Top 5 Teams To Look Out For In The Upcoming Season - Western Conference

The Western conference is stacked, in fact it hasn’t been this stacked for a while. Many teams and many legends of the game are in this conference, and for a reason. As far as the off season goes, here are the 5 teams that have a chance to make it out of the west next season.

5. Dallas Mavericks

The Mavs are made up of two superstars on their roster in Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic. Of course the team is much more than that, but let's start with the big names. Since joining the Mavs at the trade deadline, Kyrie averaged 27 ppg/ 5 rpg/ 6apg on 51% FG and 39% from three. He has been a great addition to the team when playing just 20 games. Unfortunately the team could not find wins within that time frame and got disqualified from a playoff appearance.

But Kyrie had to do it alone, as Luka Doncic got injured towards the end of the season. Luka was carrying the team prior to the trade deadline, leading the league in scoring, and leading the Mavs in all stats besides blocks. By now, you should know that Doncic is an elite scorer and facilitator, averaging 32.4 ppg/ 8.6 rpg/ 8.0 apg on very efficient shooting. He won multiple games by himself closing out in the last intenses of tight games or scoring winning buzzer beaters.

The Mavs need to add depth to their roster in order to make a concrete playoff run next season, as well as changing up their plays which was a huge issue last season as all their opponents knew what they were going to play next.

4. Golden State Warriors

Golden State are natural champions, you cannot take them out of the equation each year. They have proven time and time again that they are a playoff team, despite having underwhelming regular seasons. They are the Miami Heat of the west and for a reason. Mainly led by Steph Curry, he averaged 30 ppg with 6 rebounds and 6 assists, while shooting 42% from deep.

Unfortunately for the Warriors, the rest of the roster has been underwhelming, especially when it comes to Jordan Poole who was supposed to be their future. Poole decreased in efficiency, while playing more minutes this season. He might have averaged more points this time around, but not in the manner we expected him to.

On the positive side, the team still has great assets in Kevon Looney, and above average center, and Andrew Wiggins, an athletic wing who can do it on both ends of the court.

Same as the Mavs, if the Warriors want a real shot at a ring, they must add to their roster and rebuild internally.

3. LA Lakers

The Lakers were not expected to reach the playoffs this year, and even less to make the conference finals. They might have been swept, but they were faced against the best team in the league.

Having rebuilt in a matter of weeks, the Lakers made good trades at the trade deadline, bringing both depth and starting power. Rui Hachimura, Lonnie Walker and Austin Reaves were all pivotal players on the court for the Lakers, and will surely be running it back this season with more to offer. Since missing the last two playoffs in 2021 and 2022, it was nice to see LeBron back in contention, and this time around he showed us why he shouldn’t be doubted.

If Anthony Davis manages to stay healthy, they could be the top in the west, but due to injuries and load management, we have to put them in 3rd place.

Lastly, this might be LeBron's last year in Los Angeles before his son joins the NBA, so this might be his last real chance at a 5th ring.

2. Phoenix Suns

Much is happening in Phoenix, as Bradley Beal got traded to the Suns they are now a top contending team in the west. Already with the addition of KD on the squad, they managed to push for a second round exit in the postseason without having played much with each other.

KD will struggle to back down the superteams allegations, but that's what he does. Eighty on the Warriors, then on the Nets, he is now a Sun surrounded by two of the best scorers in the league in Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. With such an offensive team, the Suns management team must find role players that fit their system and culture in order to fill out a bench that could be the defining factor between winning a championship and being a second round exit.

1. Denver Nuggets

Of course we have to put the Nuggets at the number 1 spot. They are the current champions and for a reason. Denver have built a system and culture surrounded around good team work, great chemistry, and an offensive flow based around their point guard big man, Nikola Jokic. In addition, Jamal Murray has shown time and time again that he belongs in the top 5 guard discussion, as he makes up half of the possibly the best duo in NBA history. Additionally, the Nuggets have a fantastic supporting cast in Aaron Gordon, KCP, MPJ, Bruce Brown, veteran Jeff Green and sophomore Christian Braun.

Coach Michael Malone is a great coach too, he will be able to mark up plays like never before to offer the people of Denver a second championship.

This is possibly the start of one of t