NBA: How the playoff picture looks a month into the 2023-24 season
Western Conference NBA Playoff picture
Let's take a look at the Western Conference playoff picture a mont into the season, which has a few surprises.
1. Minnesota Timberwolves (11-3) - The Minnesota Timberwolves have easily been the biggest surprise in the NBA this season. They're defense is so good (ranked No. 1 in the NBA) that even though their offense is average at best, they still have the third-best net rating in the league.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (11-4) - The Oklahoma City Thunder have a top 10 offense and defense, and the second-best net rating in the NBA. If there's one concern about the Thunder, it revolves around their limited depth and unproven bench.
3. Denver Nuggets (10-5) - The defending champions very much look like they're going to factor in who comes out of the Western Conference again. They'll likely be in cruise control until the postseason.
4. Dallas Mavericks (10-5) - Luka Doncic is a legit NBA MVP candidate and the Mavs' supporting cast around Luka and Kyrie Irving have been better than expected to start the season.
5. Phoenix Suns (9-6) - It's unfortunate that we still haven't seen the Phoenix Suns at full strength with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal battling injuries throughout the first month of the season. Still, Kevin Durant has kept the Suns afloat.
6. Sacramento Kings (8-6) - The darlings of the Western Conference last season haven't had the start they would've liked but they're very much in the thick of things along with other dark horse contenders.
West Play-In Tournament teams
7. Los Angeles Lakers (9-7) - The Los Angeles Lakers could've had a better start to the season but I'm sure they'll take 9-7 considering they didn't get their ninth win until December last year.
8. Houston Rockets (7-6) - The Houston Rockets made some big moves during the offseason with the acquisitions of Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet. So far, those two moves are paying dividends as they look like a much better team.
9. New Orleans Pelicans (8-7) - This is a big year for the New Orleans Pelicans. If they don't take a step forward this year, which probably means finishing in the top 6 of the Western Conference, you'd have to think that big changes could be on the horizon.
10. LA Clippers (6-7) - After starting 0-5 with James Harden in the starting lineup, the LA Clippers have quietly won three games in a row. Maybe Russell Westbrook's decision to come off the bench did save LA's season.