The situation in the West is obvious: the gap between the top three has widened, the Suns have steadily climbed, and the Lakers and Warriors are difficult to brother
Since January 1, Beijing time, the NBA's Western Conference has staged a series of six impressive games. Five of those matchups involved Western Conference teams, and the results were hilarious to fans. The results of these games have put the Western Conference standings in a scuffle, and the current situation is clearly divided: the top three are widened, the four teams are in a dogfight, and the Suns are steadily climbing, and the Lakers and Warriors face a tough challenge.
The first thing to talk about is the top three teams in the West, and the Timberwolves, Thunder and Nuggets have not changed their rankings for a long time over the years. It's not surprising that the Nuggets are in third place, 2.5 games ahead of the fourth-place Clippers, and while it may seem like a small gap, it's actually hard to catch up. The Nuggets are unlikely to experience a losing streak, so the top three have clearly distanced themselves from the rest of the team. The Timberwolves have often lost their lead late in the past few seasons, but this season things have been different, with Edwards doing well in crunch time, and the only suspense may be the Thunder and Nuggets' swapping places.
The Clippers are fourth, the Kings are fifth, the Mavericks are sixth, and the Pelicans are seventh, and this area is the most competitive in the West. The four teams are locked in a fierce scuffle, and a win or loss in any one game could affect each other's standings, especially since the Clippers are only 1.0 wins ahead of the Pelicans. The top six teams in the West qualify directly for the playoffs, while seventh place will need to play in the playoff playoffs. The top three are unlikely to be overtaken, but if the Lakers want to qualify directly to the playoffs, they can only hope that these four teams will make mistakes. The Clippers and Kings are hard to fall behind, and the situation for the Mavericks and Pelicans is unpredictable, but today the Lakers lost to the Pelicans by 20 points.
The Suns beat the Magic 112-107 today, and Beal's outstanding performance was remarkable, as he finished with 25 points and two assists on 10-of-13 shooting. The Suns are now on a three-game winning streak, solidifying their eighth-place position in the West and 1.0 wins ahead of the Lakers. The Suns are about to rise, and the team has improved significantly since Beal's return, and although the defensive problems are still significant, it is difficult for other teams to match the healthy Suns with their strong offensive ability. Overall, the Suns' outlook is quite bright, and Durant showed a lot of confidence after beating the Magic: "The more games Beal plays, the more confident we have, and the games look simpler. ”
The Lakers lost 109-129 to the Pelicans, and James scored 34 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists. Starting with the Lakers, including the Rockets and Warriors behind them, these three teams have suffered consecutive defeats recently, suffering 2 consecutive defeats, 3 consecutive defeats and 3 consecutive defeats respectively, forming a difficult brother and brother situation. The Lakers' ninth place in the West is not secure, and they will face a devilish schedule that includes the Heat, Grizzlies, Clippers, Raptors, Suns, Jazz, Thunder, Mavericks and Clippers, each of which is not an easy match. The good news is that these games are all played in Los Angeles, and the Lakers must avoid further losses and have a chance to play in the playoffs as long as they can stay within the top 10.
The West is highly competitive, and if the Lakers want to make the playoffs, it is inevitable to participate in the play-in tournament because it is difficult to imagine which team will be left behind. The Rockets are also in a difficult position, with a top-five finish at one point, but as the season progresses, the Rockets are gradually revealing their true form. Jalen Green has been inconsistent, Shin Kyung has been excellent but not good defensively, Udoka has been relatively stubborn in his employment, and Whitmore has often been left out in the cold, so it will not be easy for them to get back to the top line, so their goal is to keep the 10th place in the West and squeeze the Warriors out of the play-in tournament.
The Warriors, Rockets and Lakers, one of these three teams will definitely miss the play-in tournament. At the moment, the Warriors are in the toughest situation, Curry's form has declined significantly this season, often falling into a slump, and his three-point shooting percentage is not even as high as James'. That omnipotent Curry seems to be gone, and it's nearly impossible to rely on Curry to carry it all over the court. Thompson's inconsistent performance, which was 1-of-11 against the Mavericks not long ago, and Wiggins' frequent inaccuracy, the Warriors are currently unable to give the outside world any hope. The teams ranked 12th through 15th are the Jazz, Grizzlies, Trail Blazers and Spurs.
Although the Grizzlies welcomed Morant's comeback, their record did not improve, and they lost to the Kings today, suffering a three-game losing streak. The Trail Blazers and Spurs have decided to play a bad game. In this fierce Western Conference competition, teams are in a tight battle for a ticket to the playoffs. The Timberwolves, Thunder and Nuggets remain relatively stable in the top three, but the rest of the standings is shrouded in deep uncertainty. The top six teams will advance directly to the playoffs, while the seventh will have to play in the playoff playoffs. The Lakers, Rockets and Warriors are in a tough position, and they will face a huge challenge that will not be easy to fight for.
This season's Western Conference is extremely competitive, and every game can change the fate of the team. Fans are looking forward to more battles, more surprises, and eager to see who will come out on top and make the playoffs and write their own chapter. It's been a season full of uncertainties and challenges, and because of this, it's fueled the enthusiasm and anticipation of basketball. As the season progresses, this fierce competition is bound to set off more waves and leave more memorable chapters.
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