Who Will Win the 2020 Western Conference Finals? Our Top 4 Team Picks Right Now

The 2019-2020 NBA regular season is right around the corner and basketball fans are riveting to see how the many offseason shakeups will change the dynamic of the league. After all, with the disintegration of the Warriors and the movement of big-time players like Kawhi Leonard, Russel Westbrook, and Paul George, the landscape of the league figures to be entirely different from what it was over the last few seasons. 

This has a lot of people bringing up the question: who will win the 2020 NBA Western Conference Finals? While every team has a chance, there are 4 teams which rise above the rest. We’re going to discuss them below. 

1. Los Angeles Lakers 

While they were more than disappointing last season, there’s plenty of reason to believe that the Lakers will make a run at the NBA Finals in 2020. After all, with the exception of LeBron and a few role players, they’ve overhauled their entire team, and are looking the strongest that they’ve been in almost a decade. 

The arrival of Anthony Davis gives the Lakers two legitimate superstars, one of whom has been to Finals 8 times and has won 3 Championships– that’s LeBron, of course — and the other of whom is arguably the most physically gifted player in the league. 

But that isn’t all. The Lakers have also brought in sharpshooting shooting guard Danny Green and effective veteran center Dwight Howard, both of whom figure to serve a large role on the offense and defensive sides of the ball, respectively. 

And this doesn’t discount the role players who have remained with the Lakers. Rajon Rondo, Alex Caruso, Kentavious Pope-Caldwell, and JaVale McGee all have something to bring to the table. Not to mention, Kyle Kuzma, the young and talented scorer who figures to be the Laker’s 6th Man this season. 

Mix all of these elements together, and you have a championship-contending team. That is provided that LeBron James stays healthy this year. If LeBron goes down, this team won’t have a snowball’s chance in Egypt of making it to the Finals.

2. Los Angeles Clippers

Another team with a very real chance of making it to the Western Conference Finals is the Los Angeles Clippers. With the addition of superstars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the Clippers have shot up to the stratosphere, presenting arguably the best roster in the NBA. 

Leonard, in particular, is a franchise-changing talent. In his one year with Toronto last season, he was able to bring the Raptors a Championship. That was the second Championship victory of his career and also resulted in him winning his second Finals MVP Award as well. 

Paul George doesn’t quite possess the franchise-altering talent of Leonard but is a more-than-effective #2. He averaged 28 points a game for the Thunder last season, and all while acting as a second-fiddle to notorious ball-dominant point guard Russell Westbrook. 

The Clippers’ bench and role players are a huge strength as well, providing ample help on offense and defense. 3-time 6th Man of the Year Lou Williams is particularly effective, averaging over 20 points and 5 assists a game over the last 2 seasons. Other contributors include Landry Shammet, Montrezl Harrel, Patrick Beverley, and Ivica Zubac. 

To be frank, this team is deep. Because their bench is so effective, they’ll be able to give Leonard and George plenty of rest throughout the season. Plan on seeing them in the Western Conference Finals in 2020. 

 

3. Denver Nuggets

Now that we’ve covered LA, we can move east to Denver where the Nuggets have been getting progressively better over the past few seasons. While not as star-studded as the Clippers and the Lakers, the Nuggets could still very well sneak into the Western Conference Finals in 2020. 

They’re lead by Nikola Jokić, one of the most versatile centers to enter the league in quite some time. An incredible passer for a player of his size, the Serbia-born Jokić serves as the Nuggets entire foundation. Put simply, this is not a Championship-level basketball team without him. 

Now, this isn’t to say that the rest of the team is useless. Other effective players include Jamal Murray, Paul Millsap, Gary Harris, and Will Barton, all of whom contribute both offensively and defensively. 

Denver will also get to utilize the talents of Michael Porter, Jr. this season. A highly regarded high school and college prospect who was sidelined with injuries last season, he will almost certainly bring something to the table for the Nuggets. 

4. Houston Rockets 

Rounding out our list is the Houston Rockets, a team highlighted by its big-time players and fast-paced style of play. In the Championship hunt for the past few seasons, there’s no good reason to believe that they won’t be this season as well. 

The Rockets are led by James Harden, the high-scoring, free-throw-accumulating mastermind who is equal parts troll and offensive dynamo. A ball-dominant player to the nth degree, he is the Rockets’ entire identity. 

Now, here’s where things get interesting: Russell Westbrook. Added in the offseason, Westbrook shares an almost identical game with James Harden. Strong-willed and ball-dominant, he’s made a reputation as a walking triple-double. 

The question is: will this be a blessing or a curse? Will Westbrook’s influence help turbo-charge the Rockets offense or will it create friction, thus leading to its demise? 

Harden’s and Westbrook’s relationship on and off the court is the biggest factor in determining the success of the Rockets this season. Simply put, it will make or break their season. 

Now, this isn’t to say that there aren’t other good players on the team. Clint Capela, Eric Gordon, and Kenneth Faried all bring something to the table. But if Westbrook and Harden go off the rails, they aren’t going to be able to salvage anything. 

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