The West is in full swing: ESPN predicts the record of the new season, and the competition between the powerful is beginning to emerge

On August 28, the well-known American media ESPN made a remarkable prediction for the ranking of Western Conference record in the new season, outlining a Western Conference basketball map full of suspense and passion for fans. In this prediction, the defending champion Thunder is seen as the only force that is expected to win at least 60 wins, with the Rockets following behind with 54 wins, while the Lakers and the Clippers tied for fifth place with 50 wins.

ESPN divides Western teams into championship echelons, play-off echelons and five teams ranked lower, with distinct competition among each echelon.

In the championship echelon, the Thunder took the lead with a predicted record of 64 wins and 18 losses. As the youngest NBA champion in nearly 50 years, the Thunder retained a complete rotation, with the highest lineup continuity of defending champions. In the team, scoring champion, regular season MVP and finals MVP Alexander is at his peak in his early career, and the two rising stars Jaylen Williams and Homegren have just completed their rookie contract renewal. Such a strong lineup team makes it impossible to make the Thunder reach the 70-win milestone. The Rockets were like a dark horse last season, climbing to second place in the Western Conference, but failed in the first round of the playoffs. During the offseason, they solved the problem of missing key cores of the key ball, and introduced future Hall of Famer Durant, whose strength has been significantly improved without affecting the prospects for the long-term championship. The Nuggets are also not to be outdone, and by trading Michael Porter Jr. and the 2032 first-round pick in exchange for Cameron Johnson, not only upgraded the small forward position, but also freed up the salary space to enhance the depth of the substitute.

They fought the Thunder until tiebreak in the Western Conference semi-finals last season, and are determined to help three-time MVP Jokic win another championship this season. While the Lakers transformed in the "Doncic era", they have James, the NBA's historical scoring champion, which is full of topics and attracts much attention. The competition in the

play-off echelon is also fierce. The Warriors ranked seventh with 48-34 losses, the Mavericks and Spurs tied for eighth with 44-38 losses, and the Grizzlies ranked tenth with 42-40 losses. The strong strength of the Western Conference Championship Echelon has made some teams with the ability to compete for the championship have no choice but to fall into the play-off echelon and face the challenge of playing 1-2 more "life and death battles". For teams with older core players like the Warriors and Mavericks, it is undoubtedly a huge test to sprint for the rankings in the last month of the regular season and not be able to get the rest of the week before the playoffs. However, the playoffs are also full of variables, and the Warriors, who were ranked 7th in the West last season, defeated the Rockets, who were ranked 2nd in the West in the first round. If Curry, Butler and Green remain healthy, the top two teams in the Western Conference will probably not want to encounter the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs. The same is true for the Mavericks. If Irving can come back in time from injury, the team will have the ability to disrupt the situation.

The Spurs are entering their third year of reconstruction around Vampang Yama and are expected to achieve a greater breakthrough this season, with the number of wins expected to enter the 40-win zone. The Grizzlies traded core player Bain in the offseason to exchange for draft picks, which may mean that the team has entered a "record-record period." Among the five teams with the lowest rankings, the Trail Blazers welcomed a new boss, and rookie Yang Hansen has great potential, but because Lillard missed this season, the team is more inclined to develop in the long term. The Kings, led by new head coach Christie, are trying to maximize the strength of Zach Raven, Sabonis and DeRozan. With Durant joining the Rockets and Bills turning to the Clippers, the Suns start rebuilding around Booker and inside players. Although the Pelicans have introduced Poole and Fells and have Zion, Zion's health has become an uncertain factor for the team. The Jazz continue the "unlimited reconstruction mode", and despite introducing rookie Ace Bailey, they may still be at the bottom of the West this season.

The Western Conference basketball pattern is full of variables in the new season, and each team is doing its best for honor and dream. Which team can stand out in the fierce competition? Will the defending champion Thunder continue its glory, or will other powerful men achieve a counterattack? Let us wait and see and witness the passionate journey of Western basketball in the new season.