Dallas Mavericks: Predicting the Western Conference standings

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I used the same groups as I did in the East, but in reality, I don’t think there are only three teams that have a shot at winning the West. In fact, I could see any of the top six teams getting there. These are just the three teams I think will end with the best records.

3. Los Angeles Clippers

From a Cinderella hopeful in 2019 to one of the odds-on favorites to win it all in 2020, the L.A. Clippers have taken an interesting road to the top. They started by putting together a really good team with guys like Lou Williams, Montrezl Harrell and Patrick Beverley, which helped them earn the 8th spot in the playoffs.

Now, the Clippers get to keep a big part of that group that got the 8-seed, but also add in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, two of the best two-way players in the league. This move put the Clippers on top of the world and makes them the team to beat. I have them as the 3-seed simply due to injury concerns.

The Clippers could win a bunch of games, but I think they will end up around 54-55.

2. Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets have had one of the best regular season teams in the league for several years and I don’t see that changing with the new roster configuration. The switch from Chris Paul to Russell Westbrook is going to be a unique one for a lot of reasons, but I still think the team will do better in the win-loss column, just because of how these two guys play.

I don’t actually think they will be contenders to win the title. I think the Rockets are destined to be a team that outperforms their roster in the regular season, but then underperforms when it all really matters. I could be wrong, but I just don’t see these two guys finding a way to mesh well on the court once the pressure is on.

The Rockets will end with a high win total, somewhere in the 55-58 range.

1. Denver Nuggets

Last but not least, we have the 2-seed from last year, the Denver Nuggets. Denver is such an interesting team in that they are a young team building continuity, but are also a well-oiled machine that dominated in the regular season last year. I don’t see that trend stopping considering the roster makeup is almost identical.

Between Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, the Nuggets have a big two that people aren’t even mentioning with most of the other ones in the league. I think they are going to realize quickly that these two are the real deal and the supporting cast around them have been excellent as well.

The Nuggets could win 60 games this year. I think they will get past the 60-win barrier.

The Western Conference is so hard to predict and one injury could set this whole thing out of whack. Either way, I think there are several teams that are playoff locks and I think the Mavs are going to find a way to squeeze into the postseason at the tail end.