In a thrilling turn of events, the Thunder, fresh off their remarkable season last year, made history by becoming the youngest one seed in NBA history. As if that wasn’t enough, they managed to bolster their already formidable lineup by adding Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein during the offseason. With these notable additions, the Thunder are widely expected to clinch the top spot in the West once again and are considered favorites to emerge victorious from the West. The burning question on everyone’s minds now is – which team out West poses the biggest threat to the Thunder’s reign?
4. Memphis Grizzlies
The competition in the West was fierce last season, with a whopping 11 teams finishing above .500. This year promises to be no different, especially with the Memphis Grizzlies poised to make a strong comeback. With a healthy roster and a potential for 12 teams to finish above .500 in the West, the Grizzlies are definitely a force to be reckoned with. The trio of Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane is a formidable one, capable of going head-to-head with any other trio in the league. However, the key question remains – can they stay healthy and maintain their momentum? With good role players in their lineup and the addition of Zach Edey, the Grizzlies have the potential to exceed expectations and become a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs. This is why they are considered the dark horse team in the West.
The Denver Nuggets, who reigned supreme in the West for the past few seasons with the exceptional talent of Nikola Jokic, faced a setback in the playoffs last year. Despite their previous success, the Nuggets were unexpectedly eliminated in seven games by the Minnesota Timberwolves. To make matters worse, they lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Orlando Magic and their first-round pick DaRon Holmes II to a season-ending injury. Their only acquisitions were an aging Russell Westbrook and Dario Saric. While they will be relying on players like Christian Braun, Peyton Watson, and Zeke Nnaji to step up next season, the Nuggets have undoubtedly taken a step back with the departure of key players. As long as they have Jokic, they are still a contender, but they are no longer the biggest threat to the Thunder out West.
3. Denver Nuggets
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves have been steadily improving over the past few seasons, culminating in a stellar performance last year with 56 wins and a third seed in the West. Led by rising star Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves made a deep playoff run, only to be ousted by the Dallas Mavericks. Their consistent improvement over the years makes them a wildcard team to watch out for in the West. Despite their impressive progress, the Timberwolves have yet to prove themselves as a true threat to the Thunder’s dominance in the West.
