I have Portland, Minnesota and OKC as three of my top 5 teams in the West.
For all the questions about needing so many balls in Portland, I gotta say, they have a 2008 Celtics feel to it. Three guys that can possible sacrifice quantity of scoring for efficiency and quality, a superduperstar, a tough, defensive mind combo forward with heart and some offensive skill, and a role playing, young center. And if Bynum is healthy and in the equation, then this might be the team to beat in the league.
Minnesota has either the best or second best defense in the league and the best player in the league with another player who can score like crazy, when he is on. their small ball lineup will be deadly to most of the rest of the league.
OKC has just amazing talent and depth but the Rose and Howard health bounce back seasons are the most important thing for this team. If Howard and Rose can return to 2011 form, watch out, another possible team to take it all. But can they do that?
Sorry Yoki, great bench teams with very little experience in the starting five do not impress me. You might sneak into the playoffs but you aren't in the same league as these other teams.