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A big swath of NBA media is out on the highest seeds within the Western Convention — and it is smart, as a result of, for the primary time for the reason that 1996-97 season, the East is way and away superior.
The Denver Nuggets have clinched the very best file within the West at 52-28 with two video games remaining. The No. 2 seed Memphis Grizzlies gained their fiftieth recreation on Tuesday, and third-seeded Sacramento Kings might not get to 50 wins. These groups may even not transfer within the standings by the top of the week.
With the dearth of dominance on the high of the Western Convention, analysts and sports activities books imagine that veteran groups clustered in the midst of the standings have — at minimal — a equally possible probability at advancing to the NBA Finals. Each Fanduel and DraftKings have the No. 4 seed Phoenix Suns because the betting favorites to return out of the West.
Sure, Kevin Durant has returned from damage for the Suns. Andrew Wiggins is again within the Bay Area together with Gary Payton II. The Los Angeles Lakers have been on a tear for the reason that all-star break, and if Paul George returns to the crew that defeated them on Wednesday night time — the Los Angeles Clippers — they may have as sturdy a roster as any crew with a rejuvenated Kawhi Leonard.
All of that being mentioned, the groups on the high of the Western Convention are not any pushovers. A few them have actual playoff expertise, and the one which doesn’t continues to be higher than almost everywhere in the NBA in an vital class.
No. 1 Nuggets are pretty much as good as any crew within the West
The Denver Nuggets are the No. 1 seed for a cause. After all, the principle one is Nikola Jokić operating the offense like he’s Magic Johnson, however whereas taking part in middle. Nevertheless, there’s a cause that his career-high utilization charge — 31.9 p.c — has dropped to 27.2 p.c which is his lowest for the reason that bubble season and he’s nonetheless taking part in at an NBA degree.
Not solely did Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. return from damage, however the Nuggets did considerably enhance their roster. They introduced in Bruce Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope through the offseason, and Reggie Jackson and Thomas Bryant close to the commerce deadline.
Brown and Caldwell-Pope have been pretty much as good as marketed however Jackson and Bryant have struggled a lot that Zeke Nnaji — recovering from a knee damage —has been the Nuggets’ second-best participant off of the bench. For the entire work that the Nuggets have accomplished to their roster, depth could also be a problem come playoff time.
The starters although, that group is a monster. 4 of their 5 have conference-finals expertise. The online ranking for the Nuggets’ beginning lineup is best than the Philadelphia 76ers’ crunchtime 5, the entire Boston Celtics’ most used lineups, and is bested by solely one of many Milwaukee Bucks’ most used. If the Nuggets can get something out of their bench, they may play like a high seed.
The Grizzlies will be maddening however they’re good
Between Dillon Brooks’ battle in opposition to the world, and Ja Morant briefly being away from the crew after flashing a firearm on Instagram, it may be straightforward to neglect that for the reason that flip of the yr the Grizzlies have spent at some point within the Western Convention standings decrease than second. In the event that they hadn’t hit a skid from mid-January via early February they may simply be the highest crew within the convention.
Desmond Bane has taken one other main leap in his third NBA season. His field-goal makes an attempt and scoring common have elevated this season alongside together with his field-goal share. Bane is about to obtain a fats payday as a result of he’s a real backcourt scoring menace.
Jaren Jackson Jr. is properly on his solution to a Defensive Participant of the 12 months Award. His position because the anchor on that protection has led the Grizzlies to the second-best defensive ranking within the league. A defensive-minded crew that performed the NBA Champions in a aggressive six-game collection final playoffs. They are going to be a terror this spring.
Everyone needs to play the Kings
It is smart. They don’t have a top-10 NBA participant on their roster and haven’t been to the postseason since Rick Adelman’s closing season as head coach in 2005-06. In some ways, these Kings are a flawed Adelman crew. An excellent offense during which the entire is larger than the sum of its elements, however they battle on protection.
That is essentially the most weak of the top-three seeds, however out of three choices one needed to end final. Whereas the Kings do battle on protection, they’ve the very best offensive ranking within the NBA. The roster is flush with capturing, paint scoring, and playmaking. Each night time in opposition to them within the postseason might be a exercise for the opposition.
And for all of their struggles on protection, they’re nonetheless higher than each crew within the West in a big class — street victories. The Kings are the one crew within the Western Convention with a street file over .500, and it’s not only a few video games over. They’re 25-15 on the street. Solely the Bucks — the top-seeded crew within the league — have a greater street file at 26-14. Mix that with a veteran head coach in Mike Brown, the Kings might be no straightforward out.
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