Is the Western Conference a Three Team Race?

Between the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors, the Western Conference has been dominated by a short list of teams for the last two decades. But the West continues to show signs of change in 2022 with the steady rise of the Phoenix Suns and the Utah Jazz, both looking to compete with the Golden State Warriors for Western Conference supremacy this season. While the regular season standings are depicting a three team race at the top, the Lakers can't be counted out with the likes of LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the roster. Every team knows that anything can happen once the playoffs start. It's just a matter of getting there. Take a look at the latest Western Conference Champion odds and make your pick on who will represent the West in the 2022 NBA Finals.

Updated January 31, 2022 at 11:01am EST

Jump to: Northwest | Pacific | Southwest

Northwest Division

Jump to: Denver Nuggets | Minnesota Timberwolves | Oklahoma City Thunder | Portland Trail Blazers | Utah Jazz

The Northwest Division is enjoying a strong 2022 season so far with four of its five teams currently in playoff positions. The Utah Jazz and the Denver Nuggets continue to trade blows at the top in what looks like what will be a tight division fight until the bitter end. Injuries to key players for the Jazz have helped the Nuggets narrow the gap at the top of the divisions. Keep an eye on how soon the Jazz are able to get healthy and for some of their firepower to get back to speed on the court once they've been cleared to play again. While the Jazz and Nuggets are the main attraction at the moment, don't sleep on the Minnesota Timberwolves. This young team is finding ways to win games and stick around in the division, perhaps setting up an improbable late season run for the top spot.

Pacific Division

Jump To: Golden State Warriors | Los Angeles Clippers | Los Angeles Lakers | Phoenix Suns | Sacramento Kings

The Pacific Division is home to the two presumptive favorites to win the Western Conference. The Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors are likely to go back and forth for the top seed throughout the course of the year. Likely the biggest question is can the Warriors keep their core players healthy throughout the long grind of the regular season. Previous years have been derailed due to injuries to players like Curry and Thompson. For the Suns, will they be able to keep up their consistent play to see out another Western Conference title? Perhaps the most interesting team in the Pacific is the Los Angeles Lakers. Anthony Davis is finally back in the lineup, but LeBron is dealing with some injuries of his own. Will the Lakers be able to limp into the 2022 playoffs and make some noise, or are their best days behind them already?

Southwest Division

Jump To: Dallas Mavericks | Houston Rockets | Memphis Grizzlies | New Orleans Pelicans | San Antonio Spurs

The Southwest Division is electrifying whenever Ja Morant and Luka Dončić hit the court. These two phenoms are look to lead their respective teams to playoff glory while the rest of the division looks to be slumping out of contention early on. While the Grizzlies seem to have the early season advantage over the Mavericks, it will be interesting to see over time if Morant and the young Grizzlies are able to stay on track without much veteran leadership. Both teams may look to make a splash at the trade deadline to sure up the roster for the second half of the season.

Updated January 31, 2022 at 11:01am EST