#5 Utah Jazz
At times this season, the Utah Jazz have looked like a well-drilled team that could advance from the West. However, they have also had more than their fair share of bad nights, and the Jazz's much-lauded defense from the past two seasons has at times virtually disappeared. The offseason trade for Mike Conley has yet to yield the expected results - and while Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell are enjoying standout seasons, the Jazz will most likely finish 5th for a fourth consecutive year.
#6 Oklahoma City Thunder
Following the departures of Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Jerami Grant, few experts believed that the Oklahoma City Thunder would compete for a playoff spot due to the depth found in the West. However, Billy Donovan has built an incredibly competitive team around his trio of excellent point guards - and the Thunder have been among the NBA's best teams since the turn of the year. OKC's momentum should be enough to propel them to a sixth-placed finish, and they will also be the dark horses of the 2020 playoffs.
Guess the Lakers players!