NBA Western Conference Midsummer Power Rankings

Nov 11, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) dribbles the basketball against San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. The Spurs defeated the Warriors 113-100. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

1. Golden State Warriors

While I don’t expect the Warriors to replicate their regular season success, the 2015 NBA Champions are still the team of the moment. Draymond Green is locked down, the core remains in place and Stephen Curry is Stephen Curry. Basically, it’s a good time to be a Warriors fan.

Coach Steve Kerr and company will face stiff competition from the Spurs, Rockets, Grizz and the rest of the gauntlet out west, but until they’re knocked off of their throne, the Bay Area crew will hold the top spot in these power rankings.

2. San Antonio Spurs

How crazy is it that the Spurs acquired LaMarcus Aldridge and David West? Not only that, but the team was able to keep Kawhi, re-sign Danny Green at a home-town discount and will also have the services of Manu Ginobili for one more year. The Big Three are getting older and Pop grows more surly by the day, but the Spurs continue to do what the Spurs do.

First-round exit aside, San Antonio continues to be a legitimate title threat. If anything, the championship window has been extended. Love them or hate them, the Spurs as an organization are the class of the league and the team should be better on the court next season.

3. Houston Rockets

In one year’s time, the acquisition of troubled point-man Ty Lawson could look like a stroke of genius for GM Daryl Morey or a failed experiment at the cost of a protected first-round pick and change. The worst-case scenario is that the team is again forced to rely on an injury-prone Patrick Beverley and probably still secures a top-four seed in the playoffs.

To me, the potential reward for bringing Lawson on board far outweighs the consequences should he falter. I like this move far more than say the boom-or-bust acquisitions of the Clippers. Hopefully Lawson can get his life in order and return to form. If he does, the rest of the west could be in real trouble.

4. Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies are probably my favorite NBA team outside of the state of Utah and have been an elite squad for several years now. The Grizz did what they had to do by securing the return Marc Gasol and made one of the sneaky-good free agent signings of the summer by inking Brandan Wright.

The Grizzlies are an interesting case study of a team that is trying to buck the small ball trend that is taking hold in the league currently. Their ability to hang with the best teams by slowing the game down and winning with size, defense and execution is a model the Jazz would like to replicate and perfect.

Next: Middle of the Pack (5 and 6)