Don’t count out the NBA Western Conference’s top-seeded teams
A big swath of NBA media is out on the highest seeds within the Western Convention — 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 most effective report within the West at 52-28 with two video games remaining. The No. 2 seed Memphis Grizzlies received their fiftieth recreation on Tuesday, and third-seeded Sacramento Kings could not get to 50 wins. These groups will even not transfer within the standings by the top of the week.
With the shortage of dominance on the high of the Western Convention, analysts and sports activities books imagine that veteran groups clustered in the midst of the standings have — at minimal — a equally seemingly probability at advancing to the NBA Finals. Each Fanduel and DraftKings have the No. 4 seed Phoenix Suns because the betting favorites to return out of the West.
Sure, 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 crew that defeated them on Wednesday evening — the Los Angeles Clippers — they are going to have as sturdy a roster as any crew with a rejuvenated Kawhi Leonard.
All of that being stated, the groups on the high of the Western Convention aren’t any pushovers. A few them have actual playoff expertise, and the one which doesn’t continues to be higher than almost everywhere in the NBA in an essential class.
No. 1 Nuggets are nearly as good as any crew within the West
The Denver Nuggets are the No. 1 seed for a cause. After all, the principle one is Nikola Jokić operating the offense like he’s Magic Johnson, however whereas taking part in middle. Nevertheless, there’s a cause that his career-high utilization charge — 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 nearly 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 the entire work that the Nuggets have finished to their roster, depth could also be a problem come playoff time.
The starters although, that group is a monster. 4 of their 5 have conference-finals expertise. The web score for the Nuggets’ beginning lineup is healthier than the Philadelphia 76ers’ crunchtime 5, the entire 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 are going to play like a high seed.
The Grizzlies will be maddening however they’re good
Between Dillon Brooks’ battle towards the world, and Ja Morant quickly being away from the crew after flashing a firearm on Instagram, it may be simple to overlook that because the flip of the yr the Grizzlies have spent sooner or later within the Western Convention standings decrease than second. In the event that they hadn’t hit a skid from mid-January via early February they might simply be the highest crew 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 along with his field-goal proportion. 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 technique to a Defensive Participant of the Yr Award. His position because the anchor on that protection has led the Grizzlies to the second-best defensive score within the league. A defensive-minded crew that performed the NBA Champions in a aggressive six-game sequence final playoffs. They are going to be a terror this spring.
All people needs 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 crew. A fantastic offense wherein the entire is bigger than the sum of its components, however they battle on protection.
That is probably the most susceptible of the top-three seeds, however out of three choices one needed to end final. Whereas the Kings do battle on protection, they’ve the most effective offensive score within the NBA. The roster is flush with capturing, paint scoring, and playmaking. Each evening towards 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 crew within the West in a major class — street victories. The Kings are the one crew within the Western Convention with a street report over .500, and it’s not just some video games over. They’re 25-15 on the street. Solely the Bucks — the top-seeded crew within the league — have a greater street report at 26-14. Mix that with a veteran head coach in Mike Brown, the Kings will probably be no simple out.
