The Western Conference is quite the gauntlet this season. While the Utah Jazz have a rather comfortable lead as the No. 1 seed, there are a host of other teams vying for conference supremacy. The upstart Phoenix Suns are in second place, with the two Los Angeles teams trailing them. The Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers are also having strong seasons and will be feisty in the playoffs. While the Jazz and Suns are on top of the conference right now, the Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers thinks the Clippers and Lakers are still the team to beat when it matters.

Via ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk:

“Listen, Utah has been great. But I still think the Clippers and Lakers are still the teams to beat in the West,” Rivers said before the Clippers won their fifth straight with a 122-112 win over the Sixers.

Rivers admitted the observation was being made “from afar,” saying he doesn't watch as many Western Conference games now that he's on the East Coast. But, he said, “I don't see anyone better than those two teams.”

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Having coached the Clippers before joining the Sixers, Doc Rivers is familiar with what it's like working alongside Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. He has also had plenty of experience facing LeBron James and the Lakers as well, which is why Rivers likely believes they're the teams to beat in the West.

It'll be interesting to see how the rest of the regular season pans out, as the Clippers are in third place while the Lakers are dealing with significant injuries. Both teams are just hoping to be healthy come playoff time. As long as they get in the playoffs, they will be dangerous.

According to Doc Rivers, the conference runs through Los Angeles, and he's hoping to get the chance to face the West winner in the NBA Finals.