The first week of the 2013-14 NBA regular season was full of surprises, and the Western Conference as a whole showed the parity among the teams.

Northwest Division

Oklahoma City Thunder 5-1
Minnesota Timberwolves 5-2
Portland Trail Blazers 4-2
Denver Nuggets 1-4
Utah Jazz 0-7

Not surprisingly, the Thunder have been one of the most dominant teams in the West, especially after Russell Westbrook's surprisingly quick return from offseason injury. However, the Minnesota Timberwolves were not at all expected to be in fighting form this early after missing the playoffs in 2012-13. Bolstered by consistent double-doubles from Kevin Love and explosive performances by Kevin Martin and Ricky Rubio, the Timberwolves proved that their season-opening 100-81 win over Oklahoma City was not a fluke.

Pacific Division

Phoenix Suns 5-2
Los Angeles Clippers 4-3
Golden State Warriors 4-3
Los Angeles Lakers 3-5
Sacramento Kings 1-5

Many expected the Clippers and Warriors to be at the top of the heap early in the season. However, the Warriors ran into a gauntlet composed of the Spurs and Grizzlies over the weekend, losing both games, and the Clippers had a shock 90-98 loss to start their three-game road trip. The Suns, especially Eric Bledsoe, have been able to defeat the teams they were expected to beat, and Miles Plumlee's rebounding has been of great help so far.

Southwest Division

San Antonio Spurs 6-1
Houston Rockets 4-3
Dallas Mavericks 4-3
New Orleans Pelicans 3-3
Memphis Grizzlies 3-3

Except for the Spurs, the Southwest Division has been the tightest so far in 2013-14. The Spurs have been playing as expected, but the Rockets, Mavericks, Pelicans and Grizzlies are all bunched up together. The two Western Conference finalists both came from the Southwest, and with the Rockets adding Dwight Howard and the Mavericks getting a lift from new acquisition Monta Ellis, the playoff race might just be one of the closest in recent memory.