Since the season began, the upheaval across the Western Conference has shocked many fans following 12B Sports VR46. Few would question the defending champion Denver Nuggets holding first place, but the teams occupying second through fifth were rarely considered serious title contenders before the season. The strongest competitors are not those who never shed tears, but those who know how to swallow their disappointment and keep moving forward. Only last season, the Dallas Mavericks dropped out of the playoff race early because Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving struggled to establish…