Last week, I gave my NBA Eastern Conference regular season predictions, and this week, I’ll be predicting the Western Conference.  

Western Conference Predictions:  

1. Denver Nuggets: 58-24 record  

No surprise here. Last season, the Nuggets were the one seed in the West and went on a dominant playoff run to win their first-ever NBA championship. This season, I predict they will continue their winning ways and get the top seed in the West once again.  

2. Phoenix Suns: 55-27 record  

The Suns gave the Nuggets their toughest challenge in last year’s postseason, taking the eventual NBA champions to six games. In the offseason, the Suns added Bradley Beal in a trade in which they gave away Chris Paul, giving them a big three of Beal, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. While I still don’t think they are as good as Denver, they are the second-best team in the West.   

3. Golden State Warriors: 50-32 record  

The Warriors were the team that ended up adding Chris Paul, trading Jordan Poole to the Wizards to acquire him. Paul, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are all great players with a lot of experience in the league, and I think they will get the third seed this season  

4. Los Angeles Lakers: 48-34 record  

The Lakers weren’t great in last year’s regular season, only getting the seventh seed after winning in the play-in game. In the playoffs, however, they beat the Grizzlies and Warriors to make it to the Western Conference Finals, showing the potential of this Lebron James and Anthony Davis-led team. I think they will be better in this year’s regular season and earn the fourth seed.  

5. Los Angeles Clippers: 45-37 record  

I have the other Los Angeles team, the Clippers, finishing right behind the Lakers in the standings. It remains to be seen if Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are able to stay healthy through the regular season and playoffs, but I think the Clippers will be good enough to get the fifth seed this season.  

6. Sacramento Kings: 43-39 record  

The Kings were one of the surprise teams in the league last year, going 48-34 and earning the third seed in the West, before disappointingly losing to the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs. While I don’t think the Kings will be quite as good in the regular season this year, I still think they will be good enough to make the playoffs in the sixth spot.  

7. Dallas Mavericks: 43-39 record  

The Mavericks were one of the most disappointing teams in the league last year, despite having star guard Luka Doncic and trading for another star guard in Kyrie Irving, they didn’t even make the play-in games, let alone the playoffs. With that much talent, however, I don’t think they will miss the playoffs again, and I predict they will be the seventh seed this season  

8. New Orleans Pelicans 41-41 record  

The Pelicans were also a disappointing team last season, as they lost the play-in game and didn’t make the playoffs. With CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, this team should be pretty good this year, but it remains to be seen if Williamson will be able to stay healthy. I predict this team will do slightly better than last year and make the playoffs as the eighth seed.