Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
The Blazers, Jazz, and Rockets are fighting for just two playoff spots. Who’s going to be the odd man out?
In the past year, the Western Conference has gone from elite and deep as the Pacific to rather top-heavy. Part of the reason may be because the top — the Warriors, Spurs, Thunder, and yes I’ll throw the Clippers in there — got so good that the rest of the conference just seems mediocre in comparison. However, some other factors have definitely played a part.
Phoenix and New Orleans got really bad really quickly, Portland lost or booted almost its entire rotation, and Houston got Pat Beverley back, snagged Ty Lawson, and in the process became considerably worse.