NBA RANKING 2019-20 Western Conference Teams with Grades
2019-20
NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDING PREDICTIONS AND RATING/TEAM GRADES
Written
By Kyle Crabbe
Twitter:@KthetruestKnick
2019-20
TrueFan Western Conference Standing Projections
1)
Houston Rockets : Last
Season Placed 4th
2)
Los Angeles Lakers : Last
Season Placed 10th
3)
Portland Trailblazers : Last
Season Placed 3rd
4)
Los Angeles Clippers : Last
Season Placed 8th
5)
San Antonio Spurs : Last
Season Placed 7th
6)
Golden State Warriors : Last
Season Placed 1st
7)
Denver Nuggets : Last
Season Placed 2nd
8)
Utah Jazz : Last
Season Placed 5th
9)
Sacramento Kings : Last
Season Placed 9th
10)
Dallas Mavericks : Last
Season Placed 14th
11)
New Orleans Pelicans : Last
Season Placed 13th
12)
Phoenix Suns : Last
Season Placed 15th
13)
Minnesota T'Wolves : Last
Season Placed 11th
14)
Memphis Grizzlies : Last
Season Placed 13th
15)
OKC Thunder : Last
Season Placed 6th
TrueFan
2019-20 Eastern Conference Team Grades And Win Projections
5
Levels Of Team Tier's
1) Championship Contender
2) Playoff Team
3) Competitive Team
4) Young Developing Team
5) Rebuilding Team
15)
Oklahoma City Thunder
True
Fan Off-Season Grade: D
True
Fan Team Skills' Grades
Offense: C-
Defense: C+
Chemistry: C-
Coaching: C+
Front Office: B-
2018-19 Team Record: 49 - 33
TrueFan Season Wins Projections : 14 – 25 Games
TrueFan Team Tier : Young Developing Team / Rebuild Team
5
Critical Questions For 2019-20 Successful Season
1) How good will newly acquired Point Guard Shai
Gilgeous-Alexander be for OKC in his 2nd NBA Season?
2) Will Chris Paul play well in his second stint with
the OKC Franchise? Will he be bought out or traded by the NBA Trade
Deadline to a contender?
3) Will OKC Thunder Forward and Defensive Specialist
Andre Roberson return to form for the Thunder in 2019-20 from injury?
4) Will OKC continue the rebuild and trade veteran
players like : Steven Adams, Danilo Gallinari, Mike Muscala?
5) How much will the thunder young players develop and
contribute of : Hamidou Diallo, Darius Bazley, Terrence Ferguson, and
Justin Patton?
14)
Memphis Grizzlies
True
Fan Off-Season Grade: C+
True
Fan Team Skills' Grades
Offense: C-
Defense: C+
Chemistry: C
Coaching: C-
Front Office: D
2018-19 Team Record: 33 - 49
TrueFan Season Wins Projections : 15 – 22 Games
TrueFan Team Tier : Young Developing Team / Rebuild Team
5
Critical Questions For 2019-20 Successful Season
1) How will 1st Year NBA Head Coach Taylor
Jenkins establish a team identity following the Memphis “ Grit And
Grind” Era?
2) Can former 2017 4th Overall NBA Draft
Selection Josh Jackson develop and shine this season with Memphis?
3) Can 2019 2nd Overall NBA Draft Pick Star
Point Guard Ja Morant play well enough in his 1st NBA
season to capture the Rookie of the Year?
4) Can young 24-Year Old Forward Bruno Caboclo develop
to an effective NBA contributor this season in Memphis?
5) How good will Big Man Jaren Jackson Jr play and
develop in his 2nd NBA season with Memphis?
13)
Minnesota T'Wolves
True
Fan Off-Season Grade: C+
True
Fan Team Skills' Grades
Offense: B+
Defense: C+
Chemistry: C
Coaching: D
Front Office: D-
2018-19 Team Record: 36 - 46
TrueFan Season Wins Projections : 26 – 34 Games
TrueFan Team Tier : Competitive Team / Rebuilding Team
5
Critical Questions For 2019-20 Successful Season
1) What system will Head Coach Ryan Saunders implement
around Minnesota two young stars of Karl Anthony-Towns and Andrew
Wiggins?
2) What kind of season will Wolves' Young Star Karl
Anthony-Towns have? Can he take the next step to Superstardom and
elevate to All-Star level?
3) Will this season be Star Wing Andrew Wiggins' last
season in Minnesota?
4) Can Coach Ryan Saunders help develop Star Wing Andrew
Wiggins to his immense potential with no longer having to share
opportunities with Jimmy Butler?
5) How well will 1st year Guard Jarrett
Culver perform as a rookie this season in Minnesota?
12)
Phoenix Suns
True
Fan Off-Season Grade: B-
True
Fan Team Skills' Grades
Offense: B
Defense: B-
Chemistry: C+
Coaching: C+
Front Office: C+
2018-19 Team Record: 19 - 63
TrueFan Season Wins Projections : 25 – 33 Games
TrueFan Team Tier : Young Developing Team
5
Critical Questions For 2019-20 Successful Season
1) Will new Suns' Head Coach Monty Williams be able to
turn the Phoenix fortunes around this season?
2) How good can the backcourt of Devin Booker and Ricky
Rubio be for the Suns in 2019-20?
3) Will Phoenix Suns Star Shooting Guard Devin Booker
make his 1st All-Star Appearance in 2019-20?
4) How good will 2018 1st Overall Draft Pick
Center DeAndre Ayton perform in his 2nd NBA season?
5) Will the Phoenix Suns show enough promise this season
for Star Devin Booker not to demand to be traded elsewhere?
11)
New Orleans Pelicans
True
Fan Off-Season Grade: B+
True
Fan Team Skills' Grades
Offense: B
Defense: B
Chemistry: C+
Coaching: C
Front Office: C+
2018-19 Team Record: 33 - 49
TrueFan Season Wins Projections : 31 – 37 Games
TrueFan Team Tier : Young Developing Team / Competitive
Team
5
Critical Questions For 2019-20 Successful Season
1) Will Young Superstar Zion Williamson in his 1st
NBA season perform well enough to win 2020 Rookie of the Year?
2) Can Point Guard Lonzo Ball maintain his first healthy
season in his 1st year in New Orleans?
3) Will New Orleans trade Star Guard Jrue Holiday this
season at the NBA's Trade Deadline?
4) How good will star Wing Brandon Ingram perform in his
1st season with New Orleans?
5) Can the Pelicans be a Top 10 Offense and Top 10
Defense in 2019-20 under Head Coach Alvin Gentry?
10)
Dallas Mavericks
True
Fan Off-Season Grade: C+
True
Fan Team Skills' Grades
Offense: B+
Defense: C
Chemistry: C+
Coaching: B-
Front Office: B-
2018-19 Team Record: 33 - 49
TrueFan Season Wins Projections : 35 – 42 Games
TrueFan Team Tier : Competitive Team / Young Developing
Team
5
Critical Questions For 2019-20 Successful Season
1) Can Mavericks Star Forward Kristaps Porzingis return
to his dominate form pre-injury from 2017 this season?
2) Are the Mavericks a playoff Team in 2019-20?
3) Can Young Star Luka Doncic become a 1st
time All-Star in 2019-20?
4) Can the 2019-20 Dallas Mavericks become a Top 5
Offense under Head Coach Rick Carlisle?
5) Can Shooting Guard Tim Hardaway Jr win 2020 6th
Man of the Year in Dallas?
9)
Sacramento Kings
True
Fan Off-Season Grade: B
True
Fan Team Skills' Grades
Offense: B
Defense: B
Chemistry: B-
Coaching: C-
Front Office: C-
2018-19 Team Record: 39 - 43
TrueFan Season Wins Projections : 39 – 44 Games
TrueFan Team Tier : Competitive Team / Young Developing
Team
5
Critical Questions For 2019-20 Successful Season
1) How big of a 2nd season will Kings fans be
treated to by Forward Marvin Bagley?
2) In 2019-20 will DeAaron Fox and Buddy Hield become an
elite NBA backcourt?
3) Will new Head Coach Luke Walton's philosophy work
well with the Kings young core and depth of talent?
4) Will the Kings lead the NBA in pace in 2019-20?
5) Can the Kings make their first post-season appearance
in over 10 years in 2019-20?
8)
Utah Jazz
True
Fan Off-Season Grade: B+
True
Fan Team Skills' Grades
Offense: B
Defense: B+
Chemistry: B
Coaching: B
Front Office: B-
2018-19 Team Record: 50 - 32
TrueFan Season Wins Projections : 49 – 55 Games
TrueFan Team Tier : Playoff Team
5
Critical Questions For 2019-20 Successful Season
1) Can the 2019-20 Utah Jazz improve on the previous
season 50 wins?
2) How good of a addition will Point Guard Mike Conley
be for the Jazz this season?
3) How good will Star Shooting Guard Donovan Mitchell
perform in his 3rd NBA Season?
4) How will the off-season acquisitions of Shooter Bojan
Bogdanovic, Point Guard Emmanuel Mudiay and back-up Center Ed Davis
prove successful in improving the Jazz bench in 2019-20?
5) In 2019-20 Can the Utah Jazz reach the Western
Conference Finals?
7)
Denver Nuggets
True
Fan Off-Season Grade: C
True
Fan Team Skills' Grades
Offense: A-
Defense: B-
Chemistry: B
Coaching: C+
Front Office: C+
2018-19 Team Record: 54 - 28
TrueFan Season Wins Projections : 49 – 56 Games
TrueFan Team Tier : Playoff Team
5
Critical Questions For 2019-20 Successful Season
1) How good will Denver Nuggets Star Center Nikola Jokic
be going into his 5th NBA season?
2) Will Star Guard Jamal Murray be a 1st time
All-Star in 2019-20?
3) Can the Denver Nuggets develop to a Top 5 Defense in
2019-20?
4) Will 2018 1st Round Pick Forward Michael
Porter Jr make a significant contribution for the Nuggets this
season?
5) Can the Denver Nuggets reach the Western Conference
Finals this season?
6)
Golden State Warriors
True
Fan Off-Season Grade: C+
True
Fan Team Skills' Grades
Offense: B+
Defense: B
Chemistry: B
Coaching: A-
Front Office: B
2018-19 Team Record: 57 - 25
TrueFan Season Wins Projections : 48 – 54 Games
TrueFan Team Tier : Playoff Team
5
Critical Questions For 2019-20 Successful Season
1) Can Warriors Superstar Guard Steph Curry be able to
remain healthy this season with the pressure being returning to him
as the Warriors main offensive weapon?
2) Can Point Guard D'Angelo Russell continue to improve
on his 2018 All-Star campaign in his 1st season in Golden
State?
3) Will Center Willie Cauley-Stein develop to become a
impactful player with the Warriors this season?
4) Will Star Shooting Guard Klay Thompson return to play
at all this season and if so how much will he be able to play and
contribute?
5) Without elite Two-Way Wing Andre Iguodala and
Superstar Forward Kevin Durant can the Warriors still make a extended
post-season run in 2019-20?
5)
San Antonio Spurs
True
Fan Off-Season Grade: B+
True
Fan Team Skills' Grades
Offense: B+
Defense: A-
Chemistry: B
Coaching: A
Front Office: B+
2018-19 Team Record: 48 - 34
TrueFan Season Wins Projections : 51 – 58 Games
TrueFan Team Tier : Playoff Team
5
Critical Questions For 2019-20 Successful Season
1) Will Point Guard Dejounte Murray win 2019-20 Comeback
Player of the Year?
2) Can the Spurs Maintain a Top 10 Defense and Top 10
Offense in 2019-20?
3) Can Star Shooting Guard DeMar DeRozan post great
averages of 20+ ppg-6+ass-6+reb per game again for consecutive
seasons in San Antonio?
4) Can the Spurs emerge as NBA Title contenders in
2019-20 lead by the great Head Coach Greg Popovich?
5) How much will 2nd Year Shooting Guard
Lonnie Walker develop and contribute for the Spurs in 2019-20?
4)
Los Angeles Clippers
True
Fan Off-Season Grade: A-
True
Fan Team Skills' Grades
Offense: A-
Defense: A
Chemistry: B
Coaching: B+
Front Office: B+
2018-19 Team Record: 48 - 34
TrueFan Season Wins Projections : 52 – 60 Games
TrueFan Team Tier : Playoff Team / Championship
Contender
5
Critical Questions For 2019-20 Successful Season
1) Will the LA Clippers be a Top 3 Defense in 2019-20?
2) How well will SuperStar Two-Way Wings Kawhi Leonard
and Paul George mesh playing together this season?
3) Will the Clippers emerge to win the 2019-20 Western
Conference lead by the great Head Coach Doc Rivers?
4) Do the Clippers make a move in-season to acquire a
elite Big Man / Center ?
5) Will the 2019-20 LA Clippers win more than 55 games?
3)
Portland Trailblazers
True
Fan Off-Season Grade: B+
True
Fan Team Skills' Grades
Offense: A-
Defense: A-
Chemistry: A-
Coaching: B+
Front Office: B
2018-19 Team Record: 53 - 29
TrueFan Season Wins Projections : 53 – 61 Games
TrueFan Team Tier : Playoff Team / Championship
Contender
5
Critical Questions For 2019-20 Successful Season
1) Can Portland core players remain healthy all season
to make an extended post-season run?
2) Will SuperStar Portland Point Guard Damian Lillard
win the 2019-20 NBA Most Valuable Player Award?
3) How much of an impact will the acquisition of Elite
Center Hassan Whiteside bring to Portland this season?
4) Can Portland this year take the next step to winning
over 55 games and claiming the Western Conference top seed?
5) How much development and contribution will Portland
get from young 20-Year Old Guard Anfernee Simons in his 2nd
NBA Season?
2)
Los Angeles Lakers
True
Fan Off-Season Grade: A
True
Fan Team Skills' Grades
Offense: A
Defense: A-
Chemistry: B
Coaching: B-
Front Office: C+
2018-19 Team Record: 37 - 45
TrueFan Season Wins Projections : 55 – 64 Games
TrueFan Team Tier : Championship Contender
5
Critical Questions For 2019-20 Successful Season
1) Will newest Los Angeles Lakers Superstar Big Man
Anthony Davis win Most Valuable Player and/or Defensive Player of the
Year in his 1st season in LA?
2) What system and style of play will new Head Coach
Frank Vogel and his coaching staff develop for the 2019-20 Los
Angeles Lakers?
3) What kind of contribution to the Lakers season will
the acquisition of former Defensive Player of the Year Center Dwight
Howard will be?
4) Will The 2019-20 Los Angeles Lakers win out of the
Western Conference?
5) Can the 2019-20 Los Angeles Lakers be a Top 5 Offense
and a Top 5 Defense?
1)
Houston Rockers
True
Fan Off-Season Grade: B+
True
Fan Team Skills' Grades
Offense: A
Defense: B
Chemistry: B
Coaching: A-
Front Office: B
2018-19 Team Record: 53 - 29
TrueFan Season Wins Projections : 56 – 65 Games
TrueFan Team Tier : Championship Contender
5
Critical Questions For 2019-20 Successful Season
1) How well will the supremely elite Backcourt of
Superstar Guards James Harden and Russell Westbrook perform in this
season in Houston?
2) Will Superstar Guard Russell Westbrook see his
statistical output improve this season as many guards do in his 1st
season under Legendary Offensive Head Coach Mike D'Antoni?
3) Will the Houston Rockets become the 2019-20 NBA's Top
Rated Offense?
4) Will Houston win the Western Conference and make it
to their first NBA Finals since the 1990's?
5) Will the Rockets add another playoff tested veteran
for their post-season run such as : Cleveland Power Forward Kevin
Love, Memphis Grizzlies Forward Andre Iguodala, New York Knicks
Marcus Morris, or another team's disgruntled star?
Enjoy the 2019-20 NBA Season
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