Ranking doesn't mean everything, there are only 5 real championship teams in the West, and there are no warriors!
The first team, naturally, is the Nuggets. As the defending champions, the Nuggets have been very strong this season, they have been in the top three in the West, and they have a good chance of entering the playoffs as the first in the West. There is no doubt that the Nuggets are the number one favorites to win the championship. However, the Nuggets also have a team to fear, and that is the Timberwolves. The Timberwolves seem to be able to defeat the Nuggets, and even if Towns is absent due to injury, the Nuggets still can't do anything about them. However, the Nuggets and the Timberwolves will not meet in the first round, and the Timberwolves may not be able to enter the second round, so the Nuggets do not have to worry about meeting the Timberwolves in the playoffs for the time being. In addition to the Timberwolves, the teams that have a chance to beat the Nuggets in the playoffs are: the Clippers, Suns and Mavericks. Yes, there are no Lakers. The Nuggets got Lakers, they not only swept the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals last season, but continue to sweep the Lakers in the regular season this season. The Lakers have nothing to do with the Nuggets. If the Lakers want to break out of the West, they can only hope that the Nuggets will be eliminated by other teams.
The second one, that's the Clippers. The Clippers have no shortage of stars, and the roster is luxurious. As long as Carl Jr. and Paul George can stay healthy, they have a chance to make it to the end of the playoffs. But whether Carl and Paul George can stay healthy is a big question mark. In addition, Harden is also going to harden up in the playoffs. This season could be Harden's most championship-winning season, and it could be his last chance. Missing out on this season could mean that Harden will have to regret it for the rest of his life. So Harden has to be tough, and don't be a soft-footed shrimp in the playoffs.
The third team is the Mavericks. Doncic is a good big man, and Irving is a top two. PJ Washington, Gafford and others are all excellent, and the Mavericks have everything they can do. In fact, if it weren't for Kidd's too many mid-season plays and messed up the lineup, the Mavericks would definitely have a chance to rank in the top three in the West. After correcting Gaford, the Mavericks won consecutive battles and broke out of the play-off area in one fell swoop, reaching fifth place in the West. According to statistics, after All-Star Weekend, the Mavericks have the second-best record in the West, tied with the Lakers and second only to the Nuggets.
The fourth team is the Suns. The sun has a great characteristic, that is, it is not weak when it is strong, and it is not strong when it is weak. In the closing stages of the regular season, the Suns encountered the devil's schedule. Many people thought that the Suns would fall behind in the Devil's schedule, but the Suns turned out to be the devil in the Devil's schedule. After gnawing at a number of strong teams in a row, the Suns have reached sixth in the West in one fell swoop and are expected to go straight to the playoffs. With two super scorers, Durant and Booker, the Suns are not afraid of anyone in the playoffs. If Beal can return to his peak, the Suns will be the number one favorite to win the championship. Of course, it's a bit difficult for Bill to get back to the top. But with Durant and Booker, the Suns have championship hopes. However, as mentioned earlier, the sun is not strong when it is weak, that is, they are very unstable. So no one is afraid of the sun, but it is possible that anyone can beat them. The Suns have a high ceiling and floor, and it wouldn't be surprising if they were eliminated in the first round.
The last team to compete for the championship is the Lakers. The Lakers have won nine of their last 10 games. Don't forget that the Lakers are the mid-season champions of this season. In a match-winning game, the Lakers are the strongest. In the one-round series, the Lakers are also very strong. But the Lakers are really scared by the Nuggets, and if they meet the Nuggets in the playoffs, it will be a life of death. If there really are other teams that help the Lakers eliminate the Nuggets, then the Lakers will wake up laughing in their dreams. As long as they can pass the Nuggets, the Lakers will be flat!
As for the Warriors, they are only 10th in the West, and they need to win two games in a row to get a ticket to the playoffs. In all likelihood, the Warriors will be eliminated in the playoffs.