12-14-2020, 07:46 AM
ESPN's prediction for record and standings in the west. Nothing earth shattering here:
The contenders
1. Los Angeles Lakers: 49-23
2. LA Clippers: 46-26
3. Denver Nuggets: 45-27
4. Dallas Mavericks: 43-29
5. Utah Jazz: 43-29
6. Portland Trail Blazers: 41-31
Dallas finished percentage points ahead of Utah in our panel's predictions.
You can break down the West contenders into three tiers.
The Lakers stand alone as the clear-cut favorites, a defending champion that upgraded the supporting cast around arguably the two best players in the game by adding dynamic offensive firepower (Montrezl Harrell and Dennis Schroder) and defensive-minded, savvy vets (Marc Gasol and Wesley Matthews).
The Clippers, fresh off being the biggest disappointment in the bubble, are the biggest threat to the reigning kings, as well as the team with the most to prove.
Then there is a pack of talented teams that would need things to break quite well for them to get out of the West.
The Nuggets, with an established superstar in Nikola Jokic, bubble breakout sensation Jamal Murray and perhaps a third star in Michael Porter Jr., deserve top billing in that bunch after their 2020 run to the West finals, according to our panel.
Dallas might be the most dangerous due to Luka Doncic's dominance, but the durability of co-star Kristaps Porzingis looms as a large question.
The Jazz were an in-and-out Game 7 buzzer-beater away from knocking off the Nuggets in the quarterfinals -- and they get back sharpshooter SF Bojan Bogdanovic after wrist surgery kept him out of the bubble.
Portland was a popular choice after its productive offseason, including the addition of Robert Covington, who provides the Trail Blazers hope of playing defense well enough to ride Damian Lillard's frequently hot hand deep into the postseason. -- Tim MacMahon
The contenders
1. Los Angeles Lakers: 49-23
2. LA Clippers: 46-26
3. Denver Nuggets: 45-27
4. Dallas Mavericks: 43-29
5. Utah Jazz: 43-29
6. Portland Trail Blazers: 41-31
Dallas finished percentage points ahead of Utah in our panel's predictions.
You can break down the West contenders into three tiers.
The Lakers stand alone as the clear-cut favorites, a defending champion that upgraded the supporting cast around arguably the two best players in the game by adding dynamic offensive firepower (Montrezl Harrell and Dennis Schroder) and defensive-minded, savvy vets (Marc Gasol and Wesley Matthews).
The Clippers, fresh off being the biggest disappointment in the bubble, are the biggest threat to the reigning kings, as well as the team with the most to prove.
Then there is a pack of talented teams that would need things to break quite well for them to get out of the West.
The Nuggets, with an established superstar in Nikola Jokic, bubble breakout sensation Jamal Murray and perhaps a third star in Michael Porter Jr., deserve top billing in that bunch after their 2020 run to the West finals, according to our panel.
Dallas might be the most dangerous due to Luka Doncic's dominance, but the durability of co-star Kristaps Porzingis looms as a large question.
The Jazz were an in-and-out Game 7 buzzer-beater away from knocking off the Nuggets in the quarterfinals -- and they get back sharpshooter SF Bojan Bogdanovic after wrist surgery kept him out of the bubble.
Portland was a popular choice after its productive offseason, including the addition of Robert Covington, who provides the Trail Blazers hope of playing defense well enough to ride Damian Lillard's frequently hot hand deep into the postseason. -- Tim MacMahon