Top 3 championship contenders in the Western Conference

Reigning Champions Golden State WarriorsThe season starts tomorrow but we all already have our predictions towards who could defeat the Warriors this time to win the championship. The Warriors played extremely well last season getting the best win:loss ratio but we cannot let go of the fact that they didn’t have to face the Spurs or the Clippers in the playoffs. Not saying that the Warriors couldn’t have defeated either of those teams, but it would have at least worn them out a little heading to the championships like it did the Rockets and Clippers.Curry and Klay are as healthy as ever, Kerr should be back soon and the team is still more or less the same, strong, Finals MVP laden team. However history is against them since only a handful of teams have ever won back-to-back championships and plus they’re in the Western Conference, where things are extremely competitive. There are a lot of championship caliber teams who could defeat the Warriors to get a ring and here’s our top three contenders from the Western Conference who could be champions this season.

#3 San Antonio Spurs

Tony Parker, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Lamarcus Aldridge and Tim Duncan. Barring any major injuries, that's San Antonio's starting lineup this season. Meanwhile, David West is backing up Aldridge, Manu Ginobili is behind Green, Boris Diaw will shadow Duncan, and Patty Mills is the second-string point guard.

The only unproven member of the Spurs' bench? Las Vegas Summer League MVP, Kyle Anderson. The Spurs are stacked, smart and deep yet again.

No matter how old Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili get or how cynical Coach Greg Popovich remains, the Spurs remain a force. The arrival of LaMarcus Aldridge and David West should help extend Duncan’s viability. Kawhi Leonard is quietly evolving into a star on both ends of the floor making the Spurs championship favorites this season.

#2 Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers led the league in questionable comments about the Warriors’ title, which should make the division race and intense rivalry all the more intriguing. Throw in their desire to move past their playoff collapse and the dramatics surrounding DeAndre Jordan’s free agency, and it’s clear why the Clippers are ready to settle things on the court.

The components of last year’s top-ranked offense (Jordan, Paul and Griffin) remain intact and surrounded by capable scorers such as J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford, as well as the newly acquired Paul Pierce and Lance Stephenson. Chemistry could be a concern, but the added depth is more than welcome.

The Clippers have been a really good team with their offensive dominance for a while now and they haven’t come close to actually winning a championship, Doc Rivers is adamant that this year is going to be different and with the new uniforms and the new logo, they plan to go all the way.

#1 Houston Rockets

All-Stars, Howard and Harden of the Houston Rockets

James Harden will tell you he’s the real MVP and the Rockets are the championship favorites. Now the bearded one will set out to prove both while playing in the league’s toughest division and on one of the NBA’s strongest teams. By adding Ty Lawson to a mix that already includes Dwight Howard in the middle and defensive masters Trevor Ariza and Corey Brewer, the Rockets have even more speed as well as a way to lessen Harden’s load by moving him off the ball. That formula could very well produce another Western Conference Finals appearance - and maybe more.

The thing that the Rockets have to keep in mind, however, is that the whole team, including Howard have to make sure they remain healthy throughout the season. Plus chemistry is a big concern where managing strong clashing personalities like Howard and Harden can in itself become an issue. Their amazing coach Kevin McHale will definitely make them work though and push even harder with a relatively well rested harden in the playoffs.

Edited by Staff Editor