Can West compete with Warriors, Spurs?

The Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs are the two best teams in the National Basketball Association. Nobody would argue that there is a high probability these two teams will meet in the Western Conference Finals, which will deserve as the de facto NBA Finals.

Through Feb. 15, Golden State and San Antonio have not lost at home this season. Combined, the duo are 52-0, a staggering feats for both teams. It seems borderline impossible that any team could beat either of these juggernauts except for each other, with Golden State being the favorite in the hypothetical matchup.

While the East will eventually face one of them in the Finals, it is hard to see any real threat from the conference. The Cleveland Cavaliers are likely going to be there, but even with the trio of LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, they have little chance of beating either team. The Warriors toppled Cleveland in six games last season, while the Spurs would also be considered a strong favorite against James and Co.

So, does anybody have a chance to derail the Spurs or Warriors before they reach the Finals? Looking at the Western Conference standings, it seems the Oklahoma City Warriors would have the best chance. They feature a pair of superstars in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, a duo that can score with anybody in the league, including Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

At 40-14 and with Durant about to test free agency this summer, Oklahoma City seems like a team with both desperation and talent. The Thunder would certainly be underdogs against either Golden State or San Antonio, but you have to consider the championship pedigree. While Oklahoma City has not won a title, this is a team that has been to the Finals and deep in the playoffs on multiple occasions.

Beyond the Thunder, it seems that nobody else could do much to deal with the Warriors or Spurs. The Los Angeles Clippers sit fourth in the West, but this is not a real threat. Los Angeles has some top-tier talent in Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan, but they don’t mesh like a true team. The Clippers are the typical example of a team with explosive players but bad chemistry.

The Memphis Grizzlies can’t score and the rest of the playoff picture has teams like the Portland Trail Blazers, Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz, three teams that would be lucky to win a game in the series. At this juncture, San Antonio and Golden State are two of the all-time teams in the NBA. If one of them wins the title, it will be a team that is remembered fondly by history.

In a few months, we will see which one can seal the deal.