The Lakers are now the center of attention in the Western Conference with their acquisition of the best center in the league today Dwight Howard and two-time MVP Steve Nash. The Oklahoma Thunder, however, are not taking this new challenge lightly and aim to keep their conference title and return to the NBA Finals. Indeed, the West is loaded and it will be exciting to see which team comes out on top. Here are the top five teams in the West:

1) Oklahoma City Thunder - Kevin Durant and company are fresh from a trip to the NBA Finals and nothing prepares a young and talented team for a championship than almost winning one. The Thunder’s core remains intact and they are now more mature and wiser. The team better sign Sixth Man of the Year forward James Harden to a long-term contract as this might cause a distraction during the season. Barring major injuries, the Thunder are a lock to remain the No. 1 team out West.

2) Los Angeles Lakers - The Lakers arguably have the best starting unit in the NBA. 5-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant has a real shot of winning his 6th title alongside Ron Artest, Pau Gasol, Howard, and Nash. With their very expensive unit, however, the Lakers are short on the bench and we will see their starters put on heavy miles. More importantly, the big question remains if this team of superstars can become cohesive enough for a deep run into the playoffs. The Lakers also have to watch out for Kobe Bryant’s health. The 34-year old is no longer a spring chicken but he will still dictate the Lakers’ fortunes.

3) Los Angeles Clippers - The Clippers are just a shade away from becoming one of the NBA’s elite. They boast of the best point guard in the league in Chris Paul and the game’s most exciting forward in Blake Griffin. The Clips also have an up and coming center DeAndre Jordan who is expected to have a breakout year. The team is also blessed with a ten-man deep rotation with the likes of Eric Bledsoe, Lamar Odom, and Jamal Crawford coming off the bench.

4) San Antonio Spurs - Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker can be considered elderly statesmen but they still have the respect of their peers. The Spurs are the epitome of a championship savvy team with the experience to match. Despite their ageing line-up, the Spurs went on a 20-game winning streak towards the end of the season and into the playoffs. They were on the verge of advancing to the NBA Finals last season before being shellacked by the Thunder. With their young bench players, the Spurs have one or two more title runs left in them.

5) Denver Nuggets – This pick may come as a surprise but I expect the Nuggets to compete in the West. Sure, they lost in the first round of the playoffs but the team gets a boost from the acquisition of All-Star Andre Iguodala. Point guard Ty Lawson is evolving into one of the top points guards in the league and the team also has a good big man in Javale McGee. Simply put, the Nuggest are young and deep and should challenge some of the more established Western powers.

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