NBA · 1 year ago

Predicting the NBA’s Western Conference Playoff Bracket

Ben DiGiacomo

Host · Writer

No. 4 LA Clippers vs. No. 5 Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks are playing the best basketball of Luka Doncic’s tenure in Dallas and are setting up as a dangerous five-seed come playoff time. Dallas has won 14 of their last 16 games, while its likely opponent, the LA Clippers, has looked mediocre since the All-Star break. However, LA has won six of its last seven, so we could see an incredible first-round matchup.
Play-In Tournament: No. 7 New Orleans Pelicans vs. No. 8 Sacramento Kings
The New Orleans Pelicans were well-positioned to be the fourth seed a short time ago. Still, after a brutal stretch of opponents, New Orleans now sits in the seventh seed with the risk of falling even further. Their final three games of the season will be in Sacramento, Golden State, and Los Angeles, all teams they are battling for Play-In positioning. After a good run for a few weeks, the schedule makers haven’t done this group any favors.

Looking at the Sacramento Kings, nothing about their collective body of work screams “dangerous.” Still, as we enter the final week, matchups with New Orleans and Phoenix could allow Sacramento to climb into the sixth seed if they get help.
Play-In Tournament: No. 9 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 10 Golden State Warriors
Lakers-Warriors, win or go home, what else could a basketball fan ask for? Looking at both teams and thinking long-term, the Los Angeles Lakers have a better chance to make a serious run. Still, if both squads hold in these seeds, they better hope that the Denver Nuggets maintains the two-seed, setting up a much more favorable first-round matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves for either team.
NBA: Toronto Raptors at Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are holding on to the No. 1 seed by a thread as they are tied with the Denver Nuggets. After Karl-Anthony Towns went down, no one thought the Wolves would prevail, but Anthony Edwards played elite basketball, and everyone else picked up the slack. Looking ahead, the Wolves will be playing for all the marbles on Wednesday night as they head to the Rocky Mountains to take on the Nuggets. However, the Wolves control their own destiny, which is all they can ask for.
No. 2 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 7 Seed
While the Denver Nuggets sit in the second seed, that will change if they win out the rest of the way. Their matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night will be the deciding factor. Assuming Denver can climb into the No. 1 seed, a first-round matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers would have the league offices salivating. Regardless, we know the Nuggets are the favorites to come out of the West, but anything can happen in the Western Conference.
No. 3 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 6 Phoenix Suns
This time last week, the Oklahoma City Thunder had a hold on the West’s top seed. However, thanks to some untimely injuries and a brutal road trip that included stops in Philadelphia for Joel Embiid’s return and in Boston, the Thunder now sit as the third seed. OKC’s future is bright with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at the helm, and he might work enough magic in a first-round series against Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns. Just thinking about that potential series, my mind is already set on SGA and KD going back and forth late in the fourth quarter in OKC. Basketball gods, do us a favor just this once.
No. 4 LA Clippers vs. No. 5 Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks are playing the best basketball of Luka Doncic’s tenure in Dallas and are setting up as a dangerous five-seed come playoff time. Dallas has won 14 of their last 16 games, while its likely opponent, the LA Clippers, has looked mediocre since the All-Star break. However, LA has won six of its last seven, so we could see an incredible first-round matchup.
Play-In Tournament: No. 7 New Orleans Pelicans vs. No. 8 Sacramento Kings
The New Orleans Pelicans were well-positioned to be the fourth seed a short time ago. Still, after a brutal stretch of opponents, New Orleans now sits in the seventh seed with the risk of falling even further. Their final three games of the season will be in Sacramento, Golden State, and Los Angeles, all teams they are battling for Play-In positioning. After a good run for a few weeks, the schedule makers haven’t done this group any favors.

Looking at the Sacramento Kings, nothing about their collective body of work screams “dangerous.” Still, as we enter the final week, matchups with New Orleans and Phoenix could allow Sacramento to climb into the sixth seed if they get help.