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The 2019-20 NBA season is now reaching its conclusion, and the race for the playoffs in the Western Conference remains competitive. Teams are jostling for both seeding and the 8th spot which remains up for grabs. Plenty will happen over the final two months of the campaign, and here is how the standings could look when the regular-season concludes in April.
#1 Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers' decision to put all their resources in a trade for Anthony Davis last summer has paid off. The addition of Davis alongside LeBron James has established the Lakers as one of the most dominant forces in the NBA, and they have topped the Western Conference standings for almost the entire season.
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Frank Vogel's side has won five consecutive games to improve to 43-12 - and the gap to second place in only increasing. At this stage, only a late collapse will cost the Lakers the much-coveted No.1 seed, and they are among the favorites to become NBA champions in June.
#2 Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets haven't been the most speculator team to watch this season, but have been consistent enough to be the favorites to finish behind the Lakers. Importantly, the Nuggets have one of the best road records in the NBA (17-11), and Michael Malone's side is well drilled on both ends of the floor. With no injury concerns, and six players averaging double-figures in scoring - the Nuggets should have the legs to secure the second seed ahead of a crowded chasing pack, and it will be interesting to see how they perform in the postseason.
#3 LA Clippers
Heading into the season, the LA Clippers were the heavy favorites to secure the West's No 1 seed, although a new-look roster has yet to click. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have yet to strike up the same sort of partnership that James and Davis have delivered for the Lakers - and there are also ongoing concerns regarding George's health.
Following a poor run of form in February, the Clippers are also looking over their shoulders rather than forward, although Doc Rivers has an incredible amount of talent at his disposal, and LA should be able to secure the number three spot.
#4 Houston Rockets
For much of the season, the Houston Rockets demonstrated little improvement from the 2018-19 campaign, although Mike D'Antoni has completely embraced the small ball over the past two weeks - and it appears to be paying off.
Since ditching Clint Capela earlier this month, the Rockets have picked up notable wins over the Lakers, Celtics, and Jazz - and Russell Westbrook has been nothing short of sensational over the past six weeks. Admittedly, questions persist over their ability to challenge in the postseason, although the Rockets' new approach should be enough to secure a top-four seed.
#5 Utah Jazz
At times this season, the Utah Jazz have looked like a well-drilled team that could advance from the West. However, they have also had more than their fair share of bad nights, and the Jazz's much-lauded defense from the past two seasons has at times virtually disappeared. The offseason trade for Mike Conley has yet to yield the expected results - and while Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell are enjoying standout seasons, the Jazz will most likely finish 5th for a fourth consecutive year.
#6 Oklahoma City Thunder
Following the departures of Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Jerami Grant, few experts believed that the Oklahoma City Thunder would compete for a playoff spot due to the depth found in the West. However, Billy Donovan has built an incredibly competitive team around his trio of excellent point guards - and the Thunder have been among the NBA's best teams since the turn of the year. OKC's momentum should be enough to propel them to a sixth-placed finish, and they will also be the dark horses of the 2020 playoffs.
#7 Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks have had to deal with absences to Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis since the turn of the year, and have fallen to seventh following a sequence of six wins in 11 games. An underwhelming home record (16-14) will probably have enough of an impact to halt the Mavs climbing up the standings between now and April, although, with a 35-23 record, they are still well ahead of where they expected to be at this stage season.
#8 Portland Trail Blazers
After reaching the 2019 NBA Finals, the Portland Trail Blazers have been hugely disappointing this season, and face a significant task to secure the final playoff spot ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies.
However, Portland's experience will play a significant role over the final weeks of the season as pressure starts to build on a young Grizzlies roster, and the Blazers could also get Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins back from injury. With Damian Lillard also enjoying a career-year, Portland should have enough quality to pick pip the Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans to the final playoff spot, and they could prove to be a tough first-round playoff opponent.
