POLL: Who comes out of the Western Conference this season?

[hpantazo]

Sure, the East is wide open this season with Kawhi leaving Toronto, but, the West is set to be a bloodbath this season, and is wide open with the GWSs broken up and injured. Who do you guys got coming out of that group and going to the Finals?

[Birdman]

I pick Clippers with Denver a close 2nd

[footey]

Would love it to be the Clips,

but somehow I think it will be Lebron and Davis' year.

[hpantazo]

I pick the Clippers. The combo of Kawhi, a 2 times Finals MVP on two different teams in his prime now, Paul George also in his prime, and Doc Rivers, together with a really good supporting cast with a defensive mindset, is going to be tough to beat.

Denver and Houston are 2nd and 3rd for me, with Utah 4th.

I see the Lakers are a 6-8 seed. Lebron is too old, the supporting cast is not adequate, and AD will walk after realizing this once they get bounced in the playoffs.

[gouki88]

I gotta go with the Clippers. Really loved their team before they added two of the top 5 wings in the league.

Houston could be an interesting one if somehow the back-court works. One of the most talented 1-2 starting combos in league history on paper, but there are a few question marks surrounding the fit.

Denver and Utah will be good. Lakers will be solid if healthy. Spurs are always solid.

[tazzmaniac]

To me, Denver and Utah will perform well in the regular season but aren't contenders for the finals.  I'd put both LA teams and GSW if Klay comes back strong ahead of them.  As for Houston, I don't see how Harden and Westbrook work together. 

If both LA teams are healthy, I think I'd lean towards the Lakers.  AD is the best player Lebron will have played with and by far the best fit.  Playoff Rondo will make an appearance in a couple games along the way. 

[BASS_THUMPER]

the Clippers....

[Somebody]

Lakers being massively overrated as usual, they might not even come out of the lottery

[SparzWizard]

Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and their newly upgraded roster how can they NOT achieve the #1 seed and win the conference?

The Lakers will be a top 3 or 4 team in the West for sure. Warriors take a deep fall with the loss of Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant. They'll be a middling 5-7 seed in the West and a second-round exit. Utah/Houston/Denver are all good. Don't sleep on them.

[Moranis]

Houston.  I think they will have the best record and they finally don't have to deal with the GS juggernaut.

[dannyboy35]

I’d love to see Westbrook cone back with a 3 pt shot and quiet the critics. First they give him MVP and then like he’s the worst guy in the world. I’d like to see him show more control and come out of the West with Houston. Everyone is assuming the two most ball dominant guys can’t make it work enough. I love this side story this year.
   As is I think the Clips have to be the fave. I can see the Lakers after that. Everything really depends on what version of Lebron we’ll see.
   Golden State is super interesting to me. If Klay can be close to  what he was by the playoffs I’d be really interested to see how good these guys make it work. Can Draymond be close to as effective he was? How does Russel fit and will they trade Russell by mid year. Could they get a really good player back. Blake?

[Somebody]

I went with the Clippers, but I honestly can see 6 teams coming out of the West: the marquee team in Los Angeles for the past 6 years , DEN, HOU, POR, GSW, UTA.

[Somebody]

Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and their newly upgraded roster how can they NOT achieve the #1 seed and win the conference?

The Lakers will be a top 3 or 4 team in the West for sure. Warriors take a deep fall with the loss of Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant. They'll be a middling 5-7 seed in the West and a second-round exit. Utah/Houston/Denver are all good. Don't sleep on them.

The bolded sounds like deja vu...

[slamtheking]

if everyone's healthy, I think it's the Clips by a slim margin.