8 Western Conference Teams You'll See Around Playoff Time

I know it's still early in the season and there no telling what can happen from today to tomorrow, but I made a list about the eastern conference teams so I had to make one for the western conference as well. So here it is.

1. LA Lakers

2. Utah Jazz

3. Portland Trailblazers

4. Phoenix Suns

5. New Orleans Hornets

6. Houston Rockets

7. Dallas Mavericks

8. Denver Nuggets

1. LA Lakers - This is a team that I thought was good last year and think is even better this year. They did fall short last season in the finals, but they now have Andrew Bynum back and he's healthy. He will give an extra presents in the paint that they didn't have last year. I wouldn't be surprised to see them in the finals again.

2. Utah Jazz - This was a strong team last year. They made the playoffs, but fell short before the finals. I think they can make it there again this year. Deron Williams is becoming a great point guard and he is making the players around him better as well.

3. Portland Trailblazers - This is another young team that is trying to find its self in the western conference. They got back a big missing piece of the puzzel this year when Greg Odem came back. Now I know he hasn't gotten to play but 13 minutes but when he comes back healthy look for him to step up and be the main star on this team.

4. Phoenix Suns - A team that went out early in the playoffs last year, but could make it back there again. They have an offense that can score and they have some young feet to put on the floor off the bench for aging players like Shaq.

5. New Orleans Hornets - This is a young and talented team. They have a great point guard in Chris Paul. He is a scorer and an assist machine. He make the other players around him better like all point guards should do. Watch this team make it to the playoffs again.

6. Houston Rockets - This is a team that can make the playoffs, but can't do much when they get there. They added Ron Artest who they hope will give them the extra piece they were missing to make it past the first round of the playoffs.

7. Dallas Mavericks - Another team that was in the playoffs last year and could make it there again. Their not that young of a team, but they still have talent. They have an aging point guard in Jason Kidd, but he can still get the job done. This team will probably make it to the playoffs, but I don't expect them to do much.

8. Denver Nuggets - This is a team that could make it to the playoffs. They made a big trade that sent Allen Iverson to Detroit and brought Chauncy Billips and Antonio McDyss to the team. This team won't do much if they make it to the playoffs.