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Yesterday we forecast the 2020-21 NBA Eastern Conference. Today we face the Western and NBA Finals.
Kurt helin
Regular season standings
1. Los Angeles Lakers
2. Denver Nuggets
3. LA Clippers
4. Dallas Mavericks
5. Utah Jazz
6. Portland Trail Blazers
7. Golden State Warriors
8. Houston Rockets
9. Phoenix Suns
10. New Orleans Pelicans
11. Minnesota Timberwolves
12. Memphis Grizzlies
13. San Antonio Spurs
14. Sacramento Kings
15. Oklahoma City Thunder
First round
Los Angeles Lakers over Phoenix Suns
Denver Nuggets over Golden State Warriors
LA Clippers on Portland Trail Blazers
Utah Jazz over Dallas Mavericks
Second round
Los Angeles Lakers over Utah Jazz
LA Clippers over Denver Nuggets
Western Conference Finals
Los Angeles Lakers over LA Clippers
NBA Finals
Los Angeles Lakers over Milwaukee Bucks
The Lakers are at their own level this season: They have the best duo in the league in LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and they added some great regular-season depth with Montrezl Harrell and Dennis Schroder. However, the Lakers may choose to give LeBron and Davis more rest during the season and the Nuggets take the top spot. I see the Clippers and Nuggets as the second tier in the West, and I bet Tyronn Lue will help improve chemistry and strategy and force a Los Angeles showdown in the Western Conference finals.
After that, the West is completely open. Dallas, Utah, Portland, Golden State, and Houston could end up in any order (if Houston is lower you’re betting the Rockets will find a business partner for James Harden, if that happens early enough they’ll miss the playoffs entirely) . After that, I think the Suns could make the playoffs, and maybe Stan Van Gundy can find enough shots on the Pelicans roster to get them there. The Timberwolves have offensive talent, but I don’t trust their defense. Expect Memphis to take a leap next season, and after that the Spurs and Kings have higher aspirations, but this is a deep and difficult conference.
Dan Feldman |
Regular season standings
1. Los Angeles Lakers
2. LA Clippers
3. Denver Nuggets
4. Utah Jazz
5. Dallas Mavericks
6. Phoenix Suns
7. Portland Trail Blazers
8. Golden State Warriors
9. Houston Rockets
10. New Orleans Pelicans
11. Minnesota Timberwolves
12. Memphis Grizzlies
13. San Antonio Spurs
14. Sacramento Kings
15. Oklahoma City Thunder
First round
Los Angeles Lakers finished
LA Clippers on
Denver Nuggets finished
Utah Jazz over Dallas Mavericks
Second round
Los Angeles Lakers over Utah Jazz
LA Clippers over Denver Nuggets
Western Conference Finals
Los Angeles Lakers over LA Clippers
NBA Finals
Los Angeles Lakers over Milwaukee Bucks
The Lakers are far from being locks to repeat, but they have earned the benefit of the doubt.
Still, I don’t have the Clippers that far behind. They are talented and should have better chemistry. If it weren’t for the unique challenges from last season, they might have won the title.
The Nuggets and Jazz look like playoff safe teams with the Mavericks close behind. I like the position of the Suns and Trail Blazers, but this conference is deep.
The Warriors (with Stephen Curry and maybe Draymond Green) and the Rockets (James Harden’s trade request) have massive variation. The Pelicans are very talented, although their lack of shooting / floor space causes concern.
The Timberwolves lead the lower middle class because, due to their first-round pick to Golden State, they have the least incentive to tank if they are still in the entry race.
Even the Thunder could be playful with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, George Hill and Al Horford. But Oklahoma City seems ready for the tank.
