Regular-season basketball is just around the corner and the NBA world is buzzing with excitement. Preseason games are underway as star players from every generation warm up to compete for the coveted Larry O’Brien Trophy. A major shift from the last 20 years in the NBA is coming with the Western Conference beginning to fall behind the Eastern Conference — though not by far. Superstar talent and rising stars are embedded within rosters across the West including the reigning champions and MVP.
If you missed the Eastern Conference predictions, you can click here to check them out. However, we’re going to get started by heading down to the Southwest for one of the most intriguing divisions in basketball. The tides have truly shifted with perennial championship contenders swapping places with teams who’ve never been quite as good as they are today.
1-sentence Western Conference predictions: Southwest Division of the NBA.
Memphis Grizzlies: Trash-talking catches up to Memphis, but it makes them better in the long run.
Houston Rockets: Previously unwatchable team becomes a League Pass darling immediately.
New Orleans Pelicans: Ridiculous depth + ascending coach + buff Zion = Terror for everyone else.
Dallas Mavericks: Last year’s defense won’t sustain but it doesn’t matter because of Luka magic.
San Antonio Spurs: Pop develops his young guys, secures a top-3 pick & rides off into the sunset.