Way too early predictions for every NBA playoff team in 2023-24

Predicting the top-4 of the Western Conference Playoffs

4. Phoenix Suns

Phoenix likely views themselves as the best team in the Western Conference heading into next year, but they may not see the regular season as the time to prove it. Star players Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal both have injury concerns that the Suns will likely look to avoid by sitting them out for certain games, making sure the team is healthy for the postseason.

3. Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles started off last season very slowly, yet still managed to finish seventh in the conference thanks to their trade deadline acquisitions. Assuming the Lakers play at the pace they did to end last season, expect them to finish much higher in the West with a chance of going on another playoff run.

2. Sacramento Kings

After finishing 3rd in the conference last season, the Kings managed to bring back nearly every key player of last year’s roster and should see improvement from young players like Keegan Murray and Davion Mitchell. That being said, expect them to take a leap this season in a wide-open Western Conference.

1. Denver Nuggets

For now, Denver has officially earned the title of the best team in the league, and they’re not the type of team that’s only clicking in the playoffs. The Nuggets finished first in the West last season thanks to Nikola Jokic’s MVP-caliber performance and an elite supporting cast. They should finish on top for the same reason this year.