Predicting the 8 NBA Playoff seeds from the Western Conference

#5 Utah Jazz

Donovan Mitchell and the Jazz could miss out on homecourt advantage

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.

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#6 Oklahoma City Thunder

Chris Paul has had a huge impact in Oklahoma City following his summer trade

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.