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#3 Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets had an unbelievable run in the 2020 NBA Playoffs, though their dream ended at the hands of the LA Lakers. Michael Malone's team came back from a 3-1 deficit in the first round against the Utah Jazz to beat them epically.
The LA Clippers seemed too big for the Nuggets before Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray mounted another 3-1 comeback in the second round and eliminated them. Then, the LA Lakers put an end to Denver's season, but the team can return to the same spot next year.
Their appearance in the WCF against the LA Lakers was a surprise as the expected matchup was the LA squads' battle. Still, the Nuggets earned their chance.
Jokic and Murray played unbelievably in the 2020 NBA Playoffs. However, role players on the team, such as Jerami Grant, were huge for their collective work.
Grant is a great defender and a good body to throw at King James, as they did in the WCF. He also averaged 12 points per game in last year's regular season while making 39% of his three-point shots.
Grant had a good series against the LA Lakers. He averaged 16 points per game with a shooting efficiency of 46%. However, Grant left Denver to sign a three-year, $60-million contract with the Detroit Pistons.
Grant's departure will hurt the Nuggets, and it is why they are out of the Top 3 of the Western Conference. Still, the signing of Argentinian Facundo Campazzo from Real Madrid could be impactful.
Campazzo is a solid point guard who has immense creativity to pass the ball. He can find his teammates consistently and should have a nice connection with Jokic.
If they can solve their depth issues, they will challenge the LA Lakers again.
#2 LA Clippers
The LA Clippers were poised to face the LA Lakers in the 2020 WCF, but the team had a horrendous meltdown against the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the NBA Playoffs.
Despite being considered the favorites heading into the 2020 NBA Playoffs, the Kawhi Leonard-led LA Clippers blew a 3-1 lead over Denver in the second round.
Their second-round exit generated many questions about their team chemistry and the character of the team's leaders; Leonard and Paul George. The two superstars combined for zero points in the fourth quarter of the seventh game against Denver as the team fell apart in the second round.
For the upcoming season, the LA Clippers lost the Sixth Man of the Year, Montrezl Harrell, after he signed with the LA Lakers. They are also expected to trade Lou Williams in order to find a playmaking point guard to start their offense.
The Clippers signed Serge Ibaka in free agency to a two-year, $19-million deal and he will be a great pickup to play the center position. With Ibaka, their matchup against the LA Lakers looks a little bit better as he would be able to follow Anthony Davis from the post to the three-point line.
Ibaka is also an elite rim protector, but the Clippers might need more weapons to challenge the LA Lakers.
There are too many questions about the LA Clippers and their leaders. After their bad performance in the NBA Playoffs, they might have lost their spot as the number one threat to LeBron James and the LA Lakers.
The Clippers will also have a new coach in Tyronn Lue, and adjusting to a new system might be another disadvantage against the established LA Lakers.
Lue was an assistant in Doc Rivers' coaching squad for the LA Clippers and will get his chance to lead the team and unleash their potential.
The LA Clippers are likely to pursuit Nic Batum after he was waived by the Charlotte Hornets. Will that be enough against the LA Lakers?
#1 Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic can become the greatest player in the league in a short time. The Slovenian superstar already showed his incredible performance in the 2020 NBA Playoffs, and the Dallas Mavericks could go a step ahead in 2021.
They could become a Top 2 team in the West, behind the LA Lakers.
Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis are one of the best duos in the NBA, though Porzingis has been injury-plagued. These two players could play well against any duo in the league, including the LA Lakers' pairing of LBJ and AD.
Last season, Doncic averaged 28.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 8.8 assists while making 45% of his shots. He finished fourth in the MVP voting behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, and James Harden.
In the regular season, Doncic led the Mavs to the highest Offensive Rating in the entire NBA (116.7). In the NBA Playoffs, the team fell to the LA Clippers after Porzingis sustained a knee injury, but Doncic proved he is a real weapon.
The Slovenian averaged 31 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game against LAC. The Clippers had Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, two tremendous defenders who could do nothing to stop the 21-year-old player.
Porzingis could match up well with Anthony Davis and could get him out of the paint due to his three-point shooting, which would nullify AD's rim protection.
If Porzingis is healthy, the Mavs will be the biggest threat to the LA Lakers in the Western Conference.
The Latvian is expected to return in January 2021, but if he remains healthy throughout the rest of the season from that point to the NBA Playoffs, the LA Lakers might have their hands full with him and Doncic.
Also read: 5 major challenges the LA Lakers could face during the 2020-21 NBA season
