The NBA's 2023-24 season is halfway through, and among the Western teams, the ones who have played less have played 44 games, and the ones who have played more have played 49 games.
Every season, the competition for a playoff spot in the West is fierce, and this season is expected to be no exception. At present, there are 4 distinct levels in the Western team.
First gear: Timberwolves, Thunder, Clippers, Nuggets
The Timberwolves are 34-14 in the West, the Thunder are 33-15 in the second, the Clippers are 31-15 in the third, and the Nuggets are 33-16 in the fourth.
These 4 teams have a win difference of only 1 from first to fourthWith a gap of 5 games, the season is still long, and the ranking can change at any time, but it is also 45 wins difference. This means that if there are no core injuries, the top four teams in the West are likely to be these 4 teams.
These 4 teams are also the teams with the strength to compete for the championship in the west.
Needless to say, the defending champions, although the bench lineup has been weakened compared to last season, their starting lineup is still the top in the league. After Jokic won the championship, he seemed to have become a Buddhist for the regular season, and the playoffs were his stage.
The Clippers have a 23-5 record so far last December, the best in the league. After trading to Harden, after a period of running-in, the Clippers are now like "aircraft carriers" with strong combat power. The Clippers are healthy at the core, and they are the hottest team in the West to compete with the Nuggets.
The Timberwolves have played the league's No. 1 defensive efficiency so far this season, and their current record is No. 1 in the West, which is undoubtedly a big surprise this season. With excellent defense, the Timberwolves' record will not drop too much, and they will be able to stabilize the top four in the West.
The Thunder's performance this season has also been a surprise, with sixth in the league in offensive efficiency and fourth in the league in defensive efficiency, all of which show that this Thunder team has been reborn as a new upstart in the West.
Second gear: Kings, Suns, Pelicans, Mavericks
The Kings, who are fifth in the West, are four days away from the Nuggets, who are fourth in the West5 wins, while only 2 wins away from the Mavericks, who are eighth in the West. The Mavericks are 2 ahead of the Lakers in 9th placeThe difference between 5 wins is not very large, and it is likely that the future ranking will change.
These four teams are expected to compete for two teams that do not have to play in the play-off places.
Last season, the Kings made the playoffs in third place in the West, and this season the Kings don't seem to be as impressive as last season, mainly because their offensive efficiency is not as good as last season. This season, Barnes and Huerter have regressed significantly.
The Suns have a luxury triumvirate, but the lineup is also flawed, with big defensive problems, a single offensive tactic, and no serious point guard. Therefore, the Suns are currently the worst team in the league in the final quarter, and a 20-point lead at the end of the third quarter may not necessarily win.
The Pelicans, whether it is Zion or Yingge, are not as good as last season this season, but fortunately, they are at least healthy for now. Healthy pelicans, still competitive in the West.
The Mavericks have been a bit of a bit injured lately, Irving hasn't come back yet, and Doncic is injured again. So far this season, Irving has played just 27 games. At the same time, Doncic's run-in with Irving still seems to be shaky, and the league's 23rd defense is also a big problem.
Tier 3: Lakers, Rockets, Jazz, Warriors, the Lakers, the Lakers in ninth place in the West and the Warriors in 12th place have a win difference of only 1In five games, the competition for 7th-12th place in the West, especially for playoff spots, is also the most competitive area in the West over the past two seasons.
These 4 teams will compete for 2 play-off spots.
There have been a lot of trade rumors for the Lakers recently, and there will be a lot of news that Ham is unstable in the event of a loss. The Lakers' lineup, except for James and thick eyebrows, can't defend what can be attacked, and what can be defended can't be attacked.
The Rockets are currently playing much better than last season, ranking 7th in the league in defensive efficiency, and Jalen Green has been in better form lately. If the Rockets get better offensively in the second half of the season, they won't at least not fall behind in the play-off tournament.
The Jazz are indeed a magical team, with a poor start, a better record in December, and successive victories against strong teams, thinking that they were also going to "go on the Northern Expedition", but in January the results fell back.
The Warriors seem to be getting better lately, Dreamer is back in the starting lineup, Wiggins is getting better, and Kuminga is starting to take on the load. However, it may be difficult for this Warriors team to go back to the past, and there is no way to become a championship-level team.
Fourth gear: Grizzlies, Trail Blazers, Spurs
The Grizzlies, who are 13th in the West, are 3 years behind the WarriorsWith 5 wins, the 14th-place Trail Blazers are 7 wins behind the Warriors, and the bottom-placed Spurs are 12 wins behind the Warriors.
These three teams are the teams competing for the highest draft picks.
The Grizzlies are more miserable, the season did not start, Morant was suspended for 25 games, Adams was reimbursed, and Clark was basically reimbursed. Finally, Morant came back and played 9 games to be reimbursed again. Smart, who was traded last summer, has also stopped and stopped, and the Grizzlies have no hope this season and can only hope for next season.
The Trail Blazers and Spurs decided to be a rebuilding team last offseason, with the Trail Blazers sending Lillard into a rebuild, and the Spurs needing time to develop Wembanyama.