Last season: 50-32; projected 2019-20: 51-31
The Utah Jazz should be better this season than last, but it may not translate into many more wins because a lot of teams out West can make the same claim.
For Utah, they’ve added Bojan Bogdanovic and Mike Conley to their core of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, while giving Royce O’Neale a shot in the starting group in order to have Joe Ingles anchor the second unit.
The Jazz improved their depth as well, with Ed Davis, Jeff Green and Emmanuel Mudiay coming on board. Bogdanovic in place of departed Derrick Favors will help offensive spacing, but the Utah defense might suffer a bit for it.
Utah was 1-4 in the preseason (0-4 against NBA competition) and surrendered at least 126 points in all four of those losses. Dante Exum is day-to-day entering the season due to a knee injury.
Last season: 48-34; projected 2019-20: 53-29
The LA Clippers are a sexy pick to win the NBA title this season after adding two-time Defensive Player of the Year and two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard along with All-NBA forward Paul George.
But George is out for another three or four weeks recovering from surgeries on both shoulders and Leonard’s load management needs might put a bit of a damper on LA’s regular-season win total.
Defense in the middle is also a concern with Ivica Zubac and Montrezl Harrell sharing time. Zubac has the size, but lacks experience. Harrell is a small-ball 5 who can struggle against bigger coverage assignments.
The Clippers were 2-3 in the preseason, but 0-3 against NBA competition. Besides George, Rodney McGruder (ankle) and Patrick Beverley (calf) are day-to-day.
Last season: 54-28; projected 2019-20: 53-29
The Denver Nuggets could have an opportunity to get a jump on the Western Conference race with a fast start, as they have far fewer new pieces to integrate into their rotation than the other top teams in the West.
Nikola Jokic is back to run the point-center spot, with Jamal Murray locked into a max extension. So the core will be in place for awhile. The Nuggets added Jerami Grant, who will back up Paul Millsap at the 4, while Michael Porter Jr. may press for more minutes after finally being declared healthy enough to play.
Gary Harris could help Denver to that fast start with a bounce-back season.
The Nuggets were 4-0 in the preseason. On the injury front, rookie Bol Bol has a fractured left foot and is out indefinitely. Vlatko Cancar (ankle) is day-to-day.