Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA Playoffs: Predicting West standings and compelling close races

By Duncan Smith

Apr 7, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) against Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) at Phoenix Suns Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) against Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) at Phoenix Suns Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 4
Next
NBA playoffs
NBA playoffs Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

It’s hard to imagine a more chaotic season and a more bizarre run-up to the NBA playoffs in the Western Conference. Injuries have run rampant, particularly affecting teams like the Los Angeles Lakers who have been without LeBron James and Anthony Davis for much of the season.

The Lakers may have been the best team in the regular season most years, but they’re just fifth in the West with a record of 36-25 thanks to these critical absences. The Denver Nuggets are another team that suffered a crucial injury, losing Jamal Murray for the season with a torn ACL, and the LA Clippers have had missed games from both Paul George and Kawhi Leonard.

Predicting the Western Conference standings and compelling races for the NBA playoffs

Thanks to the door being swung wide open to the top of the West, a new crop of teams have surged into the highest two seeds. The Utah Jazz have the best record in the NBA, followed closely by the Phoenix Suns, and the Clippers are just behind the two of them.

Even with new faces in the top ranks, the Western Conference is as competitive as ever at all levels. The NBA’s play-in tournament has only added to the intrigue with 10 teams having a chance at making the NBA playoffs proper. For details on how the play-in will work this season, click here.

The new format means that the 10th-place Golden State Warriors have an opportunity to get into the playoffs, even without improving their standing in the conference. Considering Steph Curry’s incredible season, that can only be a good thing.

Let’s take a look at how this wild race for the NBA playoffs could end up by going over our predictions for the final standings in the Western Conference.