We are just over two weeks into this lockout-truncated NBA season, so let's take a look at the standings in the Western Conference in the early going. The Los Angeles Clippers are in first place in the Pacific Division, but they have also only played six games thus far, compared to 10 for the Los Angeles Lakers, and both are two games over .500.
| Pacific Division Standings | |||
| Team | Record | Pct | GB |
| LA Clippers | 4-2 | .667 | --- |
| LA Lakers | 6-4 | .600 | --- |
| Phoenix | 4-4 | .500 | 1 |
| Sacramento | 3-6 | .333 | 2½ |
| Golden State |
2-6 | .250 | 3 |
The only other NBA team to play 10 games in the first 15 days of the season was the Oklahoma City Thunder, which compiled three wins in three nights over the weekend against the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs. The Thunder have earned their place at the top of the conference, a spot they might not give up the rest of the way.
| Western Conference Standings | |||||
| Rank | Team | Record | Pct | GB | This Week |
| 1 | Oklahoma City* | 8-2 | .800 | --- | at Mem, at NO, NY |
| 2 | Portland | 6-2 | .750 | 1 | LAC, Orl, at SA, at Hou |
| 3 | San Antonio* | 6-3 | .667 | 1½ | at Mil, Hou, Por, Pho |
| 3 | Denver | 6-3 | .667 | 1½ | NO, NJ, Mia, Uta |
| 5 | LA Clippers* | 4-2 | .667 | 2 | at Por, Mia, LAL |
| 5 | Utah | 5-3 | .625 | 2 | Cle, LAL, NJ, at Den |
| 5 | LA Lakers | 6-4 | .600 | 2 | Pho, at Uta, Cle, at LAC |
| 8 | Phoenix | 4-4 | .500 | 3 | at LAL, Cle, NJ, at SA |
| 9 | Dallas | 4-5 | .444 | 3½ | at NY, at Bos, Mil, Sac |
| 10 | Minnesota | 3-5 | .375 | 4 | at Tor, Chi, at NO, at Atl |
| 10 | Memphis | 3-5 | .375 | 4 | OKC, NY, NO |
| 12 | Sacramento | 3-6 | .333 | 4½ | at Phi, at Tor, at Hou, at Dal |
| 13 | Golden State | 2-6 | .250 | 5 | Mia, Orl, at Cha, at Det |
| 13 | Houston | 2-6 | .250 | 5 | at Cha, at SA, Sac, Por |
| 13 | New Orleans | 2-6 | .250 | 5 | at Den, OKC, Min, at Mem |
| *Division leader | |||||
lt's a bit too early to worry about separating out the division leaders, especially with a different amount of games played by the various teams. This will sort itself out over time, and in the end everyone will play 66 games any way.
For more news and notes on the Clippers and the Lakers, be sure to read Clips Nation and Silver Screen and Roll.