2015 Western Conference Lines
The Western Conference is as jam-packed with top-tier talent as it’s ever been, which is why there are so many teams worth looking at when projecting the conference champion.
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For starters, consider the San Antonio Spurs. They’re the defending champions, and while age will be a concern, no one has ever gotten anywhere doubting what they do year in and year out.
Behind San Antonio you’ve got teams such as the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers vying for respect as a championship contender. The Wild Wild West is ready to compete, and there are 10 or 11 teams that will fight for spots in the postseason when April rolls around.
2015 NBA Futures: San Antonio Spurs (9/4)
Every year, columnists across the country write articles to start the year about how the San Antonio Spurs’ championship window is officially closed. And every year, those writers are proven wrong.
Not only was San Antonio in the thick of things last season, but they went on to win yet another Larry O’Brien Trophy. The problem is that this group — scratch that; dynasty — has never won back-to-back titles.
How can the Spurs finally buck that trend? They can put their youth and athleticism to use. The Big Three of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili is still effective, but it’s crucial that Kawhi Leonard and crew can step in and be the glue that holds the team together if age does in fact kick in.
2015 NBA Futures: Oklahoma City Thunder (3/1)
The Oklahoma City Thunder had a quiet summer. They lost long-time starter Thabo Sefolosha, but they picked up Caron Butler. That’s a modest upgrade on the offensive end with a more significant loss on defense, but this group should be much better because of one addition virtually no one is talking about.
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Russell Westbrook was not 100 percent healthy much of last season. Kevin Durant is the MVP, but with the ultra-athletic point guard playing in just 46 games, his impact is going to be felt on a massive level as he returns at full health.
If Westbrook can stay healthy, he’ll not only remind people he’s a top-tier point guard, but he’ll elevate this team to championship levels. A healthy squad with good cohesion will challenge the Spurs out West, and in the eyes of many, it will advance to the NBA Finals.
2015 NBA Futures: Los Angeles Clippers (11/2)
The Los Angeles Clippers just haven’t been able to get over the hump. They have improved drastically since the drafting of Blake Griffin and the acquisition of Chris Paul, but they’ve yet to make it past the second round with that core intact.
For L.A. to take the next step, continued offensive growth from Griffin is going to be essential. Equally as important is the defensive growth of DeAndre Jordan, which we saw last year and should continue to see in 2014-15.
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Although there’s no longer a debate about which team owns the city of Los Angeles, it’s still a conversation worth having as it pertains to the Clippers in the championship. The good news is that this group has a full year under Doc Rivers, and we should see improvements entering Year 2.
2015 NBA Futures: Dallas Mavericks (8/1)
Once you get past the top three teams out West, there is a whole slew of teams worth considering. The Houston Rockets had a bad summer, but they still have Dwight Howard and James Harden leading the way. Then there’s the Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors — two teams with youth on their side — and the Memphis Grizzlies, who are a gritty defensive team willing to fight.
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Although those teams are worth looking at, the Dallas Mavericks deserve a ton of credit for the improvements they made over the offseason. Chandler Parsons, Jameer Nelson and Tyson Chandler will be big-time difference makers, and if you’re looking for a sleeper out West that will be fighting for home-court advantage, Dallas could be it.
2015 NBA Futures: Odds to Win 2015 Western Conference
San Antonio Spurs 9/4
Oklahoma City Thunder 3/1
Los Angeles Clippers 11/2
Dallas Mavericks 8/1
Houston Rockets 8/1
Golden State Warriors 10/1
Portland Trailblazers 20/1
Memphis Grizzlies 25/1
Los Angeles Lakers 33/1
Denver Nuggets 40/1
New Orleans Pelicans 40/1
Phoenix Suns 40/1
Minnesota Timberwolves 75/1
Sacramento Kings 125/1
Utah Jazz 125/1
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