The Denver Nuggets have built on their championship-winning season with another strong campaign. Michael Malone’s team has as strong a shot as anyone to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy again, but the Boston Celtics could spoil their plans this time around.

Bill Simmons, a popular analyst, predicts that these two teams will face off in the NBA Finals on The Bill Simmons Podcast. While merely identifying the best teams in each conference isn’t really exciting, he did have an unusual perspective on other Western Conference contenders. The CEO of “The Ringer” picked the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves as the only other legitimate contenders in the conference, curiously leaving out the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers.

“I believe just three Western clubs can go to the finals. And I believe Denver will make the finals, but Dallas and Minnesota would be the other two,” Simmons remarked. “I believe that concludes the list. And then in the East, it’s Boston and then the odd wild card East; whoever makes it to the conference finals deserves a puncher’s chance. It’s actually four teams, plus the East finalist. But for me, it’s Denver, Minnesota, and Dallas.

Is Simmons correct, or is he sleeping on some seriously competitive teams?

Bill Simmons is correct to praise the Nuggets, but wrong to leave out the Clippers and Thunder

Unless proven otherwise, the Nuggets are unquestionably the greatest in the Western Conference. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray haven’t missed a beat, and Jokic may easily win another MVP award this season. Add in more shooting threats like Michael Porter Jr., and Denver may be too difficult to beat once more.

However, the Timberwolves and Mavericks are obviously worth rooting for. Minnesota will be difficult to beat now that standout big man Karl Anthony-Towns has returned from injury. The team has the NBA’s highest defensive rating, at 108.7. Towns combining forces with Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert in the playoffs will cause problems for opponents on both sides of the court.

However, the Thunder are just as dangerous. Speaking of deadly trios, the young group features Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams. Gilgeous-Alexander is third in the league with 30.4 points per game, trailing only Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic. Meanwhile, Holmgren has emerged as the league’s second-best rookie, after only Victor Wenbanyama. In addition, they are tied for second in the West with Minnesota and are only one game behind the Nuggets for first.

The Thunder’s main drawback is a lack of experience, which is a valid problem. When the lights grow bright, having those who have been there before is usually beneficial. In fact, Oklahoma City began the season as the league’s youngest club.

However, their outstanding talent allows them to compete even against the most seasoned opponents. The Thunder even lead the league with 17 comeback victories after trailing by double digits. They should be evaluated alongside the Mavericks, who are five games behind them in the standings.

Furthermore, while Dallas has a formidable backcourt tandem in Doncic and Kyrie Irving, they lack significant depth outside of that. Tim Hardaway Jr., their only other player who averages double-digit points per game, with an average of 14.6. Oklahoma City’s starting five all have double-digit scoring averages, with Dort and Josh Giddey rounding out the dynamic lineup.

Meanwhile, the Clippers have finally returned to full health. The star-studded roster has always been a title contender with the additions of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, but the team has been decimated by injuries in recent years. Los Angeles is not a club to be underestimated, especially now that James Harden and Russell Westbrook are involved. Sitting one game ahead of Dallas in the fourth position, they deserve to be recognized as a real danger.

While the Nuggets and Celtics are legitimate favorites, putting the Mavericks ahead of the Thunder and Clippers seems weird. However, time will tell whether Bill Simmons’ perspective will age like wine or milk.