The top three teams fighting among each other in the Western Conference are the two teams from Los Angeles, Clippers and Lakers and the other one is the Utah Jazz. While the LA teams are within touching distance they have not been able to topple the Jazz until now.

The Jazz have been in exceptional form this season and with their latest win against the Philadelphia 76ers they have built an eight-game winning streak. Quin Snyder’s men have proven themselves to be the biggest contenders for the NBA Championship.

The current form of the Jazz is a big concern for teams like Clippers and Lakers, especially in their title challenge. Even former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins feels that Donovan Mitchell and company can actually win the Championship this season.

On ‘Smith. A’s World’, Stephen asked Kendrick Perkins which team could one-up the Lakers. “I am going with Salt Lake City. I am going with the Utah Jazz,” he made it clear. “The Utah Jazz are not lacking in anything. They got a great coach, they got a young superstar in Donovan Mitchell, who showed us last year in the bubble that he’s capable of having big nights in the postseason.

“And now he’s taking his game to another level of making others around him better. They have shooting by Donovan Mitchell and Joe Ingles. They have firepower off the bench and Jordan Clarkson, who I believe is going to win Sixth Man of the Year, and they have two defensive anchors in the middle. Rudy Gobert, and when he goes out of the game, they have Derrick Favors.

“By the way, they have the most underrated wing defenders in the game today, what you need to advance and win the championship. Royce O’Neal is a young stud and look, this Utah Jazz team is serious,” he concluded.

While the Jazz have been exceptional and the Lakers have not played to their real potential, it will be interesting to see when these two teams go up against each other. The duels in the court will also be very fascinating to watch.