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NBA Power Rankings: 2014-15 Western Conference Projections

By Shane Young

May 29, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (left) and San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) react during the second half in game five of the Western Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
May 29, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (left) and San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) react during the second half in game five of the Western Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Power Rankings
May 1, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) talks to guard Chris Paul (3) during the third quarter in game six of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Clippers 100-99. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

3.  Los Angeles Clippers — 57-25

Hardest month:  February  (.590)

Weakest month:  December  (.455)

Back-to-backs:  19

Steve Ballmer offers more than just a new name under the ownerships title for the Clippers.  He provides the city of Los Angeles with enthusiasm that can only add to the loads you would get from watching Lob City in Staples Center.

The Pacific Division will belong to the “other Los Angeles team” for the remainder of Kobe Bryant’s tenure in the league, which is sort of depressing if you were banking on the cross-town rivalry to continue.  Now, when they face each other, you have to be demented to take the Lakers.

Doc Rivers has just been kept on board by Ballmer for five years, and over $50 million, leaving many to wonder if the pressure is on him more than ever.

Many have gone to extreme, unconventional measures to even degrade Chris Paul as the No. 1 point guard in the league since he hasn’t reached the conference finals once in his career.

The maturation of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan gave them their highest win total in franchise history last season, and it set the standard for where they want to be in the regular season.  There was no better offense in the league last season, ranking first in Offensive Rating (112.1) and points scored per game (107.1).  In the Western Conference, where even winning on your home floor isn’t as guaranteed as Indiana in the East, the Clippers were 34-7 at Staples Center, tying for No. 1 honors with Oklahoma City.

Hollywood, Billy Crystal, and fans encouraging variation have been waiting for this day.  More monumental than their success, is that Donald Sterling has to watch from afar, in his home, with $2 billion to mess with.