NBA Western Conference Not Looking As Dominant As Previous Years

Few teams in the Western Conference should be thinking they actually have a shot at making it to the NBA Finals. Heck, there are only five teams that should be thinking about the playoffs. The LA Lakers, Utah, Phoenix, New Orleans, and Houston are the only teams that should have the playoffs in their minds right now . I know that leaves three playoff spots open, but no one else appears to look like a playoff-quality team. I know what you are thinking, "The season is only 5-7 games old, (insert team) is just having a rough start" or "(Insert team) is just having a hot start, but they will fade away into mediocrity." What I say to you is to just think about your team or whatever team you think I am giving the shaft. Do they have what it takes to make it to the playoffs and out of the first round? Probably not. Let me start by eliminating the teams at the bottom of the barrel: LA Clippers, Minnesota, Oklahoma City, and Golden State. That leaves Portland, Denver, Sacramento, Dallas, ... (link)