In the past decade, the NBA’s western conference has by far by the more dominant of the 2 conferences in the league.

2020 proves to be no different, as it had slowly become an all out war in the West before the COVID-19 pandemic. Teams were being shaken up in the standings, others were vastly improving, while others were going on downward trends. Since there is now an 8 game regular season schedule before the playoffs, those 8 games will determine the outcome for the battle of the 8 seed, and seeds 3-7.

In this image, we have the teams in the west that were invited to participate in the end of the regular season in Orlando, with 8 teams being able to advance to the playoffs. 8 games isn’t exactly a whole lot to really change the 8 or 9 seed, but it for sure can change how the playoffs will shake out.

Predicted Standings:

1.) LA Lakers

2.) LA Clippers

3.) Denver Nuggets

4.) Houston Rockets

5.) Utah Jazz

6.) Oklahoma City Thunder

7.) Dallas Mavericks

8.) Memphis Grizzlies

In my predicted Standings, the main changes I have are the Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz, and Oklahoma City all moving up or down.

First Round:

(8) Memphis Grizzlies vs (1) Los Angeles Lakers

If you put Memphis out in the Eastern Conference (they are in Tennessee after all, which is clearly on the Eastern part of the country), I could easily see them giving teams like Toronto, Boston, or even Miami trouble. They are a young, well coached, and extremely likable team.

But I just don’t love their chances at all against the Wests best in the Lakers.

It is no disrespect to Memphis, but they are much too young of a team to make much noise in the western conference playoffs. Give them 2 years and then we’ll be talking about them much more as possibly being contenders. For now, I see Memphis as a “happy to be here” type of team. The Lakers, led by LeBron and Anthony Davis, are way to much of a mismatch for the Grizzlies. The Lakers have the better starting 5, defense, offense, depth, and shooting. But it will for sure be a fun time watching the Grizzlies rookie Ja Morant perform in the big stage. Don’t sleep on the Grizzlies in the future, but for now, like the Bucks, this first round series is a warm up lap for the Lakers. Prediction: Lakers in 4.

(7) Dallas Mavericks vs (2) Los Angeles Clippers

This will be perhaps the most entertaining first round series we will see this year.

For Dallas, they have the up and coming superstar in Luka Doncic. Luka has put himself together a spectacular season, with some even putting him in the MVP conversation. Already a top 10 player in the league (in my opinion), we’ll see his first time perform in the playoffs and under the spotlight.

But Luka can only do so much.

Dallas also has Kristaps Porzingis, the 7’3” phenom who can shoot, play excellent defense, and be the Robin to Luka’s Batman. But even with the 2 of them, again, they can only do so much. Dallas has a young and talented roster, but outside of those 2, I don’t see their role players being huge difference makers against a nearly unstoppable Clippers team.

I say unstoppable for the Clippers for 2 reasons. First, because they have arguably the deepest bench in the league (their bench is probably better than the starting lineups of a few NBA teams—-and that’s not a joke), and second, because when their team is clicking, they can and will beat anybody. Led by superstar Kawhi Leonard, fresh off an NBA finals victory, he will guide and bring these Clippers to new heights, even if their regular season looked shaky at times. And let’s not forget they also have Paul George, who is a clear Top 15 player in the league when healthy. Dallas is probably 1-2 years away from really being considered contenders, which makes this series easier for the Clippers. However, it will sure be a fun series to watch. Prediction: Clippers in 5.

(6) Oklahoma City Thunder vs (3) Denver Nuggets

Like Memphis, OKC is just happy to be here.

After trading Russell Westbrook and Paul George this off-season, many saw OKC hitting the reset button and starting their rebuild. However, Chris Paul had other ideas, looking like the New Orleans Hornets CP3 we have seen from years past this year. He’s been in the drivers seat for OKC this year and done everything you could ask for out of a leader. With complementary pieces in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Dennis Schroder, Steven Adams, and Danilo Gallinari, OKC could very well pull off an upset to a very talented Denver squad.

Denver has a unique and interesting team. At times, they look like title contenders and could pose as a threat to the Lakers or Clippers, but then there are other times where they look too young. It’s interesting.

In this series, experience is the key factor. Denver is the less experienced team to players on OKC like Chris Paul and Steven Adams, but that is not to say that Denver won’t be able to beat them. With their star player in Nikola Jokic, he will have to be like a CP3 to overcome this grit and grind Thunder team. He can score, rebound, and even facilitate, which is why I think he has the skills to beat them, and get his teammates even more involved to enhance their play. Prediction: Nuggets in 6.

(5) Utah Jazz vs (4) Houston Rockets

In this series, we see the young Utah Jazz go up against a hungry Houston Rockets squad.

Houston has the upper hand in talent, led by James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Like the Clippers, Houston can look borderline unstoppable on offense when they play the right way. It’s Westbrook’s first year entering the playoffs as a Rocket, after not making it past the first round for OKC since KD’s departure. We will see how he fares with Harden in the big stage.

Utah will be without their scoring wing Bojan Bogdanovic. It may seem like a loss for Utah, but I think is a HUGE loss for them. I think this creates an even heavier burden offensively for Donovan Mitchell, who Utah will have to rely on for his scoring. Bojan took some of the load off of Mitchell’s shoulders, being their focal point on offense if Mitchell was ever out or on the bench. Utah does have PG Mike Conley, but since his trade to Utah, his play has significantly dropped and he’s been in and out of the starting lineup due to injury.

With all of these things against Utah’s favor, I see this being an easier series for Houston than one would think. Rudy Gobert and his size will cause issues for Houston, but not enough to the point where it will be a difference maker in the series. Utah’s inability to create offense in this series against one of the leagues best offenses will make it difficult for Utah to win this series. Prediction: Rockets in 5.

Second Round:

(4) Houston Rockets vs (1) Los Angeles Lakers

We’ll see James Harden and Russell Westbrook go up against LeBron and Anthony Davis in this series.

For Houston to succeed and perform well in this series, they will have to rely even heavier on their outside game. The game slows down in the playoffs, and without a guy taller than 6’6 in their starting lineup, the Lakers will give them all kinds of issues. Houston will get away with beating Utah, but that is only because of Utah’s potential offensive struggles.

I don’t see that happening to the Lakers.

Not only do the Lakers have the size, but also have the shooting, depth, and star power in LeBron and AD. Unlike Utah, without true superstars, the Lakers have themselves arguably the best duo in basketball with those 2 on the floor.

Defensively, the Lakers ability to defend the 3 will be another issue for Houston. Ranked 4th in the league, it won’t be easy for Houston to generate plays outside the 3. And relying on the 3 is their only way to beat these Lakers, since they don’t have a true inside presence.

In the end, this will also be an entertaining series, but not enough to dethrone the Lakers. Prediction: Lakers in 5.

(3) Denver Nuggets vs (2) Los Angeles Clippers

Last year, Kawhi Leonard had given the Toronto Raptors a trip to the Conference Finals in the second round after his buzzer beater versus the Philadelphia 76ers. Not only was he clutch, but he upped his game and enhanced his play well enough to lead the way.

I see Kawhi doing the same again.

There may not be buzzer beaters like that again (although it would be awesome), but against a young, up and coming Denver team, Kawhi will lead the Clippers to their first conference finals berth ever. Yes, EVER.

The Clippers and their depth will be more than enough to defeat Denver. Denver has some very good pieces on their squad (not named Nikola Jokic), but not good enough yet to beat an experienced, deep, and very talented Clippers team.

Prediction: Clippers in 5.

Conference Finals

(2) Los Angeles Clippers vs (1) Los Angeles Lakers

The moment everyone has been waiting for.

If you want to talk an evenly matched series that could go either way, then this is the series for you.

For the Clippers, they actually had the Lakers number this year, beating them 2 of the 3 matchups this year. With superstar power in Kawhi and Paul George going up against LeBron and AD, each game will for sure go down to the wire.

In order for the Clippers to win this series, they will have to have the similar enhanced play of Kawhi Leonard from his past year with the Raptors. Also, they need Paul George to be 100% healthy and close to at the top of his game. Defensively, they have no true answer for stopping Anthony Davis, so they will have to force him to his outside game to boost their chances.

In order the Lakers to win this series, it comes down to their bench play. Both teams have the best depth in the league, but the play of Kyle Kuzma, Markieff Morris, Dwight Howard, and Kentavious-Caldwell Pope is key for this series. If their starters are off, it will come down to them. The Clippers have Lou Williams coming off their bench, who can give you 20 a night. With any Clippers starter having an off night, he can compensate. The Lakers need the same out of their bench.

I still give the *slight * edge to the Clippers. I believe Kawhi Leonard can lead them the way he led the Raptors last year. It will come down to the wire, and will be the most entertaining series besides the finals. Prediction: Clippers in 7.