Remember when making the playoffs in the West was a huge achievement?
Like, say, last year, when the 8 seed won 48 games?
While the “it’s early” caveats apply, it appears the bar will be nowhere close to that high this season … and that we could have as many as four new entrants into the conference’s postseason field.
First, the good news: At the top, it’s still a war. The Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets, Rockets and Jazz are just as good as everybody thought, and those five are likely to be battling it out all year. All five project as 50-win teams, if not better, based on early returns.
Additionally, a new power is rising. In case you haven’t noticed, Dallas scored 142, 143 and 137 points last week, and won by 48, 42 and 14, with the last win being a road thumping of Houston. Superstar guard Luka Doncic announced himself with a series of historic achievements. At the ripe old age of 20, he currently leads the league in PER and has…
