The Crowded West

We have to get one last day of NBA news in before we turn our attention back to the Sweet 16. You might not like it, but we're doing it. We have on our hands a historically competitive Western Conference playoff picture, which offers plenty of intrigue heading into the last three weeks of the season. With the Nuggets slumping as of late, and nearly every contending squad dealing with a variety of injuries, the West is absolutely wide open 👀

• The Grizzlies still hold the two seed, but Ja Morant's absence has the upstart Kings fast on their tail

• The defending champion Warriors look out of sorts and unlikely to repeat, with Andrew Wiggins' potential for a return dwindling by the day. When they put it all together and make a run you can use this bullet to troll me

• Phoenix, Dallas and the Lakers are currently dealing with injuries to key stars

While some may miss the juggernauts that ruled the West in recent years, I'm all for the parity resulting from these squads' general mediocrity. The playoffs will be an absolute bloodbath, with some squads that have the potential to be legitimate contenders (Lakers and Mavs) fighting in the Play-In tournament to even get a chance. Let's look at the Western Conference champion futures, and then explore some games tonight with strong playoff implications 🏆

Western Conference Champion Odds (subject to change)

• Suns: +280 (bet $100, win $280)

• Nuggets: +320

• Clippers: +460

• Warriors: +500

• Grizzlies: +800

Pivotal Matchups

Much has changed since Steph Curry and Kyrie Irving's numerous Finals duels — Irving is on his third squad since leaving the Cavs, while Curry looks like a lock retire as a Warrior. Kyrie has had very little time to get acquainted with his co-star Luka Doncic in Dallas, who has been sidelined, but may return tonight in this pivotal matchup 🍿

• Luka and Kyrie pose a potentially all-time devastating offensive duo if they can build some chemistry, but the clock is running out on their chances

• The Warriors, on the other hand, boasts more continuity than any other team in the league, but has not been able to win on the road...at all (8-29)

• Curry will be hungry to show out vs. his former nemesis and remind the world of Golden State's championship pedigree (yeah, we get it Klay... 😂)

The Suns and Lakers matchup tonight doesn't hit as hard, considering Durant and LeBron won't be guarding each other. However, this game still holds plenty of intrigue — the Lakers have retooled their roster, but have squandered many winnable games and are in danger of missing the Play-In tournament altogether. Anthony Davis and co. will be looking to send a message vs. the playoff-entrenched Phoenix squad 🏜

• The Suns may be without their trade deadline jewel in KD, but they still boast the star trio of Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton. Phoenix looks to be the best team in the West (on paper) upon Durant's return, but they'll have no time to build chemistry

• The Lakers are in a similar boat due to their roster shakeup and LeBron's injury — at least all of this flux has given Austin Reaves his moment to shine 😅

Insert LeBron into the lineup with this new cast of role players starting to feel themselves and the Lakers might actually be dangerous 👀

For My Parlay Gurus

With the uncertainty surrounding Luka's status, it's tough to see Dallas taking this one (could the Warriors finally win a road game?). Meanwhile, the Lakers are highly motivated and possess greater depth than Phoenix — Vegas seems to agree, as the spread has shrunk over the past day. I like Golden State and LA to make statements in this crowded playoff push 👇

• Warriors -1.5 @ Mavs: -110

• Lakers +1 vs. Suns: -112

$100 on this bet would win you $261 — if we hit, make sure you email [email protected] for a chance to win up to $100*. Many will enter, only some will win 😉

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