NBA Playoff Predictions: Odds for Each West Team to Reach the Conference Finals

With just over a month remaining in the NBA season, we are starting to see who has what it takes to make a run in the playoffs. Injuries are setting a few teams back at the moment, but come playoff time most teams will have their full squad ready to go. 

Can the Los Angeles Lakers repeat, or is it time for a new team to emerge from the Western Conference? The San Antonio Spurs have the best record, but does that guarantee them the easiest road to the finals? Depending on the match-ups, some teams could surprise you this post season.  

Here are my odds for each Western Conference team to reach the finals. 

15. Minnesota Timberwolves

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BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 03: Kevin Love #42 of the Minnesota Timberwolves wipes his face in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics on January 3, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeated the Timberwolves 96-93. NOTE TO USER:

Odds: 500/1 

You really have to feel for Kevin Love. The guy is playing out of his mind right now, and his team is going nowhere. The Timberwolves have no help for him at the moment and they continue to lose night after night. The T-Wolves are 4-11 in the last month. That's just awful.  

Minnesota is tied for the second worst record in the NBA. Once again, these guys are headed to the lottery.

14. Sacramento Kings

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LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 18: Tyreke Evans #6 of the Sacramento Kings, who is missing the game due to injury, looks on during the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam at Staples Center on February 18, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevor

Odds: 500/1 

No matter how hard Kings fans try to keep their team in Sacramento, I don't think it will amount to much. The Maloof brothers appear to be heading north to Anaheim.

Maybe a move would do them some good. After all, it worked for the SuperSonics, who are now the Oklahoma CityThunder. Drafting Kevin Durant didn't hurt either.

Tyreke Evans is very good, but he's nowhere close to the Durant's game.

Until this team grows some and adds a few more pieces to the puzzle, they won't be going anywhere near the finals.  

13. Los Angeles Clippers

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LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 19: Blake Griffin #32 of the Los Angeles Clippers dunks the ball over a car in the final round of the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest apart of NBA All-Star Saturday Night at Staples Center on February 19, 2011 in Los Angeles, Californ

Odds: 300/1 

The human highlight reel that is Blake Griffin may have dunked over a car at the 2011 NBA All-Star Game, but that won't help the LA Clippers win many games.

In fact, Griffin's dunks during games don't really help the Clippers win games. Sure he scores points that way, but at times it's almost like that's all LA wants to do is throw it up for Blake. 

Perhaps they should focus a little bit more on winning. This is a young team headed in the right direction, but it is still far away from reaching a championship. 

12. Golden State Warriors

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OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 03: Stephen Curry #30 and Monta Ellis #8 of the Golden State Warriors look on near the end of the game against the Houston Rockets during an NBA game at Oracle Arena on December 3, 2009 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User ex

Odds: 250/1 

Another young team headed in the right direction, but still missing the supporting cast. The foundation is there with Monta Eilis and Stephen Curry and they made a smart move in acquiring David Lee. 

Now if they could just figure out how to win late in the game, they would be good to go. However they don't know how to do that, which is why they've been A .500 team over the past month.

They've shown progress over the course of the season, and in a few years with a couple additions to the team, Golden State could amount to something. But right now they're on the outside looking in. 

11. Houston Rockets

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LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 01: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives past Chuck Hayes #44 and Kevin Martin #12 of the Houston Rockets in the first half at Staples Center on February 1, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers defeated the R

Odds: 200/1 

The Rockets did what they had to do, and traded away Shane Battier to shed cap space. Getting Hasheem Thabeet in return will greatly improve their roster. 

If you took that seriously then I apologize. Without Battier's exceptional defense, Houston will continue to fall. They're not a great team, but they're not a horrible one either. They're four games back from eighth place and could very well make the playoffs. 

If they somehow manage to sneak into the postseason, they are nothing more than first round fodder.

10. Utah Jazz

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DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 23: Forward Al Jefferson #25 of the Utah Jazz at American Airlines Center on February 23, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consen

Odds: 150/1 

The Jazz may have traded away their best player, and arguably the best point guard in the league, but they got great value in return to start rebuilding this team. 

Devin Harris is a good young point with a lot of room to grow. The draft picks Utah picked up will provide this team with more depth, and in a couple years they could be a team to watch out for. 

However, the team chemistry is just not there right now, and they won't find it in time for the playoffs. They're only two games back from the eighth spot, so they could make it in.

But let's be real here, they don't have much of a shot beating anyone in the playoffs.

9. Phoenix Suns

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PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 17: Grant Hill #33 and Steve Nash #13 of the Phoenix Suns during the NBA game against the Dallas Mavericks at US Airways Center on February 17, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mavericks defeated the Suns 112-106. NOTE TO USER: User

Odds: 100/1 

The Suns are also two games back from eighth place and have a fighting chance to get into the playoffs. Vince Carter hasn't been spectacular for Phoenix, but if he were to make it in the playoffs, Carter would be a nice experienced piece to have.

This a team that you could put money on to make it to the playoffs, but as far as getting out of the first round goes, the Suns won't be able to hang.

They may win a game or two in an opening round series but that's about it. They just can run with the elite teams of the West. 

8. New Orleans Hornets

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LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 19: Chris Paul #3 of the New Orleans Hornets competes in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge apart of NBA All-Star Saturday Night at Staples Center on February 19, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty

Odds: 50/1 

They may be in seventh place and fading quickly, but I don't believe the Hornets will fall like that. 

The addition of Carl Landry will help them maintain they're place in the West standings and maybe, just maybe, this team could surprise a few people in the first round of the playoffs.

However, the Hornets are simply not a team that can make a deep run. 

Chris Paul and David West are great together, but as a team the Hornets just aren't strong enough to make it to the finals. 

7. Portland Trail Blazers

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PHOENIX, AZ - JANUARY 14: Andre Miller #24 of the Portland Trail Blazers handles the ball during the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center on January 14, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Trail Blazers 115-111. NOTE TO USER

Odds: 45/1 

The Blazers may be in sixth place in the Western Conference standings, but they have a lot of potential to move up. This is a team that will make the playoffs pretty comfortably.

They made a solid move at the trade deadline, adding Gerald Wallace to their frontline to go with Marcus Camby and LaMarcus Aldridge.

Over the month of March, we will see this team get a rhythm and feel for one another and come playoff time, they could be as dangerous as any team in the league.

Wallace give the Blazers another strong body. This is a team that I would not want to face in the first round. Don't be surprised if the Blazers pull an upset in the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

6. Memphis Grizzlies

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PHOENIX - DECEMBER 08: Rudy Gay #22 of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts with Xavier Henry #13 after Gay hit the game tying three point shot against the Phoenix Suns at the end of regulation in the NBA game at US Airways Center on December 8, 2010 in Phoenix,

Odds: 40/1 

At the beginning of the season who would've thought the Memphis Grizzlies stood a chance in the Western Conference? 

The deal the Grizzlies made at the deadline left a lot of people scratching their heads. Somehow Memphis now has Shane Battier and find themselves in the playoff hunt. They're currently in eighth place, but once they find a groove with their new player, teams better watch out.

They dominated the Spurs the other night, and yes I know Tony Parker wasn't playing, but it's still no easy task to take down that mighty giant. Memphis would be very dangerous if Rudy Gay were still playing, but he is likely out for the rest of the season.

Because of Gay's extended absence, they will have to group together and find  ways to win. Now that they have a great defender in Battier, they can stop some of the stronger teams.  

5. Denver Nuggets

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DENVER, CO - MARCH 02: Gary Forbes #0, Chris Andersen #11, J.R. Smith #5 and Raymond Felton #20 of the Denver Nuggets celebrate against the Charlotte Bobcats at the Pepsi Center on March 2, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The Nuggets defeated the Bobcats 120-8

Odds: 30/1 

The Denver Nuggets are doing  just fine without Carmelo Anthony. People say the Knicks gave up too much for Carmelo Anthony, and the fact that Denver is still relevant really helps that case. Denver is 4-1 since the trade. 

Denver lost it's superstar, which now means they have to play team basketball. Imagine that, no ball hog on the team, how will they ever survive? Well my friends the Nuggets are going to be just fine.

It would be great to see the Nuggets make a storied run to the finals and square off against they guy they just traded. And while that's unlikely to happen, Denver still has many reasons to be optimistic.

The Nuggets are playing great basketball, and thanks to first half record (thanks 'Melo), Denver will be making the playoffs.

Could this team actually make a run or at least shock some people in the first round? Well, we have over a month to learn a lot more about what this team is capable of with their new roster.   

4. Dallas Mavericks

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WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 26: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks before the start of a NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards at the Verizon Center on February 26, 2011 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and ag

Odds: 20/1 

The Mavericks really hope Caron Butler can return by the playoffs, or else they may not be able to make it to the NBA Finals. Mark Cuban must have felt comfortable with the roster he has, because he and his team were unusually quiet at the trade deadline.

This may be a mistake, because come playoff time you won't be seeing the level of play teams gave you in the regular season. You're going to get the best from everybody, and if you're not prepared you could get knocked from the first round. 

If the Mavs can finish in the top 2 in the conference, then it will greatly benefit this team in the playoffs. They have won seven in a row and show no signs of stopping.

We know they've got the skills to reach the finals, but they need to keep a level head. 

3. Oklahoma City Thunder

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LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 27: (L-R) Russell Westbrook #0 and Kevin Durant #35 of the Oklahoma City Thunder sit on the bench late in the fourth quarter while taking on the Los Angeles Lakers during Game Five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 20

Odds: 15/1 

Kevin Durant may have injured his ankle last night, but he won't be out for long. The pairing of young studs Durant and Russell Westbrook have given the Thunder a chance to become a perennial Western Conference contender.

Sensing that this may be the year they can advance in the playoffs, they went out and got some big men to help them out. With this added size, the Thunder have the potential to be very dangerous.

The addition of Kendrick Perkins is really going to help this team in the playoffs. His hard work and big body will be tough for the majority of teams to handle. If Durant and Westbrook manage to score a bunch, and Kendrick can shut down opposing teams, they can make it deep into the playoffs.

Watch out for the Thunder, because they're going to continue getting better. They are still unproven at this stage, and need to show they can win when it matters most.

2. San Antonio Spurs

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SAN ANTONIO - APRIL 29: Tony Parker #9 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates his basket in the final seconds of the first half with Tim Duncan #21 and Manu Ginobili #20 against the Phoenix Suns in Game Five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during t

Odds: 10/1 

Wait a minute, how could the team with the best record in the NBA not be the favorite to make it to the finals? As we know, the difference between the regular season and the playoffs is paramount. Given recent history, the Lakers should get the closest nod over the team from San Antonio.

Don't get me wrong, the Spurs are a really good team. Nobody on their team is averaging 20 points or more. They share the ball and win games.

However in the playoffs the last few years this team just couldn't close it out. It's one thing to win games every other night against different teams, but when you face the same team night after night, sometimes they can get in your head. 

1. Los Angeles Lakers

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LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 03: Pau Gasol #16, Derek Fisher #2 and Andrew Bynum #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers leave the court for a timeout trailing the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center on February 3, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User

Odds: 8/1 

The two time defending champs have the best chance to reach the finals and make it three in a row. They may have been struggling earlier in the season, but finally, the Lakers have found their rhythm and teams needs to beware. 

They're 5-0 since the All-Star break and that horrible loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their next opponent is the Charlotte Bobcats, meaning they'll be riding a six game winning streak when they travel to San Antonio on Sunday.

Because the Spurs will be without Tony Parker, the Lakers must win the game, and win it with style. 

It's time to show the world that the Lakers are back. They were simply having fun and just messing around earlier in the season, but now it is time to get down to business and they know it. They're on a mission, and they won't stop for whoever gets in their way.