re: How many teams in west are more talented?

I think this argument is hard to quantify because the teams are so close. There's a reason the recent trades of talent to the west lead to articles with titles like "Arms Race." You are who your record says you are, and in the Western Conference Golden State has separated themselves and then 2-7 are roughly equal with injury being the main thing that's changed the standings much.

And if the basic question in the OP is where will the Pels rank in 2 years, 2 main pieces have big injury clouds over their heads so it's really hard to say without knowing what's going to happen with Holiday and Gordon.