Forget the records. L.A. and Denver have been the top two teams in the West since before the season even began. And that makes sense. After all, they ended last year beating on each other for the right to rep the conference in a championship showdown with Orlando. The Lakers put the Mile High clamps down in what many considered the de facto NBA Finals, then promptly hung another banner at Staples. But this year, Denver would see the maturation of 'Melo into a legit MVP candidate Ditto for continued defensive excellence of “Birdman” Chris Anderson. J.R. Smith’s mercurial firepower ...