NBA Playoffs: 3 potential x-factors in the Western Conference

Exploring 3 potential x-factors in the NBA Playoffs for the Western Conference. 

The 2021 NBA playoffs are set to officially begin May 22, with the inaugural play-in tournament starting May 18. There are many teams in the league that are chomping at the bit to get going and many there still believe that they have plenty to prove despite excellent performances during the regular season.

Especially in the Western Conference, there’s really no predicting what will transpire over the next few weeks in the playoffs. Sitting at the top of the West are two teams that no one figured to be in this position heading into the postseason. At the same rate, I don’t think many predicted that the Los Angeles Lakers, the defending NBA champions, would not be hosting a first-round playoff series.

Nevertheless, here we are heading into possibly what is going to be one of the most eventful playoff runs in recent NBA history. Who will come out of the West? It’s unsure and anyone’s guess at this point. However, as is the case every playoff run, there are going to be many players that rise to the occasion and emerge as x-factors for their respective teams.

As the NBA playoffs quickly draw near, we explore three potential players that would fit the role, as x-factors, for this year‘s postseason in the Western Conference.