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At the end of the 2020-21 NBA season (including playoffs) who will be the top 4 teams in the Western Conference?

Make 4 Selections in the poll.

Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Clippers
Denver Nuggets
Portland Trail Blazers

Denver
LAL
Utah
Dallas

Think it will be the lakers, clippers, nuggets then a bit of daylight and then you have teams like Dallas, Portland (who have improved a fair bit but that backcourt is a worry still, at least defensively), Phoenix and the Jazz are in that next tier.

I went with Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets, and Blazers (in no particular order). Phoenix, Dallas, Utah and perhaps Houston (currently) could all be right there, as well though. Who knows how the Warriors will do at this point.

I think Sacramento, Memphis, New Orleans, and OKC finish at the bottom. San Antonio and Minnesota may battle the Warriors (or Rockets if they dump Harden/Westbrook) for 9th & 10th place and a shot at the play-in games.

Lakers / Clippers / Denver / Jazz

ACM_Dirk wrote:Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Clippers
Denver Nuggets
Portland Trail Blazers

This was my list, with Dallas (injury concerns), Phoenix (putting pieces together), and Utah (shaking off last year's underachieving) being next in line.

Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets, Mavericks.

Lakers,Clippers,Nuggets,Suns

In no particular order:

Lakers
Nuggets
Jazz
Mavs

Lakers are the champs, and the other 3 have significant continuity, history of winning, and well-constructed rosters with great co-stars.

Lakers
Blazers
Mavs
Nuggets

Lakers
Clippers
Nuggets
Suns


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LA
LA
Nuggets
Mavs

first three are obvious. Mavs because Carlisle is always getting a top offense around superstar talent and any mix of roleplayer since 2008. But the Mavs loaded up on defense without really hurting the offense. So i expect them to be a top-10 defensive team too. KP should miss just the first 10 games

Swish1906 wrote:LA
LA
Nuggets
Mavs

first three are obvious. Mavs because Carlisle is always getting a top offense around superstar talent and any mix of roleplayer since 2008. But the Mavs loaded up on defense without really hurting the offense. So i expect them to be a top-10 defensive team too. KP should miss just the first 10 games

I don't think the Nuggets are as good as they were last year so maybe they go anywhere from 3rd thru 6th this year. I loved their depth last season, but it's not quite what it was. Still close though and if Porter takes another step forward... whew!!! My second favorite team behind the Blazers.

Lakers, Jazz, Nuggets & Clippers

If the season is compressed, there might be more back-to-backs and more load-managing for Kawhi. Not sure.

Jazz should start faster now that Conley and Clarkson are acclimated and Favors is back to anchor the 2nd unit.

Losing Trez hurts a bit for the Clips, even with Ibaka coming in. Lou Will is also getting older. I like the Luke Kennard pickup though. He's a better ball mover than the Clips had at guard last year.

Lakers, Clippers, Blazers, Nuggets. I would have Mavs replace the Nuggets IF I thought the Unicorn would be back and healthy, but without him full time I think they are a 6-8 team.

I also think 2-6 in the West will be separated by only a couple of games.

How healthy is Will Barton?

Lakers, Clippers, Denver, Mavs

Clippers are underrated somehow. They are on trouble to beat the Lakers in the playoffs but they still have two elite players and great role players.

Mavs made great moves.

Portland made great moves and are the team that could be better than the 4 I mentioned but I still think they are a bit overrated