3. LA Clippers

Record: 51-31

Power-rating: 8

Courtesy of SI.com

With Kawai Leonard playing extremely limited minutes off the bench and sitting out for entire games, the Clippers will be looking for George to be the major regular season contributor. Although George played the first three games and scored 40 against the Kings, he missed their last game against the Thunder due to a non-COVID illness

As I have previously stated, these were my predictions prior to the season beginning and we’re only a little over a week into a very long season, so while it’s fun to over-react on the first few games, putting a lot of stock in such a small sample size isn’t warranted. I will admit, however, that these guys coming in third place isn’t looking great: Leonard has been playing very limited minutes when he’s even playing at all and it seems like we might get 50-60 games from him at best. George is also out for illness, but I’m not too worried about that: I think now that he is not injured we’re going to see him play 30-40 minutes consistently as long as he stays healthy.

While George might not have the accolades Kawai does, a regular season team can definitely skate by with him as their best player in the regular season, especially when that team has the depth the Clippers do. 

This team has an absurd number of wings they can plug in as needed including Norman Powell, Terrence Mann, Nicolas Batum and Marcus Morris Sr., Robert Covington who has been one of the best wing defenders in the league for most of his career, and lastly one the best off-the-bench sharpshooters in the NBA, Luke Kennard, who many discredit because of his defense, but he is definitely more adequate on that side of the floor than what popular opinion would have you believe. On top of this Ivica Zubac and Reggie Jackson are solid NBA starters and the team now has former all-star Jon Wall coming off the bench on top of all of the depth they already have. Yes they lost to the Thunder without their two stars, but this team is so deep it’s actually passable on any given night without George and Leonard. In fact, many people seem to overlook that this team without those two actually won 42 games last year, which is nothing short of astounding. A big reason for that is their coach Tyronn Lue, who could have won coach of the year last year in my opinion. With all of this going for them, I definitely think if George plays through the season and Kawai can get his 50-60 games he was good for in Los Angeles before last year, this team can absolutely get 50 wins and finish in the top 3 although it’s not looking like a guarantee based on the very small screenshot we’ve gotten during the first week of the season. 

2. Denver Nuggets

Record: 52-30

Power-Rating: 8

Courtesy of SI.com

Though plagued with injuries throughout his career, Porter Jr. is an incredible talent as a 6’10 knock down shooter from anywhere on the floor. Starting off the year strong with 18 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in just 29 minutes, I’m sure Nuggets fans are hoping he won’t fall prey to his health again after he lost their last game due to back issues. 

Yes, they lost to Jazz in their first game and got  blown out by the Trailblazers after initially looking up and yes, the two teams they beat are clearly struggling out of the gate. While, I’ll give some credence to the idea I may have overestimated the Clippers regular season, I still stand strong on the Nuggets, especially if Porter Jr. can stay on the floor. Jamal Murray missed an entire season and Porter Jr. has struggled with injury his entire career (supposedly he is doing much better as of now and I believe him sitting out last night was for extra caution, understandably given his track record. Therefore, It’s been a while since these three guys have played together.

I’d like to point out that Jokic was able to turn what would have been arguably the worst team in the league without him into a sixth seed playoff contender, which is a big reason why he got his second MVP nod in a row. What’s most impressive about Jokic isn’t simply his scoring, rebounding, and passing abilities as magnificent as they are. No, it’s his ability to run the floor from the center position and make the players around him infinitely better. 

Jamal Murray is one of the most exciting young guards in the league with 21.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game during the 2020-21 season. Though he played only 48 games, in the last season he played over 70 games he averaged 18.2 points, 4.8 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game, proving he can hold consistent when healthy. On top of this the Nuggets have also welcomed back Michael Porter Jr., who despite on-going health concerns seems to wow everyone who watches him as a fluid 6’10 shooter who shot a staggering 45.2% from deep while averaging 19 points per game in 2020 in 61 games. These two additions would be significant catalysts for any competitive team, but this is a competitive team with Jokic and these two were clearly brought to the Nuggets because of what Jokic’s game can unlock for them. This will not only allow Aaron Gordon to be the super-role-player (think what Wiggens has turned into) I think he’s meant to be, but it allows Bones Hyland to come off the bench as an exciting sixth-man energy type player which he is very well suited for. The team also added some depth/ scrappy defenders to make up for their star’s defensive limitations by bringing in Bruce Brown and Kentavious Caldwell Pope. 

I understand there have always been concerns around whether  a team with a defensive center like Jokic can win a championship. I also admit that the team doesn’t have a player who plugs in for Joker’s role when he’s out and that the team is lack-luster when he’s out as a result. I also admit finding someone who can do this is likely to prove to be very difficult. However, I don’t care. In the number of minutes that Jokic is on the floor, along with the additions of Porter and Murray as well as the number of role players the team has, I think the offensive upside of this team is endless. While we can debate their playoff volatility, if all works itself out, I see absolutely no reason this team won’t get over 50 wins which is why I have them second in the Western Conference. 

1. Golden State Warriors

Record: 51-31

Rating: 8

Courtesy of si.com

While we can all raise questions regarding Poole’s toughness, defensive ability, and strong personality that apparently antagonized Draymond Green all we want, it’s clear the Warriors have little concern for the 23-year-old scoring guard as he is reportedly finalizing a four year 140 million dollar extension with the team while there still have been no reports of Klay Thompson or Green moving forward with the team beyond this year. 

I’ll be honest, I actually had this team in fifth place at one point, but I had to admit to myself that as a Celtics fan I definitely have a regency bias and sometimes you have to go against your gut as this team wins, plus Seth and Klay are back in some capacity, and Poole is only gonna get better as an additive scorer, which is all you need from him right now. While the Draymond vibes are weird, I’m ultimately not too worried as this team needs him especially on the defensive end, arguably more than any other individual player on this team, and even if he didn’t wanna resign with the Warriors, Draymond’s has to play at his best for a good contract. 

While their slow start initially made me regret putting them at first in my final draft of the  before the season, I also dismiss this notion because the Warriors are infamous for getting lazy in regular season games due to their aptitude for winning and often need to a fire lit under their ass to get going in the regular season. Four championships speak for themselves and though these guys are older, I don’t think I have to defend this team too much and I think putting them in first is a rather obvious pick.

The one thing I will say is that while their young guys are all very exciting and interesting prospects, I do think the public in general may put too much stock in them. Yes Moody, Kuminga, and Wiseman have all shown flashes but specifically the latter has had some time to develop and hasn’t shown himself to be a consistently above average starter, let alone a future focal point of an offense or defense. With the Warriors impressive core, however, I do think having these younger, more athletic type of players is a nice additive bonus that can help change pace and even win some games when the team falls asleep in the regular season. Whether or not they can contribute major minutes regularly in the playoffs in an impactful way remains to be seen. 

More specifically with these players, I’m really skeptical at the semi-popular idea that these guys will just step in and be even as close as impactful as their big three when they leave in order to be the new Warriors dynasty, and I’ll include Poole in that as well as good as he is offensively (I see him much more like Herro type of additive guard/ energy scorer than anything else).

 Anyways, I get ahead of myself, we’re talking about this season and I believe this group has proven they can clinch the one seed in the Western Conference.