Өрнөд бүсийн өрсөлдөөн: Лэйкерс, Спөрс тэргүүтэй багуудын эхлэл хэр бодитой вэ

The Western Conference is tough, a slugfest, a large predicament. None of that is new information. There was however a stat from last week that stopped me in my tracks. It was the moment where the West’s top-five teams were all on winning streaks of at least four games for the first time since conferences began.

All of the current top 10 teams in the West have won at least six of their last 10 games. All of the current top-five are on a winning streak. Six of the current top 10 teams have won their last game. The four teams that have lost? It’s because they had to play another top Western Conference team.

According to the NBA, eight of the top 10 teams in offensive rating are in the West, six of the top 10 teams in defensive rating are in the West, and seven of the top 10 teams in net rating are in the West.

It is still early in the process of the regular season. These teams are still learning who they are on this journey. It is also very real that early success can lead to even more buy-in, which can sustain a team over the course of a season. How real are these early-season runs from the Western Conference? Let’s take a look at each team.

Los Angeles Lakers (11-2)

Yes, Luka Dončić is still on a preposterous run to start the season. Yes, Austin Reaves (who suffered a heel injury on Wednesday) is having a career. And, yes, the Lakers currently have the best offense in basketball. What could make this stick, though, is the belief this team has and the effort it’s given on defense.

There is an activity the Lakers have brought to the defensive end of the floor. It’s not particularly new from what they’ve attempted to do in the past, but the execution appears more consistent throughout the roster. Switching on- and off-ball actions, working to contain drives and showing early help have been hallmarks of the Lakers’ defense.

Walker Kessler’s impact has been felt with his work to not just protect the rim, but to consistently rotate to get in position. There’s a reason he leads the league in total contested shots (150, 11.5 per game). Whether it’s from the baseline, elbow or wing, Kessler’s timing has been key in the Lakers’ ability to protect the paint (opponents average 43.1 points in the paint, fourth-lowest in league).

When the Lakers trend smaller with Kessler off the court, the switching becomes more constant and the attempts at activity ramp up, with multiple lineups that can consistently hit those notes. They’ll be tested by switching on both ends eventually, but it feels like the vision and the formula are in alignment.

San Antonio Spurs (10-2)

If there were any questions about the Spurs’ ability to rise back to the top of the Western Conference after a wobbly 0-2 start … I believe 10 straight wins provides an answer. The shift to the three-guard lineup of De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper has had its bumpy moments, but appears to be turning a corner.

We are starting to feel the moments where a defense is in rotation and all three can attack. That shift also does not take away from the fact the Spurs still can have 48 minutes of quality guard play throughout a game. This opens up lineup versatility (which will be huge come playoff time) and has contributed to the Spurs’ overall offensive balance.

It also helps that Victor Wembanyama has gotten even better on both ends. In his last five games, he’s averaging 36.6 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 blocks in 28.4 minutes a night, while shooting 65.6% from the field and 41.4% from 3. His physicality is showing up in different ways: working to catch in his spots, being in position to set screens lower on the floor, releasing to his rolls quicker. It’ll be hard to doubt the Spurs if the execution continues to level up.

Minnesota Timberwolves (9-3)

Minnesota had shown the formula and potency of its starting lineup to start this season. The fact that the Timberwolves have been able to expand it while Anthony Edwards has been on the shelf speaks volumes. If the question is where exactly would LaMelo Ball elevate the Wolves, the answer has been everywhere.

Ball’s playmaking has enhanced their transition and pick-and-roll attack. The shotmaking and drives have added another layer. Jonathan Kuminga has continued to showcase the value of being wanted by doing exactly what the Wolves have needed him to do. Jaden McDaniels and Ayo Dosunmu remain aggressive. What boosts this attack is the fact that the strong defense has held up: activity, ball pressure, off-ball stunts to disrupt. Size and length to switch and bother with Rudy Gobert roaming in the paint can cause chaos. It’s hard to imagine this team will not continue to build on its emerging confidence and chemistry.

Houston Rockets (9-3)

It’s the combination of a reliable, strong defense and a commitment to evolving their offense that has helped the Rockets ascend to start this season. Their best moments have come when they have gotten the ball up quick, gotten to multiple actions and kept things moving.

Kevin Durant is fully scoring within the flow of their offense, meaning you have to defend multiple things and then Kevin Durant gets the ball. Fred VanVleet has steadied the ship, mixing in pull-up 3s while reading defenses to make plays (without turning the ball over). It’s not just that all of their young players are able to “slide down a slot” — their roles are more concise, allowing for more consistency and confidence. The challenge is, will they revert to old habits if either the defense or offense slides backward?

Portland Trail Blazers (8-3)

A hallmark of this Blazers start has been a collective commitment to buying into their roles and working to do the little things every single night. Damian Lillard’s return has been riddled of reminders of the talent he brings to the table. The logo 3s are one thing, the ability to mix in a timely drive is another, and he’s willing to put the work in on the defensive end.

Toumani Camara will attempt to guard everyone in an opposing jersey. The emergence of Sidy Cissoko means the Blazers have a consistency of guard, wing and big play throughout their lineups. It’s less about if they can do it, more of a matter of how many times can they repeat it. No matter where they land in the standings, you’ll have to deal with the Blazers all year long. Will they be ready for the success that comes with it?

Golden State Warriors (8-4)

Well, the test for Golden State now is how real can this run be with Stephen Curry out for an extended amount of time? Curry was tremendous to start the season, but the Warriors were combining his excellent play with working to evolve offensively. More pick-and-roll (with more cutting around it), more willingness to attack matchups, mixing in their traditional splits vs. leaning on it as a base.

Yaxel Lenderborg has been a revelation, continuing to gain trust with each performance. Now we’ll see just how strong that base is and if the defense that has impressed early can hold up in a scenario where they will have to get stops. It’s always been about if the Warriors can win enough regular-season games to get the true payoff in the playoffs.

Oklahoma City Thunder (8-4)

An unfortunate amount of injuries has led to the Thunder having to work through a different kind of adversity early in the season. If there is one thing about this team, it’s that they’ve always believed in internal growth and optionality. They’ve always worked to stay consistent with their approach, and that’s what may be the thing that helps lift them through this season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander being moved off-ball can make him more sudden in a universe where teams may throw more attention his way. There’s plenty of opportunity for Jared McCain and Ajay Mitchell to make an impact offensively. But can they grind out enough offense over the course of the season? If nothing else this team will have to defend at an elite level, and if the defense sticks, they will be no fun to deal with.

Memphis Grizzlies (7-4)

What a contrast of two months as the Grizzlies went 6-0 in October and have gone 1-4 as of this writing in November. And all four of those losses came in the Grindhouse; home losses are the most consistent regret a Western Conference team can have.

There’s a reason for their early success, though: It’s been a team effort on both ends. Cameron Boozer has helped to elevate what they want to get to offensively. Ty Jerome has been game to take, make, decel and stepback his way to victory. There’s a sneaky depth to this team that can be felt from game to game. The big thing is seeing how they adjust as more scouting reports and game plans come in. Taking the league by surprise is one thing, but how will they respond once they’ve earned a level of respect?

Denver Nuggets (6-4)

This is not the start the Nuggets had in mind, but the building blocks have not disappeared. On the season, Jamal Murray is averaging 26.2 points on 50.9% shooting from the field and 51.3% from 3. Nikola Jokić is still Nikola Jokić despite feelings that he has fallen off. Cam Johnson has stayed aggressive, DeMar DeRozan adds a different element. The lineup versatility unlocked by the play of Spencer Jones and Trevon Brazile should pay off down the line.

The biggest question is, can they get enough out of their defense and can their offense still deliver the fastball? We know how tough Jokić/Murray/Aaron Gordon can be to defend, but if opponents find a consistent comfort, how much does that change the Nuggets’ winning formula?

Dallas Mavericks (7-5)

Cooper Flagg’s start to the season is going to bring him and this Mavericks team into conversations that may not have been expected this soon. The team’s build is what has intrigued me. Improving on both ends of the floor is not easy, and Dallas has risen from 27th in offensive rating and 19th in defensive rating last season to 12th in offensive rating and ninth in defensive rating. That is something.

Dusty May has built in principles that the Mavericks have worked to hit. An offense that enhances what Flagg brings to the table, takes nothing away from Kyrie Irving and also empowers the rest of the roster is a positive. Defensively, they have several lineups that can have a lot of size and switchability, and they tend to be a bend-don’t-break type of team at their peak. Drives are hard to come by, shots are contested in the paint, you just have to deal with them. As the season progresses, they will have to navigate learning how to win and finding a way to do what they do well consistently.