Western Conference:

Denver Nuggets (53-29): Complimented by a healthy roster, the Denver Nuggets were able to jump from the #6 seed last season to first in the Western conference giving Denver their best chance to make the NBAFinals since the 2018-19 campaign. Injury plagued is a narrative that has haunted the Nuggets over the last few seasons.That despite the team’s grit and consistency from two-time MVP Nikola Jokic they never have enough firepower when it really matters. However, the Denver Nuggets crumpled and disposed of that critique as they were able to maintain their team’s health throughout the entire 2022-23 seasons. FormerAll-Star guard Jamal Murry, forward Michael Porter Jr. and the addition of former NBAchampion Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are all relatively healthy and geared up for a big playoff push.The Nuggets now look to finally gain that elusive NBAchampionship that their roster has been expected to produce over the past few seasons.

Memphis Grizzlies (51-31):Arguably one of the most electrifying teams to watch in the NBA, the Memphis Grizzlies were able to maintain their dominance in the Western conference.Although the franchise experienced their fair share of controversy from their media driven animated demeanors, that didn’t stop them from once again securing a top two seed in the West.Anchored by their dynamic duo of star guard Ja Morant and center Jaren Jackson Jr., along with their array of young talented guards Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, andTyus Jones, the Grizzlies appear primed to put their name back in the Western Conference Finals conversation.After failing to capitalize in the 2021-22 playoff semifinal, the Memphis Grizzlies look to give any team in the West a run for their money, health provided.

Sacramento Kings (48-34): Undoubtedly the NBA’s biggest surprise of the season was the emergence of the Sacramento Kings.After shockingly dealingTyrese Haliburton, their projected point guard of the future in exchange forAll-Star center Domantas Sabonis, many thought the Kings were making a mistake.Trading their future for an experienced player with limited success turned a lot of NBAfans away from the thought of the Kings ever competing amongst the league’s elite powerhouses. However, the combination of guard De’Aaron Fox and Sabonis, along with off season additions such as sharpshooter Kevin Huerter and rookie prospect Keegan Murray has created an undeniable balance of scoring and ball movement on the floor. Maintaining their above 100.00 pace from a season prior, sacrificing their youth for maturity has most definitely worked out for the Kings in the short term. Questions remain though. Is this a new era of Kings basketball or a Cinderella season?As Sacramento prepares for their first postseason in almost two decades.

Phoenix Suns (45-37):The Phoenix Suns have been among the league’s top overall teams since acquiring future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul.Although having earned a top two seeding since that trade in 2020, the Suns led byAll-Star guard Devin Booker has been unable to capitalize on their talents and finish once on the biggest stage. In an attempt to remedy that problem, the Suns opted to relinquish their roster depth in what can only be viewed as an all-in approach to this year’s playoffs.The Phoenix Suns put the entire league on notice after finalizing a blockbuster trade at the NBA’s trade deadline for arguably the greatest play-by-play scorer in the NBAtoday, Kevin Durant.Adding the 29.7ppg “Slim Reaper” to a core of high level producers that the Suns possess seemed fictitious considering the stance the NBAtook against the fantasy-like structuring of teams in the past. However, in today’s NBAthe deal was considered free of any foul play and per league standards was allowed to pass through. While chemistry in the playoffs remains to be the only argument one can make about their overall cohesion, the Suns potentially have the greatest odds of making a NBAFinals appearance if that speculation is put to rest in the first round.

LosAngeles Clippers (44-38): Coming into the 2022-23 season the Clippers had what some would consider one of the deepest NBArosters, spearheaded with two-time NBAchampion and Defensive player of the year forward Kawhi Leonard. Banking on their depth, the franchise has notoriously become known for load-managing their roster to ensure their superstars are ready to go all out once the playoffs arrive. In route of that strategy however, the Clippers are now set to enter the 2022-23 postseason without their second leading scorer forward Paul George as he’s deemed out with “no timeable return” from a left knee sprain. Having fallen to the #9 seed after competing in the Western Conference Finals in 2020-21 the Clippers entered this season with an obvious chip on their shoulders.They now look to make the most of the rest of their season led by Kawhi Leonard and the newly acquired future Hall of Fame guard Russell Westbrook.

Golden State Warriors (44-38):The 2021-22 defending NBAchampions once again find themselves outside of the top three in the Western conference standings. However, as history has taught us about the dynasty organization, it’s probably best to hold off on predicting how well the Golden State Warriors will do until all is said and done.The Warriors have been without a great deal of their core roster throughout the majority of the 2022-23 season withAll-Star forwardAndrew Wiggins and the revolutionary of the three pointer, future Hall of Famer Stephen Curry sidelined.The duo has been out as a result of battling a multitude of injuries and personal reasons. However, all of that considered the Warriors have coasted to the #6 seed behind the championship tutelage of the former SanAntonio Spur, head coach Steve Kerr, and four-time NBAchampions KlayThompson and Draymond Green.Allowing the youth of their team to gain playing experience while theirAll-Stars work their way back to 100 percent. It remains to be seen what the Warriors are capable of at full strength, but the one thing for certain is that they can never be counted out in the playoffs.

LosAngeles Lakers (43-39):The historic franchise has been one of the most discussed teams in the league the entire season.After a lackluster season in 2021-22, all bets were on that the team simply lacked chemistry, and once that was taken care of the “Showtime” Lakers would be back and efficient at full throttle.This time around however, although improved from last season, the team as constructed just wasn’t producing wins at the rate they were expected to. Before reorganizing their roster at the NBAtrade deadline the lone bright spot in the purple and yellow was undisputedly claimed by future first ballot Hall of Famer, the four-time MVPand NBAchampion forward LeBron James. James led the Lakers in points per game (28.9) and led the team in almost every recordable stat while claiming second place in only rebounding and blocked shots as the roster is presently constructed. In route of those feats at 38 years of age, the “King” also was honored for passing the all-time NBAscoring record previously held by NBA Legend KareemAbdul-Jabaar.All that said, after reconstructing their roster the Lakers were able rally from the #13 seed into the NBAPlay-in tournament and ultimately claimed the #7 seed by beating the MinnesotaTimberwolves.As long as star centerAnthony Davis and LeBron James can remain healthy, their pedigrees mandate that the Lakers remain a dark horse favorite to make another NBAFinals appearance.

MinnesotaTimberwolves (42-40):The MinnesotaTimberwolves entered the 2022-23 season making an attempt to bolster their roster with proven talent to further build around their young core of futureAll-Stars.An astonishing blockbuster deal landed the team the established three-time Defensive player of the year andAll-Star center Rudy Gobert from the Utah Jazz in exchange for a whopping five players in 2022 and five first round draft picks in the future. In hindsight, this deal benefits one side greatly more than the other considering Gobert has already spent nine seasons with Utah prior to his departure, however it remains to be seen if the move can aid in delivering a championship to Minnesota. So far their effort has shown to be considered “an all-time disaster” as the team has fallen one rank in the Western conference standings since Gobert’s acquisition. Granted, theTimberwolves were without their star center KarlAnthony-Towns for the majority of the season and traded away more assets at the NBAtrade deadline including former lottery pick guard D’Angelo Russell. Minnesota’s championship expectations seem almost unrealistic as they enter the 2022-23 playoffs as the #8 seed, even though the return of KarlAnthonyTowns helped defeat the Oklahoma CityThunder to advance to the playoffs.