Where Does Your Team Rank in the 2023 NBA Western Conference Standings?
I remember sitting courtside during a preseason game last October, watching the San Miguel Beermen run drills, and thinking to myself—this conference is going to be an absolute bloodbath. As someone who's followed the NBA for over two decades and covered Asian basketball extensively, I've developed a pretty good sense for when a conference is about to go through a seismic shift. The 2023 Western Conference standings aren't just about wins and losses—they're about roster construction, coaching philosophies, and how teams manage their talent hierarchy. Take Juami Tiongson's recent comments about his role with San Miguel, for instance. While he has the greenlight to shoot, Tiongson said it won't be as many as during his time with the Dyip with the wide array of talent that San Miguel has. That single statement speaks volumes about what separates top-tier teams from the rest of the pack.
When I analyze where teams might land in the standings, I always start with roster depth. The Denver Nuggets, for example, retained about 85% of their championship core while adding some interesting pieces in free agency. Compare that to a team like the Memphis Grizzlies, who lost several key rotation players and will likely drop from their 51-win season last year. I'd put Memphis around the 6th or 7th spot now, whereas last season they were fighting for the top seed. The Phoenix Suns, on the other hand, have assembled what I consider to be the most top-heavy roster in recent memory—three legitimate superstars but questionable depth beyond that. They'll probably win between 52-56 games but might struggle in the playoffs when rotations shorten.
The whole Tiongson situation with San Miguel actually mirrors what we're seeing with several Western Conference teams. When you have multiple stars, role players need to adjust their expectations. I've noticed Golden State Warriors' younger players going through similar adjustments—Jonathan Kuminga's shot attempts dropped from 12 per game to about 8 when everyone was healthy last season. That kind of sacrifice is necessary for team success, but it doesn't always show up in the basic standings analysis that most fans read. The Lakers, for instance, have three players who could average 20+ points on lesser teams, but they'll need to find the right balance to climb from last season's 7th place finish.
What really fascinates me this season is how the middle of the conference will shake out. Teams like Sacramento, Minnesota, and Oklahoma City all improved significantly on paper, but paper doesn't win basketball games. The Timberwolves gave up significant depth to acquire Rudy Gobert last season, and I'm not convinced their win total will improve much beyond 45 games. The Thunder, meanwhile, have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander—who I believe is a dark horse MVP candidate—plus a deep young core that could surprise people. I'd slot them around 5th if everything breaks right.
The Clippers situation is particularly interesting to me. When healthy, they have arguably the most complete roster in the conference. But Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have played just 104 regular season games together over the past three seasons. That's barely over one full season's worth of games. If they can stay healthy—and that's a massive if—they could challenge for the top spot. But based on recent history, I'm skeptical they'll crack the top four.
Then there's Dallas. Luka Dončić is a generational talent, but their roster construction has been questionable at best. They lost significant depth in the Kyrie Irving trade, and their defense ranked near the bottom of the league last season. Unless they make a major move before the trade deadline, I see them finishing around 8th or 9th—right in that play-in tournament range that nobody wants to be in.
The Warriors dynasty isn't dead, but it's certainly evolving. Draymond Green's leadership, combined with Stephen Curry's eternal brilliance, gives them a floor of about 48 wins. But their road performance last season was concerning—they went 11-30 away from Chase Center. If they can't fix that, they'll be stuck in the middle of the pack rather than competing for a top seed.
Looking at the bottom of the conference, San Antonio and Houston are clearly in rebuilding mode. The Spurs have Victor Wembanyama, who I believe will be special, but rookie big men rarely lead their teams to immediate success. The Rockets added some veterans, but their young core still needs time to develop. I'd be surprised if either wins more than 30 games.
When I step back and look at the whole picture, the Western Conference feels more balanced than it has in years. There are probably 12 teams that could realistically make the playoffs, compared to maybe 8-9 in the East. The margin between finishing 4th and 8th might be as slim as 3-4 games. Teams that manage their rotations well, keep players fresh, and have defined roles—like Tiongson understanding his adjusted role in San Miguel's system—will have the advantage. My prediction? Denver and Phoenix battle for the top spot, with the Warriors and Lakers making late surges to secure home court advantage in the first round. But honestly, outside of the very top and very bottom, you could shuffle most of these teams in a hat and come up with a plausible standings order. That's what makes this conference so compelling—and so difficult to predict.