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The West is Wild and the Regular Season Matters Again

We're over a month into the 2018-19 NBA season. The Los Angeles Clippers have the best winning percentage in the West. Last year's Western Conference runner-up is sitting at 13th in the conference now. And the Golden State Warriors aren't currently the top seed. (At least not technically)

Sure, the Warriors will probably remain atop the conference, but after that, the West has more intrigue and storylines than ever. The top seed and the 14th-best team are separated by a mere 5.5 games. In the East, this disparity is 12 games.

Sitting outside the current playoff picture are six teams that have just as good a chance to make the playoffs as the seven teams ahead of them, not counting the Warriors. The conference currently stands:
  1. Los Angeles Clippers (13-6 but technically 0.5 GB)
  2. Golden State Warriors (15-7, technically 0.5 GA)
  3. Denver Nuggets (13-7, 1 GB)
  4. Memphis Grizzlies (12-7, 1.5 GB)
  5. Oklahoma City Thunder (12-7, 1.5 GB)
  6. Portland Trailblazers (12-8, 2 GB)
  7. Los Angeles Lakers (11-8, 2.5 GB)
  8. Sacramento Kings (10-10, 4 GB)
  9. San Antonio Spurs (10-10, 4 GB)
  10. Dallas Mavericks (9-9, 4 GB)
  11. Minnesota Timberwolves (10-11, 4.5 GB)
  12. New Orleans Pelicans (10-11, 4.5 GB)
  13. Houston Rockets (9-10, 4.5 GB)
  14. Utah Jazz (9-12, 5.5 GB)
  15. Phoenix Suns (4-15, 9.5 GB)

The Spurs, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Jazz, and Rockets all made the playoffs last season, but wouldn't if the season ended today. Meanwhile, after narrowly missing the postseason last year, the Nuggets catapult to the 3rd seed. The Clippers, Lakers, Kings, and Grizzlies would also qualify under the current standings.
Of course, these standings won't hold at all, and that's where the excitement comes from. The 8th seeded Kings and 14th seeded Jazz are only separated by 1.5 games, meaning in a few days time the list could be completely flipped.

Home-court advantage still matters in the NBA, so seeding will be everything in the 2019 NBA playoffs. Not only will making the playoffs be a challenge for everyone not named Golden State, but fighting for positioning will give games meaning right down to the end of the season.

There's still about 75% of the season left to play, so again, everything can and will change. That won't stop me from predicting who I see as the eight playoff teams though.

Sak Sports NBA Western Conference Prediction as of 11/27/18 

  1. Golden State Warriors
  2. Los Angeles Lakers
  3. Denver Nuggets
  4. Oklahoma City Thunder
  5. Portland Trailblazers
  6. Houston Rockets
  7. Los Angeles Clippers
  8. San Antonio Spurs
Image result for harden rockets
Header Photo: Associated Press
Photo #2: Via the Sacramento Bee
Photo #3: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports


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