NBA Western Conference: All Teams Are Playoff Contenders

It's been a crazy offseason.

The Eastern Conference saw a huge shakeup during this time, where almost every team started to make major changes to their roster, and it's hard to say which teams will come away from it triumphant.

But the West stayed relatively stationary (by comparison). It really begs the question, will the playoffs look the exact same as last year? Which seeds will be filled by which teams? It's hard to tell.

The more you look at the West though, it's easy to see how a lot of teams have really made some improvements. It almost seems like every team has the possibility to make the playoffs. Here's how each of the 15 Western Conference teams could make, and miss the postseason.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Last Season: 15-67, 15th place in the Western Conference.

Things haven't been going the Timberwolves' way for a long time. It's been ages since the playoffs, and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. However, something might spark in this club to lead to a few more wins. But it'll take a lot more for them to win enough.

How Can They Make the Playoffs?

This is going to be a challenge. No Al Jefferson will mean that Kevin Love will really have to play like an All-Star. But that won't be enough. Kahn will have had to nail the Michael Beasley and Wesley Johnson pickups.

Last year, Sacramento was criticized for not taking Ricky Rubio with the fourth pick, and wound up with the Rookie of the Year. This year, the Wolves are hoping for the same. If Wesley Johnson turns out to be a 20-point performer, and can bounce off of improvement by Kevin Love and Michael Beasley, and the rest of the supporting crew, there's a shot.

Disclaimer: It won't happen.

How Can They Miss the Playoffs?

Simple.

The Wolves aren't expecting to make the playoffs. They're going to wait this season out, hope for a high draft pick, bring their Euro-star over here, have some cap space to sign or trade for players, and then they'll start winning.

But this squad ain't going to cut it. Like I said above, they have a shot if everything goes their way this season. Chances are pretty high that it won't though.

Sacramento Kings

Last Season: 25-57, 14th place in the Western Conference.

The Kings wound up with the Rookie of the Year last season, despite being the second worst team in the West. They showed glimpses of hope and neared a playoff spot, but then it all went back downhill.


How Can They Make the Playoffs?

They'll rely pretty heavily on the continued growth and success of Tyreke Evans, alongside the development of DeMarcus Cousins. If the two become a dynamic duo, the Kings could pull off a little bit of an upset.

This will also mean that players like Omri Casspi and Samuel Dalembert will have to really be in it, but it certainly isn't impossible for the Kings to surprise everyone this season.


How Can They Miss the Playoffs?

There's a couple ways they could miss the playoffs. They could start to get close, or they could end up where they were last season.

The Kings were 25-57 last season. If DeMarcus Cousins isn't a 15-win improvement, then the Kings will still be at square one. But the Kings do have the possibility to compete for that final eighth seed, the way Memphis did last year, by winning 40 games but still missing out.

The Kings could finish 15th or ninth. But just maybe, eighth.

Golden State Warriors

Last Season: 26-56, 13th place in the Western Conference.

The Warriors found a great player in Stephen Curry last season, who seems like the team's new great player, but then in the offseason went and acquired All-Star David Lee. Not a bad way to rebuild.


How Can They Make the Playoffs?

It'll all have to come together.

David Lee will have to adjust to everything perfectly in Golden State, Stephen Curry will have to not only play the same as last season, but better. Monta Ellis will have to play without the ball in his hands, Ekpe Udoh will have to play like the sixth overall pick, and Andris will have to return to his old form.

That being said, if all of that does happen, the Warriors will not only grab a playoff seed, but possibly a seed as high as six.


How Can They Miss the Playoffs?

The Warriors are historically a team that struggles to "bring it all together." And while they seem like a dark horse candidate to make the playoffs, it's almost more likely that they won't, than they will.

Monta and Stephen aren't built to play together, and Udoh is really just a defensive pickup. Lee is an upgrade to their starting lineup, but their bench could feel a little thin, seeing who they gave up to get him.

Los Angeles Clippers

Last Season: 29-53, 12th place in the Western Conference.

The Clippers have two new rookies in Blake Griffin and Al-Farouq Aminu. They've also put a little power in their bench this offseason with some former Timberwolves, Randy Foye and Ryan Gomes.


How Can They Make the Playoffs?

Blake Griffin. Blake Griffin. Blake Griffin.

Blake Griffin has to come out and play like we all expect him to. He's an absolutely incredible athlete, and leading a team that also has two recent high picks in Eric Gordon and Al-Farouq Aminu, along with the seasoned Chris Kaman and Baron Davis, so it seems like they're ready to get the team back up to the top.


How Can They Miss the Playoffs?

The last time a big man was picked with the first overall pick, it was Greg Oden, whose career has been defined, up to this point, by injuries. A few seasons earlier, it was Yao Ming, who had the same problem. I don't want to curse this great player, but injuries aren't known in the NBA for going away.

At 29 wins last season, the Clippers were a few slots away from making the playoffs. But considering that the eighth seed won 50, it's going to be a long climb back up. And if the Clippers don't improve next season, it's going to be too long of a climb.

New Orleans Hornets

Last Season: 37-45, 11th place in the Western Conference.

Chris Paul is the franchise man. The team went nowhere with him out last season, but they were the second seed just a few years ago when he was their leader and best player. Now they've also added some talent with Darren and Marcus.


How Can They Make the Playoffs?

This is really a question of can they return to the playoffs. They were on top of the world a few seasons ago. If they can find a way to replicate that this season, they'll be right back in it.

That comes from Emeka Okafor, Chris Paul, and their team finding out how to use itself. They've got a ton of assets, and they need to all find a way to come together to win games.


How Can They Miss the Playoffs?

The Hornets are my personal pick to go downhill this upcoming season. This is their second year with Emeka, and he should have adjusted to everything by now. But with so many positions and star players in question, it seems like a jumbled mess that doesn't have a direction.

And Byron Scott shouldn't have been fired.

Memphis Grizzlies

Last Season: 40-42, 10th place in the Western Conference.

The Grizzlies went out this summer and retained star Rudy Gay, a player expected to depart. But at that high price, the Grizzlies weren't able to do much else.


How Can They Make the Playoffs?

Continue to build on their run, and improve. The Grizzlies didn't do a lot to improve over the summer, although Xavier Henry will be a great shooter for them. If Hasheem Thabeet can play like the second overall pick is supposed to, the Grizzlies will start winning more games, and will be seeing more of the postseason.


How Can They Miss the Playoffs?

Well, they did last year, and not much has changed. Every player on the team will be one year better and more mature, but when a team finishes 10 games out of the playoffs, internal growth isn't what's really going to bring the team that high up.

Houston Rockets

Last Season: 42-40, ninth place in the Western Conference.


How Can They Make the Playoffs?

They are the highest candidate from the bottom squads to move back on top.

Mainly because their superstar missed the whole season last year. If Yao Ming returns pretty close to his old form, then the Rockets will be so much better.

Kevin Martin and Jordan Hill will have also spent the entire summer becoming better associated with their new team, and will likely have better success with the rest of the Rockets squad.

At ninth place, it isn't too unrealistic to put the Rockets back into the playoff race.


How Can They Miss the Playoffs?

The Rockets are another team that didn't see a lot of offseason activity, and therefore could be a team that doesn't see a lot of postseason activity. Yao Ming could go down just as quickly as last time, and with him out, the Rockets could simply see another 42-40 season that will leave them in the lottery again.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Last Season: 50-32, eighth place in the Western Conference.


How Can They Make the Playoffs?

The Thunder are a team that a lot of people are predicting to go shooting through the roof next season. I don't see it.

However, it's pretty reasonable to think that the Thunder are going to see the playoffs again next season. They finally found a great center in the draft, and made some other pretty good acquisitions in the summer. 


How Can They Miss the Playoffs?

The Thunder were in a three-way tie for sixth place last season, and did nothing but improve in the offseason. It's hard to believe that they wouldn't make the playoffs next season, but it still remains a possibility.

The Thunder are a very young team. With that youth, there comes a lot of young talent, but also a higher likelihood to fluctuate. If 50-32 was simply the best record the Thunder could get last season, it could mean that any slip-up, injury, or distraction could cost them their playoff seed next season.

Unlikely, but possible.

San Antonio Spurs

Last Season: 50-32, seventh place in the Western Conference.


How Can They Make the Playoffs?

The Spurs are easily one of the best teams of the decade. The team has won three championships this decade, and the team always seems to find diamonds in the rough on draft day. People are already predicting that out of Anderson, their 20th pick.


How Can They Miss the Playoffs?

The Spurs have been slipping. They will soon be seeing the end of the Duncan dynasty, and Parker may leave next season as well.

With a lot of the team aging, it's easy to believe that they could make a similar slip from last season. In 08-09, the Spurs were the third seed in the West, and a year later, they were seventh.

Tim Duncan is 34 years old, McDyess is 35, and Ginobili is 33. Their talent hasn't slipped away completely, but with Parker's future in question, and the rest of their starters past their best years, it's a strong possibility that the Spurs could see the lottery for the first time in years.

Portland Trailblazers

Last Season: 50-32, sixth place in the Western Conference.


How Can They Make the Playoffs?

Brandon Roy, and the rest of the Blazers were a dark horse candidate for the playoffs a few seasons ago. Now it seems as though they'll be here periodically, and despite their problems, they'll always be competing for a ring.


How Can They Miss the Playoffs?

It seems very unlikely that the Blazers could miss out on the playoffs, but like the Thunder, I wouldn't depend on it. Oden has been fighting injuries for years, and for the second year in a row, the Blazers overpaid for a C+ free agent.

If Oden can't recover well, then the 36-year-old Camby will have to take his place again. If Camby fails to help them recover as well as last year, then the Blazers could be out of the running.

Utah Jazz

Last Season: 53-29, fifth place in the Western Conference.


How Can They Make the Playoffs?

The Jazz lost Carlos Boozer, but recovered with Al Jefferson. He's a player who can create his own shot, and completely dominate the inside on offense. Deron Williams is also establishing himself as an elite point guard, and with these pieces the Jazz could be moving up in the playoff ranks.


How Can They Miss the Playoffs?

Things don't always mesh.

Al Jefferson is a player who is known for his lack of defense, and the losses of Kyle Korver, Wesley Mathews, and Ronnie Brewer may sting more than they think. If Gordon Haywood doesn't play like a starter on a playoff team, then I'm seeing a huge hole on the team in both of the wing positions.

They're a team with a lot of holes still to fill, regardless of plugging the void of Boozer's absence.

Denver Nuggets

Last Season: 53-29, fourth place in the Western Conference.


How Can They Make the Playoffs?

Denver has thrived off of the successes of Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups for a few years now, and the team seems to be making it along just fine.

The team couldn't be more thrilled to see George Karl back on the bench, and Al Harrington couldn't hurt. They didn't make anyone jump for joy in their offseason, but they didn't take any steps in the wrong direction.


How Can They Miss the Playoffs?

This is a better spot for a section next season, with the expected departure of Carmelo Anthony.

However, if the team gets wise before the deadline, 'Melo could be gone by February. If Miami seems to be the greatest team of all time, and Toronto and Cleveland are struggling to win 10 games next season, the Nuggets may take the smartest choice, and try rebuilding during the season. Carmelo is the youngest and best of their core group, so losing him could mean the end of the Nuggets' reign.

And losing him could come in the middle of this season.

Phoenix Suns

Last Season: 54-28, third place in the Western Conference.


How Can They Make the Playoffs?

If the Suns continue to rely on Steve Nash's presence as an elite point guard, and they got it right with Josh Childress and Hedo Turkoglu, the Suns could see the postseason. As the third seed last year, it seems like only a huge fall could pull them out.


How Can They Miss the Playoffs?

Amar'e Stoudemire was a large part of their franchise. It's a toss-up between him and Nash, but Stoudemire could have been seen as their franchise player.

Regardless of who this is pinned on, the Suns weren't in the playoffs in 2008, and Hedo is no Amar'e. They were only four games above the eighth seed, and only a few more behind the rising Rockets and Grizzlies.

If they don't completely recover from the loss of Amar'e, the Suns will not be in the playoffs.

Dallas Mavericks

Last Season: 55-27, second place in the Western Conference.


How Can They Make the Playoffs?

Dirk Nowitzki, Shawn Marion, Caron Butler, Tyson Chandler, Jason Kidd, and Jason Terry are quite the list of superstars to all play on one team. The team had the second seed last year for a reason, and despite their early departure from the playoffs, the team doesn't look like they'll be out of luck in the regular season.


How Can They Miss the Playoffs?

As one of the older teams in the league, you'd think that age could be a factor for the Mavs to depart from the playoffs.

Jason Kidd is 37. But after that, you have Marion, Nowitzki, and Terry at 32.

Tyson Chandler is only 27, and Caron Butler is only 30. Their age isn't going to be catching up to them for at least two more seasons.

But that's no reason why the Mavs can't make the playoffs. Age set aside, each and every Maverick is on the decline. Marion isn't the superstar he was, Chandler has been flopping around teams like mad, and Terry had a few dips in his numbers. If the loss to the Spurs does translate toward the regular season, then the Mavericks could end up fighting for the eighth seed, and losing.

But don't bet on it.

Los Angeles Lakers

Last Season: 57-25, first place in the Western Conference.


How Can They Make the Playoffs?

The Lakers are one of the best teams in recent history. Pau and Kobe fit together well. Matt Barnes should be a good bench player to rely on, and Kobe has got to be even more fired up because of the Miami three. They are making the playoffs.


How Can They Miss the Playoffs?

Well, it's not going to happen. There would have to be some major injuries, or some kind of disaster to take the Lakers out of the playoffs.

They haven't moved the team around at all, and that's a good sign. Maybe they won't repeat, and there's a small chance that they won't lock up the No. 1 seed, but slipping 15 games and out of the playoffs is almost out of the question.