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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 /
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NBA playoffs
NBA playoffs Mandatory Credit: Elsa/POOL PHOTOS-USA TODAY Sports /

NBA Playoffs: Predicting the top 3 teams in the Western Conference

1. Phoenix Suns (43-18)

The Phoenix Suns showed there was something special in the works in last season’s NBA bubble in Orlando when they went 8-0 and nearly snuck into the inaugural play-in. They caught Chris Paul’s eye, though, and when his OKC Thunder decided to go the rebuild route, Phoenix was where Paul wanted to play.

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While the rest of the conference has had bumps and stumbles and injuries, the Suns have been consistent and steadfast. Paul’s professionalism has surely rubbed off on this team, but head coach Monty Williams, Devin Booker and the rest of the squad deserve credit themselves for the way they’ve conducted themselves and battled this season.

2. Utah Jazz (44-17)

Currently the top seed, the Utah Jazz have earned plenty of credibility this season. They’re a historically potent 3-point shooting team, and considering the career production of their best shooters like Bojan Bogdanovic, Mike Conley, Joe Ingles and others, you can pretty comfortably assume that will remain consistent going into the playoffs.

On top of that, they have Donovan Mitchell and perhaps the NBA’s best defender, Rudy Gobert. They may have been a first-round out last season, but they’ve played this year like they have some vengeance to wreak on the league.

3. LA Clippers (43-20)

The LA Clippers have missed Kawhi Leonard for 17 games this season, and he’s currently out with a foot injury, but with or without him their winning percentage remains around 69 percent. It’s good that they keep winning regular season games without him, but they’re going to need a full-strength Kawhi when the playoffs roll around.

If they do have Leonard and George at the peak of their abilities when the NBA playoffs begin, however, there’s no reason (other than perhaps a healthy LeBron James) they can’t be the favorites to come out of the Western Conference.