
The All-Star Game and the trade deadline are both in the rearview mirror, which means the NBA is beginning the home stretch of the 2025-26 season. Several teams in each conference have separated themselves as genuine contenders for an NBA title, but none of them are perfect.
After examining the flaws of each Eastern Conference contender, it’s time to turn our attention to the West and see where the weaknesses lie. The defending-champion Thunder lead the Western Conference, with the Spurs not far behind. After that, a battle is raging for the third seed.