The West, the wild land of basketball, shows how powerful it is. Each of the top 10 teams is a wolf-like team with the ambition to compete for the championship. The traditional giants Lakers, Warriors, Suns, Clippers, and Nuggets are like battle-hardened generals, while emerging post-wave teams such as the Timberwolves, Thunder, Mavericks, Pelicans, and Kings are a new generation of forces full of vitality and momentum.
No matter which of these teams is unfortunately eliminated in the first round, it will make people feel sorry and lament the impermanence of fate. And among the bottom five, there is also a wounded Grizzly Bear, who won the runner-up last year and is now suffering from injuries, but still not to be underestimated. The Jazz are like a wild horse, changing the main rotation for two consecutive years, which seems to be passive, but once they get serious, they still have the potential to break into the top 10.
As for Team Rocket, they are the hunters who are eyeing each other, always watching in the shadows, looking for opportunities to rise. This is the Wild West, a place full of unknowns and possibilities. Next year, who's to say if the Spurs will suddenly rise to become the new hegemon of the land?
In their most recent game, the Pelicans defeated the Sacramento Kings with a 5-0 record with Zion, McCollum and Murphy III. People can't help but marvel at this performance, and the Pelicans have become the strongest nemesis of the Kings. From being third in the West at the start of the season to now dropping to the play-in zone and missing out on the playoffs early, the Kings are really scratching their heads.
The Kings' downfall was no accident, as they lost important scorer Monk at the start of the season. Monk's departure has deprived the Kings of important firepower on the offensive end, and their ability to finish games has been greatly weakened. At the same time, the Kings' defense has always had natural flaws, which makes it difficult for them to stay ahead against strong teams. In the game against the Pelicans, the Kings were never able to find a way to deal with the collective hot hands of CJ and the Pelicans wings.
At the same time, the rise of the Pelicans has given a glimpse of the new force in the Western Conference. With the excellent performance of the Big Three, they secured the sixth place in the West and led the Suns by one win. This means that in the next games, as long as the Pelicans can win another game and the Suns can't maintain their winning streak, the Pelicans will finish sixth in the West and get the last ticket straight to the playoffs. This situation is not good for the Suns, who will take on the Kings and Timberwolves in the remaining two games.
The Suns are in a really tough situation, not only do they have to face a strong opponent, but they also have to deal with a lot of pressure. If the Suns can't make a winning streak and overtake the Pelicans, they will only be able to maintain the seventh place in the West. Not only does that mean they won't be able to qualify for the playoffs, but they'll also face tough opponents like the Warriors and Lakers in the next play-offs. That situation bleaks the Suns' playoff prospects.
However, in the Wild Western League, anything can happen. Maybe the Suns can make a comeback in the next game, and maybe there will be other teams that rise up and change the whole pattern. That's the beauty of the Western Conference, it's full of suspense and surprises, making it impossible to predict where the future will go. In this wild league, only teams that are constantly improving and adapting to change can be invincible. And for those teams that are struggling, they need to find a solution to their problems as soon as possible and get back on their feet. Only then will they be able to do well in the upcoming tournaments and remain in the playoff race.