2013-14 NBA Picks and Predictions: Western Conference Favorites, Contenders and Sleepers

2013-14 NBA Picks and Predictions: Western Conference Favorites, Contenders and Sleepers: With the 2013-14 NBA season just a few weeks away, teams are revving up to begin what they help will be a run for the title. While the Miami Heat have won the last two championships out of the Eastern Conference, the West as a whole is by far the tougher conference. In fact, two teams in the West finished at or above the .500 mark and missed the playoffs while the Milwaukee Bucks grabbed the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference despite being six games under the .500 mark. Needless to say, winning the West isn’t easy, and there are plenty of teams that could emerge from the conference in any given year. With that in mind, here is a closer look the frontrunners and other contenders that could end up winning the Western Conference in the upcoming NBA season.

The Favorites

While the defending Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs didn’t win the NBA title last year, they definitely proved that the door hasn’t closed on their time as contenders. Sure, Tim Duncan is older, but he only seems to be getting more efficient. Meanwhile, point guard Tony Parker is becoming a perennial MVP-caliber player, and any decline in Manu Ginobili skills should be offset by the development of Kawhi Leonard. Throw in a solid group of role players like Danny Green and Tiago Splitter, and the Spurs are still one of the best teams in the Western Conference.

After reaching the NBA Finals in 2012 and posting the best record in the Western Conference last season, the Oklahoma City Thunder saw their title hopes dashed when point guard Russell Westbrook went down in the playoffs with an injury. When healthy, Westbrook is one of the most explosive scorers in the NBA, and he and Kevin Durant form the top scoring tandem. Westbrook will miss the start of the 2013-14 season, but as long as he is healthy come playoff time, the Thunder should continue to be the team that has been on the verge of a title for the past several seasons.

As if resigning point guard Chris Paul wasn’t enough to secure the Los Angeles Clippers’ place among the Western Conference elite, the team also acquired coach Doc Rivers in the offseason and some much-needed perimeter firepower in Jared Dudley and J.J. Redick. Meanwhile, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan form one of the most athletic frontcourts in the NBA. Adding a few more shooters and a proven coach to a lineup that has already been winning a ton of games could be just what the Clippers need to get over the hump in the playoffs.

The Contenders

The Houston Rockets were definitely one of the winners this offseason, landing coveted big man Dwight Howard. His presence alone should bolster the Houston defense, and with James Harden, Chandler Parsons and Jeremy Lin among the returning starters, the Rockets’ offense should remain one of the best in the NBA. History says it may take a year for a team to gel, but having a pair of superstars like Harden and Howard gives the Rockets a chance to win the Western Conference in 2013-14.

The Golden State Warriors made some noise in the playoffs last year, and bigger and better things could be on tap on 2013-14. After all, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson give the Warriors one of the most explosive frontcourts in the NBA. Meanwhile, David Lee and Andrew Bogut are plenty solid inside. Last but not least, Golden State signed Andre Iguodala in the offseason, giving the team a true defensive stopper.

I’m not sure any team in the NBA knows its identity better than the Memphis Grizzlies. They punish opponents physically on both ends of the court, and the Grizzlies are the best defensive team in the Western Conference. Big men Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph flat out pound opponents in the post, and Tony Allen is one of the league’s elite perimeter defenders. The emergence of Mike Conley Jr. as a quality floor general has also helped the Grizzlies. Memphis used its defensive-minded philosophy to reach the Western Conference finals last year, and if the Grizzlies can find enough offense, they could go even further in 2013-14.

The Sleeper

Coach George Karl and swingman Andre Iguodala are gone, but nearly everyone else is back for a Denver Nuggets team that won 57 games last season. Speedy Point guard Ty Lawson runs the show for the high-scoring Nuggets, and Danilo Gallinari, Kenneth faried and JaVale McGee are among the athletic weapons around him. Meanwhile, the offseason additions of J.J. Hickson and Nate Robinson should only add to Denver’s firepower. The Nuggets are going to score points. The only question is whether or not they can play enough defense to make a real run.

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