Whose coming out of the west?

Thus far this season the NBA's Western Conference has been a wide open race.  With only a quarter of the season remaining much is left to be decided in the standings.  Miami and Indiana are the only teams in the east that resemble a championship contender. 

This year the west is where you can find the meat and potatoes.  Phoenix is currently 8th in the western conference with a record of 33-24.  Memphis is only a half game behind looking to climb into the final playoff spot.  If Phoenix were a member of the eastern conference they would currently be in third position.  Hosting a first round playoff series would be a realistic proposition.  Instead the Suns are in a dog fight for their playoff lives.  Their is a great discrepancy between the east and west this year to say the least.

Match-ups will play a key factor in who wins the west this year.  The safest way to get out of the first round is to lock up the number one seed.  If the playoffs began today Phoenix would be the only team I'd immediately count out.  The Warriors and Mavericks are both wild cards out west.  Both teams have the potential to win two or three series on the road.  Of the top four teams home-court advantage is most important to Portland.  The Trailblazers are as talented as any team in the NBA.  If they can manage to finish strong and get one of the top two seeds they'll be as tough as anyone come playoff time.  The fans in Portland are similar to the twelfth man in Seattle.  Fans from the northwest are extremely passionate about their teams.

The Clippers and Rockets fall in the same category.  Dwight Howard and Chris Paul are the leaders of their teams respectively.  Both have arguably been the best at their position in the entire NBA since entering the league.  Neither has a championship trophy to show for it.  Success in the playoffs comes down to defense for both of these teams.  Both teams have shown the ability to score in bunches at will.  A first or second round series between the Rockets and Clippers could break scoring records. 

San Antonio and OKC are probably the favorites to rise from the land of the giants.  Kevin Durant is looking to start a legacy of winning.  Tim Duncan  wants that fifth championship.  Five rings gives him one more than Shaq and one less than Kareem.  His place in NBA history teeters on wither or not he can capture yet another championship.  A finals MVP would be nice too.