This season's NBA regular season schedule is halfway through, and many teams have been surprising. Typical underrated teams in the West include the Clippers, who were projected to rank 13th in the West before the season but have climbed to fifth at the halfway point. The Rockets were expected to be in the top 8 in the West before the season, but they actually made it to second place. On the other hand, teams like the Pelicans were projected to finish seventh in the West, but are actually second-to-last; the Timberwolves were projected to finish second in the West, but are actually eighth. Simply put, having a star player who can set a floor is rare and hard to come by, such as Harden of the Clippers, who can maximize the value of everyone around him, even bringing out 120% of their potential. Players who leave him often easily reveal their weaknesses, like Paul George. Additionally, youth is a major trend, as the era of James, Durant, and Curry has truly passed. When American media predicts the playoff standings for this season's Western Conference, they generally do not favor the Suns and Warriors, with even the Kings and Spurs having a higher probability of making the playoffs. The Suns' problems are obvious; they struggle against weak teams, excessively extend Durant and Booker's playing time, deplete their one-on-one abilities, and are helpless against strong teams. From defense to tactical systems, the Suns no longer count as a strong team. Meanwhile, the Warriors, who started the season with a 12-3 record as…