Western Conference Standings

Well here it goes........

1. Golden State Warriors

The Warriors almost Cruz Thru the whole regular season and definitely the playoffs. On top of that when they added DeMarcus Cousins to the roster, this year they are going to be a force to reckon with. Almost unstoppable. Even though we're still not sure when DeMarcus Cousins will be fully available, or even if he will be at 100% when he comes back. Still without him there still a very strong team. Now next season is going to be interesting to see if they can keep the whole team together.

2. Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets are a solid team. Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute with aging Carmelo Anthony and James Ennis III. however they still have James Harden Chris Paul and a few other key figures so they should be the should be decent this year. I have them in  my second place. 

3. Utah Jazz

Utah Jazz have been steadily improving over the past couple of years. They have multiple young players that are starting to develop and as long as Rudy Gobert's stays healthy. Donovan Mitchell is also going to be very exciting to see this year.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma Thunder had to drop Melo's contract but it looks like that could make them a better team. He didn't really fit very well or as well as they want them to. With both Westbrook and PG, they played better in the playoffs when he sat. They also added a sixth Man so that should help them. It was a key weakness that they had.

5. Denver Nuggets
After Denver came up one win short of the playoffs last season, we're projecting the Nuggets to end a postseason drought that stands at five years. The Nuggets had three of the seven players in the NBA last season who averaged at least 16.5 points at age 23 or younger while playing a minimum of 65 games: center Nikola Jokic and guards Gary Harris and Jamal Murray.

6. Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers are going to be my sex pick. Obviously they were all horrible team LeBron James is there. He moved during the free agency. He hasn't recruited anyone that's either a Chris Bosh or a Kevin Love caliber player. He only got rondo, very good passer and McGee who's going to be their center.

7. New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans went 20-9 in regular-season games during which Anthony Davisand February trade pickup Nikola Mirotic played together, outscoring opponents by 10.7 points per 100 possessions when that duo was on the floor. That momentum carried over into a first-round sweep of the Trail Blazers. Can the Pelicans, who played at the league's fastest pace, keep running successfully with reclamation project Elfrid Payton replacing Rajon Rondo?

8. Minnesota Timberwolves
There haven't exactly been warm, fuzzy vibes coming from Minnesota, despite the Timberwolves making the playoffs for the first time since Kevin Garnett was just entering his prime. There have been persistent rumors and speculation about whether Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns, the team's two All-Stars, are a tandem suited to last long term, with the former being a Tom Thibodeau loyalist and the latter seeming to butt heads with the head coach.