NBA Western Conference Midsummer Power Rankings
By Ryan Aston
Mar 11, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) steals the ball from Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
5. Los Angeles Clippers
If the Clippers get the best possible versions of offseason additions Paul Pierce, Lance Stephenson and Josh Smith, this could be the year that the team finally breaks through in the west. I just don’t know if it’s reasonable to expect everything to break the right way for L.A.
There’s a real chance that Pierce looks his age, Smith reverts to inefficiency and Stephenson does, well…what Stephenson does. The team was able to steal DeAndre Jordan back from Dallas, but could ultimately be the same underachieving lot it has always been.
6. Oklahoma City Thunder
Full disclosure–I hate the Thunder. I’ll never forgive owner Clay Bennett for what he did to Seattle, I question Sam Presti’s decision to fire Scott Brooks and, hello–Enes Kanter! Still, if Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka stay healthy, the sky is the limit for OKC.
That said, the Thunder have been hampered by injury for several consecutive years now. This is not a good trend and the team is another bad injury away from falling out of the playoffs once again. I also question any club’s ability to guard with Kanter in its frontcourt.
Next: Fighting for Spots (7-10)