2024 NBA Western Conference Predictions: Denver Nuggets No. 1 Seed, Dallas Mavericks Regress
After sending the wrong team to the Finals each of the last two seasons, the theme for the 2024-25 NBA campaign comes in the form of a question: Can we finally get it right?
One year after appearing to demonstrate they were primed to start a 21st-century dynasty, the Celtics laid an egg in the 2023 Eastern Finals and allowed a talent-challenged Heat team to move on to the grand stage, where it got demolished by a powerful Nuggets squad.
Last season, while the Celtics methodically did their part, it was the Mavericks who played the spoiler role and ruined a classic showdown by eliminating Nikola Jokic's side and setting up a second consecutive ratings-losing mismatch.
So here we are today, with the Celtics and Nuggets each believing they should be going for a hat trick in June.
While the wildly talented and surprisingly disrespected Celtics appear to be on a mission, the Nuggets are going to have to prove that the enigmatic Russell Westbrook isn't the same anchor that helped drag down the last nine teams he's accompanied to the postseason.
With Westbrook stepping into Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's workmanlike sneakers, Denver remains the West's most well-rounded team, featuring a powerful force inside, forwards who complement each other inside and out, and guards who take pride at both ends of the court. Like the Celtics, all five starters are All-Star candidates, and no other team East or West can boast of that.
Sorting out the Nuggets' competition from the teams that are either too old, too young or likely to look a whole lot different after the trade deadline, here is my predicted order of finish in the 2024-25 Western Conference regular season:
Denver Nuggets. They have replaced one of the league's best 3-point shooters (Caldwell-Pope) with one of the worst (Westbrook). The fate of the West's best could come down to Jokic's ability to keep his new teammate's numbers down... and don't forget who handles the ball distribution.
Oklahoma City Thunder. Sam Presti's incubation experiment is chirping, but the Thunder have failed to go "all-in" with their overflowing number of first-round draft picks. Adding Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein is nice. But, seriously, Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein? Maybe next season they'll get serious about cashing in their assets for a REAL difference-maker or two.
Sacramento Kings. The West has gotten awfully old, with the Kings joining that close-to-retirement party with the addition of DeMar DeRozan . But in some cases, older is better. The Kings can now hit you from three different angles with a game on the line, and even the Celtics have trouble matching that. Unlike the Nuggets and Thunder, they're a lock to win their division.
Minnesota Timberwolves. One of the great debates at this point last season was: Can you win in the NBA with two front-line big men? Yes led in the early polling until Minnesota couldn't match up with Dallas' shooters and then decided it was a bad idea. Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo trump Karl-Anthony Towns... against everyone but the Nuggets.
New Orleans Pelicans. Swiping Dejounte Murray makes them better, but let's be honest: This team is going only as far as Zion Williamson can carry it... and his own 300 or so pounds. Brandon Ingram begins the season as one of the league's most intriguing players. He could be very good, very bad, or, at some point, somebody else's problem.
Dallas Mavericks. The Luka Doncic-Kyrie Irving pairing is a ticking time bomb... and the meter is still running. Now throw in Klay Thompson, who will be asked to stand in the corner when he's not screening for Irving , even though he still thinks it should be the other way around. The 2025 Mavericks likely will mirror the 2024 Heat—from Finals to flops.
Memphis Grizzlies. What a perfect landing spot for Zach Edey, who should benefit from Jaren Jackson Jr.'s versatility and Ja Morant's overall brilliance. This has a chance to be the West's best defensive team, and in case you haven't been watching the Celtics and Knicks, defense is back in vogue in the NBA. Here's your MVP longshot: Morant.
