Let’s look first at the top ten teams out West:

1.Oklahoma City Thunder 18-5

2.LA Clippers 14-7

3.San Antonio Spurs 16-9

4.Denver Nuggets 15-9

5.Utah Jazz 13-9

6.Portland Trail Blazers 14-10

7.LA Lakers 14-10

8.Dallas Mavericks 14-11

9.Houston Rockets 13-11

10.Memphis Grizzlies 12-11

You look at the record and all of them are looking in good shape and are fighting for positioning in the West. Each team had gotten off to different kinds of starts and the Thunder really has come out on all cylinders and has dominated the Western Conference. But there is factor that had come into play for the Western Conference teams this year and that is traveling on the road.

Record

1.Oklahoma City Thunder 18-5 - 9-4(road)

2.LA Clippers 14-7 - 4-4(road)

3.San Antonio Spurs 16-9 - 3-8(road)

4.Denver Nuggets 15-9 - 8-5(road)

5.Utah Jazz 13-9 - 2-5(road)

6.Portland Trail Blazers 14-10 - 3-9(road)

7.LA Lakers 14-10 - 3-8(road)

8.Dallas Mavericks 14-11 - 5-6(road)

9.Houston Rockets 13-11 - 3-8(road)

10.Memphis Grizzlies 12-11 - 5-8(road)

As you can see outside of the Nuggets and the Thunder every team has struggled on the road. The Thunder and Nuggets are the only two teams with above .500 record on the road. This can be taken as just something that is more of coincidence or can be taken as just teams play better at home. But regardless this road record will be a major factor in deciding teams making the playoffs. With the West being so deep this year that any teams that can even get a.500 record on the road can get in as long as they win their home games. With teams fighting for position especially this year it looks like home court advantage will be a huge plus teams may push to get a higher seed and could become very interesting. Right now with a third of the season out West teams winning on the road will do very well. Well now more than ever home court is important out West and could decide which teams get to the Finals.