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Right now, there are TEN teams in the Western Conference within 4 games of each other. From the 4th place Clippers (7.5 games back) to the 13th place Lakers (11.5 games back). For comparison, in the Eastern Conference there are no more than 5 teams within 4 games of each other. Lots of parity in the west.

Besides the Rockets and Spurs everyone out West is looking to make the postseason. Will be interesting to see how it plays out in the stretch run after the ASG.

I noticed this recently too. West Conference is pretty weak this season which makes me think we will see a busy trade deadline since a couple of these teams will likely try to make a splash to separate themselves from the pack

Few days ago it was 3 games that separated 4 and 13.
Yeah, it's crazy this year.

Warriors or Lakers will be in the finals again if they can sneak in the playoffs

Bornstellar wrote:I noticed this recently too. West Conference is pretty weak this season which makes me think we will see a busy trade deadline since a couple of these teams will likely try to make a splash to separate themselves from the pack

THIS. People are confusing real parity with what's going on in the West. Real parity is the top of the East- where you can see any of the top 4-5 teams coming out of the conference because they are THAT good. The West has a lot of low level, weak parity.

yeah, just because the teams are close doesn't mean they're being competitively good lol. warriors are sitting at 5th seed even though they had a horrible road record, bench was under performing beginning of the year, had injuries to steph and wiggins and a bunch of bench/role players injured as well, lost to teams like detroit and orlando twice, etc. lol.

Flash Falcon X wrote:yeah, just because the teams are close doesn't mean they're being competitively good lol. warriors are sitting at 5th seed even though they had a horrible road record, bench was under performing beginning of the year, had injuries to steph and wiggins and a bunch of bench/role players injured as well, lost to teams like detroit and orlando twice, etc. lol.

Every west team got a horrible road record.

Every year we get this that west sucks. Then the po comes and in the end a westcoast team wins. Imo west is just so much better overall. The bad teams in the eadt really boosts the top teams record, but when playing the west teams its even again. Even then, last year it sounded like this but after 82 games 4 of the 5 teams with most wins were from west

Apz wrote:

Flash Falcon X wrote:yeah, just because the teams are close doesn't mean they're being competitively good lol. warriors are sitting at 5th seed even though they had a horrible road record, bench was under performing beginning of the year, had injuries to steph and wiggins and a bunch of bench/role players injured as well, lost to teams like detroit and orlando twice, etc. lol.

Every west team got a horrible road record.

Every year we get this that west sucks. Then the po comes and in the end a westcoast team wins. Imo west is just so much better overall. The bad teams in the eadt really boosts the top teams record, but when playing the west teams its even again. Even then, last year it sounded like this but after 82 games 4 of the 5 teams with most wins were from west

yup, i think post all-star break the race is gonna heat up as teams are starting to get healthy and build momentum.

The west isn't "weak", there have just been like 7 teams riddled with injuries lol come March and April, there will be no denying how deep and good this conference is.

Flash Falcon X wrote:yeah, just because the teams are close doesn't mean they're being competitively good lol. warriors are sitting at 5th seed even though they had a horrible road record, bench was under performing beginning of the year, had injuries to steph and wiggins and a bunch of bench/role players injured as well, lost to teams like detroit and orlando twice, etc. lol.

I had to double-check to confirm the 5th seed status. Unbelievable.

Ito wrote:Warriors or Lakers will be in the finals again if they can sneak in the playoffs

I think the Warriors are a Top 3 team in the West. They can easily make the finals or even win it all again.

Nuggets
Clippers
Warriors

Grizzlies
Suns
Pelicans

Kings
Mavericks
Timberwolves

OKC, Trailblazers and Lakers fighting for that 10th spot.

Lakers miss out when AD gets injured again. Street clothes!

megarover wrote:Besides the Rockets and Spurs everyone out West is looking to make the postseason. Will be interesting to see how it plays out in the stretch run after the ASG.

Kind of surprising given the Victor sweepstakes, but 3 teams have really surprised people with their lack of tank:

-Kings seem determined to end their playoff-less streak. GW Bush was president and the iPhone was a year away from being introduced the last time they made it.
-Utah's tank didn't end up like Ainge and a lot of other fans envisioned. They had a few too many "too good" players on the roster for it to happen and their coach seems pretty sharp.
-OKC's tank also went the same way, in large part due to SGA being sick of losing/waiting around and it'd look pretty awkward for Presti to put him on the shelf this year.

dc wrote:

megarover wrote:Besides the Rockets and Spurs everyone out West is looking to make the postseason. Will be interesting to see how it plays out in the stretch run after the ASG.

Kind of surprising given the Victor sweepstakes, but 3 teams have really surprised people with their lack of tank:

-Kings seem determined to end their playoff-less streak. GW Bush was president and the iPhone was a year away from being introduced the last time they made it.
-Utah's tank didn't end up like Ainge and a lot of other fans envisioned. They had a few too many "too good" players on the roster for it to happen and their coach seems pretty sharp.
-OKC's tank also went the same way, in large part due to SGA being sick of losing/waiting around and it'd look pretty awkward for Presti to put him on the shelf this year.

Yea with all the hype for Victor I thought more teams would be looking towards the lottery but im glad thats not the case.

Portland is another team that I thought might tank but their fast start to the season gave them hope.

megarover wrote:Portland is another team that I thought might tank but their fast start to the season gave them hope.

Yeah, forgot about them. They looked terrible in the pre-season but they got off to a good start, then cooled off.

If they keep trending downward and down the stretch they end up close in record (or worse) to a team like Orlando, I wouldn't be surprised to see Dame getting a bunch of load management days and them playing their 2nd round draft picks all of a sudden.

Good idea to have the standings this close, it creates more fan interest.

Vox Populi wrote:

Ito wrote:Warriors or Lakers will be in the finals again if they can sneak in the playoffs

I think the Warriors are a Top 3 team in the West. They can easily make the finals or even win it all again.

Nuggets
Clippers
Warriors

Grizzlies
Suns
Pelicans

Kings
Mavericks
Timberwolves

OKC, Trailblazers and Lakers fighting for that 10th spot.

Lakers miss out when AD gets injured again. Street clothes!

If everyone healthy when the playoff start- it’s GSW, Mavs, Denver and or the Clippers - coming out the west with the lakers (healthy) being able to beat the rest of the west teams -

Since Clippers and lakers won’t be healthy- Mavs, GSW or Denver going to finals

Dream finals - Mavs bucks or 76er Denver or even Denver bucks - last 5 mvps!

Ito wrote:Warriors or Lakers will be in the finals again if they can sneak in the playoffs

Or Clippers if they can get a Danny Green from 5 years ago type of player

we have much easier schedule remained now. we will be definitely in play in at least.

Ito wrote:Warriors or Lakers will be in the finals again if they can sneak in the playoffs

lol....this insane view the lakers have a snowballs chance in hell at make a run. They don't!