In case you have been losing track of time, the start of the 2023-24 NBA season is approaching fast. The Denver Nuggets are coming into this year as the defending NBA champions, but they are going to have their hands full this season.
Technically, there are going to be 32 teams with a chance to win the title this year, but that group is actually much smaller than that. You should be looking at a group of about 8-10 teams that are going to win the championship, and a majority of them are going to come from the Western Conference.
Here is a look at how the Western Conference might shape up this year and some of the top teams that will be in the mix.
Check out the full 2023/24 NBA season odds over on Bookmaker
Nuggets are Favored
The Denver Nuggets come into the season as the betting favorites to win the Western Conference again this season, as they have odds set at +240. Denver was easily the best team in the conference a season ago, and they finished it off in the NBA Finals.
As long as Nikola Jokic is still on this roster, then it’s going to be hard for any team to get past the Nuggets, as they also enjoy a great home-court advantage in Denver. While that might be the case, the Phoenix Suns, at +350, appear to have the best chance to get past them next season.
Phoenix has created a big three heading into the 2023-24 season, as Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal will form an unstoppable offensive threat. The Suns are going to try to shoot their way to a Western Conference title, but at some point, they have to defend.
The Next Wave
While Denver and Phoenix appear to be the two top teams heading into next season, the next wave includes three very interesting teams. The Golden State Warriors enter the year with odds set at +650, the Los Angeles Lakers are next at +750, and the Clippers are next at +900.
Golden State has brought in veteran Chris Paul in the offseason, and he could provide a huge boost on both ends of the floor. The Warriors had a rough end to last year, and that will leave them hungry for more success this time around.
LeBron James is hungry for one more title with the Los Angeles Lakers, and he is trying to get his body ready for another long run. Anthony Davis is back in Los Angeles for another shot at success, and that team is going to be tough to beat.
It’s hard to know what to make of the Clippers, as it is all going to come down to just how healthy they can be heading into next season. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are good enough to carry this team to a deep run, but they can’t ever seem to stay on the floor.
There are other teams in the mix in the Western Conference that can end up making a run, but the eventual champion is going to come from this group of five teams.
Warriors Will Win Again
Everyone seems to be counting out the Golden State Warriors again, and that is when they are actually more dangerous. Stephen Curry appears to be on a mission to make up for last year, and the addition of Chris Paul is a good thing.
The Denver Nuggets are not going to be easy to beat, but someone will find a way to figure out Nikola Jokic. That team is going to be the Warriors, and you can get some great value when betting on them at +650 to win the Western Conference.
