Is this the greatest western conference ever?

[zimpy27]

No but some are underestimating it. I'd take the field over the nuggets easily

Only because injuries can happen to Nuggets.

If completely healthy no one beats Denver in a series.

[ajones9219]

No but some are underestimating it. I'd take the field over the nuggets easily

Only because injuries can happen to Nuggets.

If completely healthy no one beats Denver in a series.

Disagree. They are the favorites out west but I wouldn't be shocked if any of the Clippers, Thunder, Wolves, or Mavs beat them. Repeating is extremely difficult.

[ChipotleWest]

No but some are underestimating it. I'd take the field over the nuggets easily

Only because injuries can happen to Nuggets.

If completely healthy no one beats Denver in a series.

Disagree. They are the favorites out west but I wouldn't be shocked if any of the Clippers, Thunder, Wolves, or Mavs beat them. Repeating is extremely difficult.

I agree, naturally people will predict the champions to repeat because it makes sense but in reality only Shaq-Kobe Lakers, Heatles and Warriors have done it this century. So the last one was in 2018.

[zimpy27]

Only because injuries can happen to Nuggets.

If completely healthy no one beats Denver in a series.

Disagree. They are the favorites out west but I wouldn't be shocked if any of the Clippers, Thunder, Wolves, or Mavs beat them. Repeating is extremely difficult.

I agree, naturally people will predict the champions to repeat because it makes sense but in reality only Shaq-Kobe Lakers, Heatles and Warriors have done it this century. So the last one was in 2018.

Cavs probably do it in 14-15 and 15-16 if healthy.
Lakers might have in 20-21 if healthy.

Health is usually the stopper of dominant teams repeating IMO.

[ajones9219]

Disagree. They are the favorites out west but I wouldn't be shocked if any of the Clippers, Thunder, Wolves, or Mavs beat them. Repeating is extremely difficult.

I agree, naturally people will predict the champions to repeat because it makes sense but in reality only Shaq-Kobe Lakers, Heatles and Warriors have done it this century. So the last one was in 2018.

Cavs probably do it in 14-15 and 15-16 if healthy.
Lakers might have in 20-21 if healthy.

Health is usually the stopper of dominant teams repeating IMO.

Denver isn't dominant by most metrics though and have to compete with a team that is dominate by basically every historical metric

[ChipotleWest]

Disagree. They are the favorites out west but I wouldn't be shocked if any of the Clippers, Thunder, Wolves, or Mavs beat them. Repeating is extremely difficult.

I agree, naturally people will predict the champions to repeat because it makes sense but in reality only Shaq-Kobe Lakers, Heatles and Warriors have done it this century. So the last one was in 2018.

Cavs probably do it in 14-15 and 15-16 if healthy.
Lakers might have in 20-21 if healthy.

Health is usually the stopper of dominant teams repeating IMO.

Eh not crazy about the hypothetical game, because then you can get into "if Draymond wasn't suspended" etc... and then we're doing not just the Finals but Lakers were going to go all the way if healthy? Many feel they weren't winning in 2020 without the bubble. They would have had to earn it and can't just be crowned if healthy. Many teams have injuries like you say, but that doesn't mean you can just pencil in a repeat. They didn't feel like any sort of dynasty to me, and they've had chances to prove it after but haven't. (although different rosters, but Lebron and AD)

[Statlanta]

This is definitely a chance for Jokic to prove last year wasn't a one off. The competition is much stronger in theory, but let's see who is healthy come playoffs. If Jokic somehow dodges all the pick and roll heavy teams again though I'm going to be annoyed.

Can't blame Jokic for not having to play prime HOF PGs anymore. Hell as a fan it sucked seeing his defense get judged for playing prime Chris Paul, Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard while Giannis/Embiid play Terry Rozier, Goran Dragon and Trae Young.

[Statlanta]

Id wait till the playoffs to judge. If the young high seeded teams(Kings, Pelicans, Thunder) lose to the old guard it will dampen the legitimacy

[CodeBreaker]

Jokic will prove once again..

[JujitsuFlip]

The 2003-04 Western Conference had the highest win % against the Eastern conference out of any Western conference ever

Wow, the East was terrible that season. 2 playoff teams with losing records, 2 .500 playoff teams, and the 4 seed was only 1 game above .500

[dhsilv2]

2007-2008 western conference had the Phoenix suns winning 55 games and were the 6th seed, the 8th seed nuggets won 50 games and the 9th seed warriors missed the playoffs going 48-34, 10th seed blazers were a solid 41-41 team too.

Even more recent 2014 west. Mavs at 8 49, Suns at 9 48 and Loves Wolves at 40. And The top team had 62 wins, second 59. So not only did the west have a 60 win team, they STILL managed those records on the bottom teams.

[NYPiston]

Not the greatest because the top of the west is relatively weak compared to some of the great western conferences of the past but the depth is pretty crazy.
You have an MVP candidate in the 8th seed currently, LeBron, Davis, Curry etc. in the Play In.

[turnaroundJ]

standings are 11 deep and steve kerr decides to bench an all-time great not too far off from prime level for like 60% of the last 15 minutes of a must-win game. what the hell lol. at least let him go out with some more playoff games to play.

[Harry Garris]

historically it has been yeh

Looks like you didn't watch the playoffs last year.

Hence my comments; he didn't really play any high PnR teams last yr.

Look I know its very common on the internet to act like we can identify super simple solutions to complex problems that people who actually work in the field are seemingly unable to solve, but it's really not that simple. If you could expose Jokic by running 90 PnR possessions per game, teams would do that.

Teams can't do that in reality though because running such a simplified and predictable offense would make them very easy to guard and the Denver defense would adjust to neutralize such an offense.

There are counters that exist for everything, even if you have a center who's not an elite athlete. And NBA coaches are not dummies. Contrary to popular belief.

[One_and_Done]

Looks like you didn't watch the playoffs last year.

Hence my comments; he didn't really play any high PnR teams last yr.

Look I know its very common on the internet to act like we can identify super simple solutions to complex problems that people who actually work in the field are seemingly unable to solve, but it's really not that simple. If you could expose Jokic by running 90 PnR possessions per game, teams would do that.

Teams can't do that in reality though because running such a simplified and predictable offense would make them very easy to guard and the Denver defense would adjust to neutralize such an offense.

There are counters that exist for everything, even if you have a center who's not an elite athlete. And NBA coaches are not dummies. Contrary to popular belief.

Coaches are limited by the tools available to them.

[AleksandarN]

Again; which ones?

See I knew you were trolling. You can’t or won’t name the teams.

[AleksandarN]

I agree, naturally people will predict the champions to repeat because it makes sense but in reality only Shaq-Kobe Lakers, Heatles and Warriors have done it this century. So the last one was in 2018.

Cavs probably do it in 14-15 and 15-16 if healthy.
Lakers might have in 20-21 if healthy.

Health is usually the stopper of dominant teams repeating IMO.

Denver isn't dominant by most metrics though and have to compete with a team that is dominate by basically every historical metric

They have been pretty dominate in the clutch

[AleksandarN]

Hence my comments; he didn't really play any high PnR teams last yr.

Look I know its very common on the internet to act like we can identify super simple solutions to complex problems that people who actually work in the field are seemingly unable to solve, but it's really not that simple. If you could expose Jokic by running 90 PnR possessions per game, teams would do that.

Teams can't do that in reality though because running such a simplified and predictable offense would make them very easy to guard and the Denver defense would adjust to neutralize such an offense.

There are counters that exist for everything, even if you have a center who's not an elite athlete. And NBA coaches are not dummies. Contrary to popular belief.

Coaches are limited by the tools available to them.

So limited that Malone last year they went 16 and 4. You try so hard yet have a hard time coming up with teams that would expose jokic.

[NZB2323]

Only because injuries can happen to Nuggets.

If completely healthy no one beats Denver in a series.

Disagree. They are the favorites out west but I wouldn't be shocked if any of the Clippers, Thunder, Wolves, or Mavs beat them. Repeating is extremely difficult.

I agree, naturally people will predict the champions to repeat because it makes sense but in reality only Shaq-Kobe Lakers, Heatles and Warriors have done it this century. So the last one was in 2018.

The Kobe-Pau Lakers also repeated and if you go back a little bit the Bulls threepeated twice, and the Rockets, Pistons, and Magic Lakers all repeated.

The Nuggets only lost 4 playoff games last year.

[One_and_Done]

Again; which ones?

See I knew you were trolling. You can’t or won’t name the teams.

I'm just unclear on what you're asking me to do here. Name what?