Western Conference: Predicting the final standings

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

1. Golden State Warriors

There’s no doubt about it, that the Golden State Warriors have the most talented team in the NBA’s Western Conference.  With a healthy David Lee and Andrew Bogut, the Warriors’ are possibly the most well rounded team entering the playoffs in 2015.

With the splash brothers Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry firing on all cylinders, it’s hard to find a weakness with this team. Golden State has a +10.9 point differential which is the best in the NBA. The team that’s closest to them in point differential is the Eastern Conference leading Atlanta Hawks.

The Warriors have failed to break the hump of jumping into the top four in the Western Conference these past two seasons, and have only made it past the first round of the playoffs just once with an upset of the Denver Nuggets in the 2013 postseason.  With an ailing Los Angeles Clippers team, the Warriors’ are poised to claim their first Pacific Division title since the 1976.

This Golden Gate squad from the bay area will be primed to take first place in the Western Conference. A possible first round matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder could be in place come seasons end.

Prediction: 64-18

Next three: vs. San Antonio, @ Indiana, @ Washington