Denver has won eight games in a row heading into the All-Star break and they seem to be figuring it all out. Veteran guard Russell Westbrook has looked great in this system and it has the Nuggets clicking on all cylinders. This team will be tough to deal with in the postseason, especially with Nikola Jokic dominating again.

The Oklahoma City Thunder may be leading the Western Conference with 47 wins, but they reportedly haven't convinced conference opponents they're title contenders. ESPN's Brian Windhorst said at the 14:00 mark of Friday's episode of Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective he recently asked a Western Conference general manager about the Thunder not getting respect from other teams.

After a first-seed finish and a productive offseason, the Oklahoma City Thunder enter the 2024-25 season as a heavy title favorite. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a chance to win MVP while Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams continue to blossom into young superstars in their own right.