Predicting where Warriors will finish in rugged Western Conference

Predicting where Warriors will finish in rugged Western Conference originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

After sinking a bit lower in the Western Conference in each of the past three NBA seasons, from third place to sixth to 10th, the Warriors believe they improved over the offseason and, therefore, are primed to climb.

One glance at the depth within the conference, however, offers a sobering rebuttal. Being better might not result in a higher finish.

The West remains as top-heavy as it was last season, but second and third tiers are even deeper. The gap between fourth place and 12th has narrowed.

Of the 15 teams in the West, only rebuilding franchises in Portland and Utah can be ignored in serious postseason conversation. The San Antonio Spurs, also rebuilding, could chase a NBA Play-In Tournament berth. The other 12 teams will fight to secure one of the six guaranteed berths or, at least, one of four Play-In slots.

The Western Conference was the primary topic this week on NBC Sports Bay Area’s “Dubs Talk” podcast. There were so many variables that a planned 30-minute conversation with our guest, national NBA writer Sam Amick of The Athletic, stretched to an hour.

The top three teams are, on paper, firm. The Oklahoma City Thunder was the No. 1 seed last season and got better by adding Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein. The Denver Nuggets, who finished second last season, should dip after losing two-way guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The Minnesota Timberwolves finished third and project to finish no lower.

Fourth place, assuring homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs, looks to be where the defending conference champion Dallas Mavericks should land.

“I think Dallas is there,” Amick said of the roster bolstered by the acquisition of ex-Warrior Klay Thompson. “I certainly don’t have the Lakers there. Phoenix is going to be good; I do think that more time together should help them, but (its) roster is so imbalanced. So, I probably go OKC, Minnesota, Denver and Dallas.”

The remaining two guaranteed playoff berths will be chased by the Phoenix Suns, the New Orleans Pelicans, the rising…

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Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2024-08-29 02:00:56

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