a large group of nba Media is on the top seeds in the Western Conference – and It makes sense, because, For for the first time since the 1996–97 season, Esetting is far and away better,
TeaHe denver nuggets have achieved the best record in wEst at 52-28 with two Game left number 2 seed memphis grizzlies Won his 50th game on Tuesday and is seeded third sacramento kings Can’t reach 50 wins. Those teams also won’t advance in the standings until the end of the week.
Wlack of dominance at the top of W itheastern conference, Analysts and sports books believe the middle of the standings is a cluster of experienced teams – at minimum – An equally probable chance of advancing to the NBA Finals. Fanduel and DraftKings both have the No. 4 seed Phoenix Suns as the betting favorites to come out of the WEst.
Yes, Kevin Durant is back from injury for the Suns. Andrew Wiggins is back in the Bay aRhea With Gary Payton II. Los Angeles Lakers There’s been a tear since the All-Star break, and if Paul George returns to the team that beat him on Wednesday night — los angeles clippers – They’ll have as strong a roster as any team with a rejuvenated Kawhi Leonard.
All that being said, the teams at the top of the Western Conference are no pushovers. Some of them have actual playoff experience, and those who don’t are still better than almost the entire NBA in one important category.
The No. 1 Nuggets Are As Good As Any Team In The WEST
denver The Nuggets are the No. 1 seed for a reason. Absolutely, is the main Nikola Jokic Doing offense like he’s Magic Johnson, but while playing center. however, There’s a reason his career-high usage rate — 31.9 percent — is dropped to 27.2 Percent Which is his lowest since the bubble season and he is still playing at the NBA level.
Not only did Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. return from injury, but the Nuggets significantly improved their roster. They brought in Bruce Brown and Kentavius Caldwell-Pope during the off-season, and Reggie Jackson and Thomas Bryant near the trade deadline.
Brown and Caldwell-Pope have been equally good ad, but Jackson and Bryant have struggled so much that Zeke Nanaji – overcome a Knee injury – has been the Nuggets’ second best player off the bench. For all the work the Nuggets have done for their roster, depth could be an issue come playoff time.
Beginning though, that group is a monster. Four of their five have conference-final experience. net rating for nuggets The starting lineup is better than the Philadelphia 76ers’ Crunchtime Five, all of the Boston Celtics Most used lineup, and bested only by one of the most used Milwaukee Bucks. If the Nuggets can get something off their bench, they will play as the top seed.
Grizzlies Can Be Crazy But They’re Cool
between dillon brooks‘ fight against the world, and Ja Morant temporarily away from the team After flashing a firestorm on Instagram, it can be easy to forget that the Grizzlies have spent less than a day atop the Western Conference since the turn of the year. They could easily have been the top team in the conference if they hadn’t hit a skid from mid-January to early February.
Desmond Bain has made another big jump in his third NBA season. His field-goal attempts and scoring average With his field-goal percentage increasing this season. Bain is going to get a hefty payday because he is a true backcourt scoring threat.
Jaron Jackson is on his way to the Junior Defensive Player of the Year award. His role as the anchor on that defense propelled the Grizzlies to the second best defensive rating in the league. A defensive-minded team that played the reigning NBA Champions in the final playoffs of a competitive six-game series. They will be a terror this spring.
everybody wants to play kings
It makes sense. They have not had a top-10 NBA player on their roster and have not gone to the post-season since Rick Edelman’s final season as head coach in 2005–06. in many ways, These Kings are a flawed Edelman team. A great offense in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, but they struggle on defense.
It is the weakest of the top-three seeds, but one of three options it had to finish last. While the Kings struggle on defense, they have the best offensive rating in the NBA. Roster loaded with shooting, paint scoring and playmaking, Every night after the season he would be a workout for the opposition.
And for all their struggles on defense, they’re still better than every team in the West In one important category – road wins. The Kings are the only team in the Western Conference with a . 500-plus road record, and it’s only a few games not over. They are 25-15 on the road. Bucks Only – The The top-seeded team in the league has the better road record at 26-14. mix it up with an experienced head coach mike brown, Won’t be easy for the Kings.