Pacific Division is the strongest it’s been during the Warriors dynasty

The rise of the Golden State Warriors dynasty coincided with the struggles of their brethren in the Pacific Division.

The last time three teams from the Pacific Division made the postseason was the 2012-2013 season, when the first Splash Bros-era Dubs’ playoff team joined the Clippers and Lakers.

Since then, only the Warriors and Clippers have made the postseason out of the Pacific, and in the 2017-2018 season Golden State was the sole team from the division to make the playoffs. Clearly the Lakers, Suns, and Kings were deep in hibernation while the Clippers gave futile chase to the Golden Empire’s dynasty.

Contrast that to the Northwest Division, which has sent at least three teams to the postseason every season since 2016-2017, including sending four last year (Denver, Utah, Portland, and Oklahoma City).

This year we can expect the Pacific to rise once again in full force, as both Los Angeles teams have major title aspirations. The Clippers added Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to a roster that gave the Warriors some annoying troubles in the first round last season.

The Lakers have perhaps the most imposing front court in all of basketball with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Javale McGee, and Dwight Howard living in the paint.

Even the young Kings pose a matchup threat on any given night, with a stable of athletic bigs and a high scoring backcourt that can terrorize any defense. Sacramento fought the Warriors tooth-and-nail last season, and are poised to make a huge leap this season that may land them in the postseason.

And as far as the Phoenix Suns...well, yeah I ain’t worried.