With the 2014-15 season finally upon us, HNGN's sports wraps up their playoff predictions with the Western Conference. Read our Eastern Conference predictions HERE.
Jordan-
1. San Antonio Spurs
I really don't see the Western Conference bracket changing much. The same eight teams will be back. San Antonio gets the one seed. Their title-winning unit is still intact, and the trio of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili seem immune age.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
Durant said he won't rush his return, but he'll be back before the New Year at the latest. Their squad - like a poor man's Cavaliers - can win around 60 games in the regular season by offense alone. They'll get the No. 2 seed, but I'd be amazed if they made it to the conference finals.
3. Los Angeles Clippers
With Paul, Griffin and Jordan on the roster, I wanted to put them higher. But the reality is the Clippers are a very good team in an even better conference, and their lack of upgrades has them landing the same seed as last season. Although it's a good hump to be stuck on, it's one they won't get over with their current roster as is.
4. Golden State Warriors
Golden State sitting at No. 4 relies on three things: 1) Curry and Thompson continuing to improve from last year, 2) Harrison Barnes taking a big leap [I think it'll happen] and 3) Bogut and Lee staying healthy. If those three things happen, I could actually see Golden State losing to San Antonio in the conference finals.
5. Dallas Mavericks
I loved the Mavericks' offseason moves. Bringing back Tyson Chandler was one of the best moves this summer by any team, and the additions of Chandler Parsons and Jameer Nelson will be big. I wanted to put Dallas above Golden State, but I just couldn't do it yet.
6. Portland Trail Blazers
I do like Portland, I just don't think they did enough in the offseason. No way do they finish with a better regular season record than Dallas. Fortunately for them, Houston regressed during the summer.
7. Houston Rockets
Houston took a step back this offseason. They still have no answer at the 1-spot, which means they have no answer at the 3-spot - remember, Trevor Ariza only had a big year last season because of John Wall driving and throwing it out to him for easy 3s. I only have Houston here because you have to respect Harden and Howard. Personally, I think McHale gets fired midseason after a rocky start.
8. Memphis Grizzlies
I struggled with this one. I really wanted to put Phoenix here, but I ultimately deferred to postseason experience. Randolph and Gasol are killers in the paint, and I think both are going to have big seasons - that's the only reason Phoenix isn't here.
Honorable mention: Phoenix
Brandon-
1. Los Angeles Clippers
I just have a feeling this is the year it all comes together for the Clippers. Chris Paul is vindicated with post-season success and Blake Griffin gets the respect he deserves for being an all-around super star and not just a dunker.
2. San Antonio Spurs
They have to fall off at some point, right? Are we sure Gregg Popovich isn't Gandalf? San Antonio's magic continues for one more year thanks to a deep bench keeping older legs fresh.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
Sure, OKC is going to miss Durant for 15-20 games. But they're not going to miss him that much. Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka and the rest of the young guns are capable of keeping the ship afloat until the captain returns. The Thunder still boast a 104.6 offensive efficiency without Durant over the past three seasons.
4. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors actually had the fourth best point differential at +4.8 in the Western Conference last season. I'm banking on Klay Thompson's FIBA development translating to a mini-leap this season and Golden State leapfrogging Houston and Portland. Time to see if keeping Thompson out of the Kevin Love talks was the right move.
5. Portland Trail Blazers
They'll have a healthy C.J. McCollum all year and Damian Lillard still has some room to grow. LaMarcus Aldridge is still one of the best power forwards in the NBA. But can this team really compete for a championship? Portland finished just 21-15 over its last 36 games. That's not bad, but it's certainly not elite.
6. Houston Rockets
Chandler Parsons is in Dallas. They traded away Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik. The Chris Bosh pipedream never came to fruition. Excuse me for not believing in the leadership of James Harden and Dwight Howard. Sometimes the intangibles outweigh the talent.
7. Dallas Mavericks
If Tyson Chandler has anything left in the tank than the Mavs will once again be a strong team out West. Throw in the Parsons addition and Dirk Nowitzki's never ending stream of one-legged jumpers and you've got a frisky opponent in Dallas.
8. Phoenix Suns
The league is just more fun with the Desert Cinderellas. Their multi-point guard system is going to blitz the league offensively. If Eric Bledsoe can stay healthy, I think they outlast the Memphis Grizzlies for the last playoff spot in the West.
Cal-
1. San Antonio Spurs
They're the Spurs. I mean, come on. As long as Gregg Popovich is coaching and Tony Parker and Tim Duncan are playing, you can't bet against them. Age will catch up someday though - right?
2. Los Angeles Clippers
With coach Doc Rivers heading into his second season and the team coming off a franchise-record 57 wins, the arrow is certainly pointing up for Blake Griffin and co.
3. Golden State Warriors
With a couple of deadly three-point shooters in Klay Thompson and Steph Curry, plus Andrew Iguodala coming off the bench, new coach Steve Kerr has a bundle of toys to play with.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
Kevin Durant will miss two months. Need I say more? They'd probably be on the top of this list otherwise.
5. Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers game is all about movement. With a fresh and now solidified identity, LaMarcus Aldridge, Damian Lillard and the high pick-and-roll should help them take another important step forward.
6. Houston Rockets
A tough, gut-wrenching first-round playoff loss to the Trail Blazers has me a little worried about the strength of this team. James Harden and Dwight Howard may come back stronger for it - or they may not.
7. Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks season will come down to chemistry. Can fresh faces like Chandler Parsons mix well with older, established veterans like mainstay Dirk Nowitzki and new face/old place Tyson Chandler?
8. Memphis Grizzlies
If Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph can get and stay healthy, and Jordan Adams can continue to progress, the Grizzlies have a chance to navigate a brutal Southwest Division on their way to a postseason berth.
Thomas-
1. Los Angeles Clippers
With Donald Sterling out of town, the Clippers have the monkey off their back and, I think, will be the best team in the West. The Spurs will still be great, but the Clippers were only five wins behind them last year, and with perhaps the deepest team in the league and one of the best coaches, they should be even better in their second full year together as a unit.
2. San Antonio Spurs
Every year we think the Spurs are getting too old, but they proved us wrong last year when they took down the Heat in the finals and got revenge for 2013. Gregg Popovich's system maximizes the careers of players and even if Duncan, Parker and Ginobili show signs of slowing, they can incorporate the young talent they have.
3. Portland Trail Blazers
After a 54-28 season, I think the Blazers will have a few more wins this year, which should propel them a couple of spots in the standings because the Thunder have suffered a setback with KD's injury and the Rockets lost Chandler Parsons. With another year under his belt, Damian Lillard should be even better and LaMarcus Aldridge will be playing out of his mind in his contract year.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
Yes, I have them this low. The West is too competitive for them to be missing Kevin Durant for an extended period of time, no matter how "good" he thinks it is for the team. I don't doubt their ability to perform without Durant, I just don't think they'll be the real deal Thunder until he gets back.
5. Golden State Warriors
Steve Kerr is in town, so maybe he'll bring some luck to this squad. Mark Jackson did a great job, but he got the short end of the stick, as the team was forced to face the Clippers and Spurs the past two seasons in the playoffs. Kerr should do wonders with Curry, Thompson and newcomer Shaun Livingston.
6. Dallas Mavericks
With the addition of Chandler Parsons, Tyson Chandler and Jameer Nelson, the Mavericks should improve on both offense and defense. Rick Carlisle will have no problem working in these guys, especially Tyson Chandler, who was on the 2011 championship team. They've been scoring in the preseason, which is what they want to see.
7. Houston Rockets
They lost Chandler Parsons. They missed out on Chris Bosh. And now Dwight Howard says he's ready to take on a leadership role. All bad news. Trevor Ariza was a good fill-in for Parsons, but I don't think he'll be as effective. They also lost Jeremy Lin, who averaged 12.9 points and 5.1 assists per game for them over the past two seasons. And they added 37-year-old Jason Terry. 7th seed at best.
8. Phoenix Suns
I wanted to put the Denver Nuggets here, but I can't trust them. The Suns added a few names and retained some coveted free agents who were crucial to their success last year. They missed out on the playoffs by just one game last season after a surprising 48-34 campaign and I think they'll improve on that in 2014-2015.
