Western Conference Power Rankings
Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2021 12:50 pm
1. Utah Jazz – I am very bullish on the Jazz. Their combination of scoring across the board with their elite defense makes me think they’re the favorite in the West this year. Roberto Brunamonti’s outside shooting and defense have him as the best kept secret in the league. Robert Parish is the anchor to this team and they made a sneaky good pickup by adding Michael Cage.
2. Los Angeles Lakers – Who knew that Darrell Griffith would so far outshine Larry Bird that he would run him out of town. What was meant to be a supporting player to 2 budding superstars, Griffith exploded the past few training camps and is now a top 5 player. Adding in Otis Thorpe and rounding out the rotation should work well in LA. If Dominque Wilkins can take the next step, the Lakers can very easily reach the top yet again.
3. Phoenix Suns – Dr J is a legend that does not age. He fell in the fantasy draft because he was old but this DR’s residency is long lasting. He has been a top 3 player every single year, only overshadowed by Moses in Philly. He and Dennis Johnson form the most lethal wing combo in the league. Their big man rotation will still support them well and expect another 50+ win season in Phoenix.
4. Dallas Mavericks – The Mavericks were already a top team on the rise…and then they went out and lucked in to Patrick Ewing and the #1 pick. Turpin and Ewing look to be force in the paint for many years in Dallas. Veteran Mike Mitchell looks to lead the team in scoring but the Mavs may be missing the superstar punch to top the West (for now).
5. Portland Trailblazers - The Blazers likely go where Michael Jordan leads them. A lot of talent has been added in to surround Jordan: Michael Ray Richardson, Mo Cheeks (twice), Bill Cartwright, but is Jordan ready to become a superstar, or even a star? He looks to be on the cusp but not quite ready to compete at the top level with the likes of Moses or Dr J
6. Vancouver Grizzlies – Who? What? Did anyone even know we had a Canadian team playing in our league the past few years. 2nd year PG John Stockton will have teammates that can actually catch the ball this year. Clearly the Grizzlies will make the biggest jump of any team this season. They may not be at the top right now but with 4 more picks in the 86 draft the Grizzlies have a lot of options moving forward to keep improving
7. Golden State Warriors – The Warriors boast one of the best front courts in the league. Kenny Carr, Cliff Robinson, Herb Williams and Robert Reid. Unfortunately, their backcourt is not so formidable. The Warriors appear to be a trade away from rounding out their roster and moving up the standings
8. San Antonio Spurs – George Gervin and James Worthy have been waiting for some teammates and they finally arrived. Dave Corzine was the quietest 20 ppg player in Miami last year and they also added in Buck Williams from the Kings. The Spurs may be lacking in depth but have top end talent at every position now
9. Houston Rockets – The Rockets have been accruing assets and trading them off for the past few seasons now. We have seen: Kevin McHale, Lasalle Thompson, Leon Wood etc all leave the team. They have since added in a top 10 scorer in Adrian Dantley. The Rockets have several good players but perhaps not a full roster of talent to compete at the top
10. Seattle Supersonics – Wayman Tisdale is looking to be a stud. The Sonics also added in a top center in Bill Laimbeer. Can Alex English still perform at a top level? The Sonics front court is now stacked but they could likely use 1-2 more pieces to compete at the top of the standings
11. Sacramento Kings – Oscar Schmidt has been a revelation coming from Brazil and leading the Kings to the top of the West multiple times. Sadly, his running mates all just left him. Buck Williams and Joe Barry Carroll have moved on and the Kings are void of a lot of their talent. Expect Schmidt to be a 1st team SF but not much else to be excited about this year in Sacramento
12. Minnesota Timberwolves – The Timberwolves backcourt is aging, and not so gracefully. Mark McNamara is a top Center but the Wolves are in need of a lot of help outside of him
13. Los Angeles Clippers – Larry Smith has been a star for the Clippers since day 1. Signs are that the Clippers are looking to tear things down and get some younger talent/assets. Expect to see Smith and several of his teammates moved this season and a several year rebuild to take place. Will this team still look the same post trade deadline?
14. Denver Nuggets – Charles Barkley. At least there is someone/something to root for. The Rockets stole Dantley from the Nuggets and any uncertainty of a rebuild was answered. Xavier McDaniel, Landon Miahalek and Eduardo Guyton make an intriguing set of young SFs for the Nuggets this year. Expect a rebuild for a couple more years in Denver
2. Los Angeles Lakers – Who knew that Darrell Griffith would so far outshine Larry Bird that he would run him out of town. What was meant to be a supporting player to 2 budding superstars, Griffith exploded the past few training camps and is now a top 5 player. Adding in Otis Thorpe and rounding out the rotation should work well in LA. If Dominque Wilkins can take the next step, the Lakers can very easily reach the top yet again.
3. Phoenix Suns – Dr J is a legend that does not age. He fell in the fantasy draft because he was old but this DR’s residency is long lasting. He has been a top 3 player every single year, only overshadowed by Moses in Philly. He and Dennis Johnson form the most lethal wing combo in the league. Their big man rotation will still support them well and expect another 50+ win season in Phoenix.
4. Dallas Mavericks – The Mavericks were already a top team on the rise…and then they went out and lucked in to Patrick Ewing and the #1 pick. Turpin and Ewing look to be force in the paint for many years in Dallas. Veteran Mike Mitchell looks to lead the team in scoring but the Mavs may be missing the superstar punch to top the West (for now).
5. Portland Trailblazers - The Blazers likely go where Michael Jordan leads them. A lot of talent has been added in to surround Jordan: Michael Ray Richardson, Mo Cheeks (twice), Bill Cartwright, but is Jordan ready to become a superstar, or even a star? He looks to be on the cusp but not quite ready to compete at the top level with the likes of Moses or Dr J
6. Vancouver Grizzlies – Who? What? Did anyone even know we had a Canadian team playing in our league the past few years. 2nd year PG John Stockton will have teammates that can actually catch the ball this year. Clearly the Grizzlies will make the biggest jump of any team this season. They may not be at the top right now but with 4 more picks in the 86 draft the Grizzlies have a lot of options moving forward to keep improving
7. Golden State Warriors – The Warriors boast one of the best front courts in the league. Kenny Carr, Cliff Robinson, Herb Williams and Robert Reid. Unfortunately, their backcourt is not so formidable. The Warriors appear to be a trade away from rounding out their roster and moving up the standings
8. San Antonio Spurs – George Gervin and James Worthy have been waiting for some teammates and they finally arrived. Dave Corzine was the quietest 20 ppg player in Miami last year and they also added in Buck Williams from the Kings. The Spurs may be lacking in depth but have top end talent at every position now
9. Houston Rockets – The Rockets have been accruing assets and trading them off for the past few seasons now. We have seen: Kevin McHale, Lasalle Thompson, Leon Wood etc all leave the team. They have since added in a top 10 scorer in Adrian Dantley. The Rockets have several good players but perhaps not a full roster of talent to compete at the top
10. Seattle Supersonics – Wayman Tisdale is looking to be a stud. The Sonics also added in a top center in Bill Laimbeer. Can Alex English still perform at a top level? The Sonics front court is now stacked but they could likely use 1-2 more pieces to compete at the top of the standings
11. Sacramento Kings – Oscar Schmidt has been a revelation coming from Brazil and leading the Kings to the top of the West multiple times. Sadly, his running mates all just left him. Buck Williams and Joe Barry Carroll have moved on and the Kings are void of a lot of their talent. Expect Schmidt to be a 1st team SF but not much else to be excited about this year in Sacramento
12. Minnesota Timberwolves – The Timberwolves backcourt is aging, and not so gracefully. Mark McNamara is a top Center but the Wolves are in need of a lot of help outside of him
13. Los Angeles Clippers – Larry Smith has been a star for the Clippers since day 1. Signs are that the Clippers are looking to tear things down and get some younger talent/assets. Expect to see Smith and several of his teammates moved this season and a several year rebuild to take place. Will this team still look the same post trade deadline?
14. Denver Nuggets – Charles Barkley. At least there is someone/something to root for. The Rockets stole Dantley from the Nuggets and any uncertainty of a rebuild was answered. Xavier McDaniel, Landon Miahalek and Eduardo Guyton make an intriguing set of young SFs for the Nuggets this year. Expect a rebuild for a couple more years in Denver
