From defending champion Oklahoma City to rebuilding lottery squads, our crew sorts all fifteen rosters into tiers to identify who poses the biggest threat in a loaded West.
On this episode, the crew takes on the entire Western Conference ahead of the new NBA season, ranking all 15 teams into four tiers: Top of the West, Home Court Advantage, Playoffs + Play-In, and Lottery. With another loaded year ahead, the exercise becomes about much more than simply predicting standings. The hosts also evaluate whether each team got better, worse, or stayed roughly the same based on its offseason moves.
Naturally, much of the conversation centers on the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder and where they belong among the conference's elite. The guys discuss whether OKC should still be viewed as the team to beat in the West, which teams represent the biggest threats, and how the Thunder's own roster changes could impact their ability to remain at the top. Even after winning a championship, the margin for error remains small in a conference filled with established stars and rising young teams.
From there, the crew works through every team in the West, breaking down major additions, departures, and roster developments that could shift the standings. Some teams look poised to make a leap, while others may have taken a step backward or could find themselves drifting toward the lottery. The discussion also highlights how quickly one offseason move can completely change a team's outlook in such a competitive conference.
The middle of the West generates some of the biggest debates. Several teams have legitimate arguments for home-court advantage, while others could just as easily end up fighting through the play-in tournament. Injuries, chemistry, roster fit, and internal development all become important factors when separating teams that appear relatively close on paper.
Ultimately, the episode serves as a full Western Conference preview through the lens of Oklahoma City's title defense. The Thunder may enter the season with the target on their back, but the bigger question is how the rest of the conference has changed around them. With contenders at the top, ambitious teams in the middle, and rebuilding organizations at the bottom, the West once again looks deep, unpredictable, and difficult to navigate.
