Denver Nuggets have clinched the very best document within the West at 52-28 with two video games remaining. The No. 2 seed Memphis Grizzlies received their fiftieth sport on Tuesday, and third-seeded Sacramento Kings could not get to 50 wins. Those groups may also not transfer within the standings by the top of the week.
With the shortage of dominance on the prime of the Western Conference, analysts and sports activities books consider that veteran groups clustered in the midst of the standings have — at minimal — a equally doubtless probability at advancing to the NBA Finals. Both Fanduel and DraftKings have the No. 4 seed Phoenix Suns because the betting favorites to come back out of the West.
Yes, Kevin Durant has returned from harm for the Suns. Andrew Wiggins is again within the Bay Area together with Gary Payton II. The Los Angeles Lakers have been on a tear because the all-star break, and if Paul George returns to the group that defeated them on Wednesday night time — the Los Angeles Clippers — they may have as sturdy a roster as any group with a rejuvenated Kawhi Leonard.
All of that being mentioned, the groups on the prime of the Western Conference aren’t any pushovers. A few them have actual playoff expertise, and the one which doesn’t continues to be higher than almost all around the NBA in an necessary class.
No. 1 Nuggets are pretty much as good as any group within the West
The Denver Nuggets are the No. 1 seed for a motive. Of course, the primary one is Nikola Jokić working the offense like he’s Magic Johnson, however whereas taking part in heart. However, there’s a motive that his career-high utilization price — 31.9 % — has dropped to 27.2 % which is his lowest because the bubble season and he’s nonetheless taking part in at an NBA stage.
Not solely did Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. return from harm, however the Nuggets did considerably enhance their roster. They introduced in Bruce Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope through the offseason, and Reggie Jackson and Thomas Bryant close to the commerce deadline.
Brown and Caldwell-Pope have been pretty much as good as marketed however Jackson and Bryant have struggled a lot that Zeke Nnaji — recovering from a knee harm —has been the Nuggets’ second-best participant off of the bench. For all the work that the Nuggets have finished to their roster, depth could also be a difficulty come playoff time.
The starters although, that group is a monster. Four of their 5 have conference-finals expertise. The internet score for the Nuggets’ beginning lineup is healthier than the Philadelphia 76ers’ crunchtime 5, all the Boston Celtics’ most used lineups, and is bested by solely one of many Milwaukee Bucks’ most used. If the Nuggets can get something out of their bench, they may play like a prime seed.
The Grizzlies could be maddening however they’re good
Between Dillon Brooks’ battle in opposition to the world, and Ja Morant quickly being away from the group after flashing a firearm on Instagram, it may be straightforward to neglect that because the flip of the yr the Grizzlies have spent someday within the Western Conference standings decrease than second. If they hadn’t hit a skid from mid-January by early February they may simply be the highest group within the convention.
Desmond Bane has taken one other main leap in his third NBA season. His field-goal makes an attempt and scoring common have elevated this season alongside together with his field-goal share. Bane is about to obtain a fats payday as a result of he’s a real backcourt scoring risk.
Jaren Jackson Jr. is properly on his solution to a Defensive Player of the Year Award. His function because the anchor on that protection has led the Grizzlies to the second-best defensive score within the league. A defensive-minded group that performed the NBA Champions in a aggressive six-game sequence final playoffs. They will probably be a terror this spring.
Everybody desires to play the Kings
It is sensible. They don’t have a top-10 NBA participant on their roster and haven’t been to the postseason since Rick Adelman’s last season as head coach in 2005-06. In some ways, these Kings are a flawed Adelman group. An awesome offense wherein the entire is bigger than the sum of its components, however they battle on protection.
This is essentially the most susceptible of the top-three seeds, however out of three choices one needed to end final. While the Kings do battle on protection, they’ve the very best offensive score within the NBA. The roster is flush with capturing, paint scoring, and playmaking. Every night time in opposition to them within the postseason will probably be a exercise for the opposition.
And for all of their struggles on protection, they’re nonetheless higher than each group within the West in a big class — street victories. The Kings are the one group within the Western Conference with a street document over .500, and it’s not only a few video games over. They are 25-15 on the street. Only the Bucks — the top-seeded group within the league — have a greater street document at 26-14. Combine that with a veteran head coach in Mike Brown, the Kings will probably be no straightforward out.