2007 NBA Western Conference Preview

Hopping right into it...

The Bad Team

15. Portland Trailblazers
Yep. That's right. There's only one really bad team in the entire Western Conference. Now do you see what I mean about these teams beating each other up in the playoffs?

Even the Blazers aren't that bad. They've got a borderline All Star in Zach Randolph (a token "if he wasn't crazy/a thug he might have made an All Star game by now), the easy favorite for ROY in Brandon Roy, the second pick in the draft (who I think will be a bust) in Lamarcus Aldridge, and some other decent talent (Darius Miles, Jarret Jack, Jamaal Magloire, Martell Webster), but in the West they will get BURIED.

The Injured Team

14. Memphis Grizzlies
One of my pet peeves in this modern era of professional sports is that training has become so dangerous. It's like professional athletes are so fragile that they can't be allowed to train. How do you improve in the offseason if you don't go out and play basketball? Do you really want guys just sitting on their asses for 3 months? Yet we here that from owners in all sports all the time about the perils of playing in offseason tourneys like the Olympics. I'm sorry, but there is just as much of a chance of a player getting hurt playing in pickup games in Houston or Chicago (just ask Jordan that) in order to stay in shape as there is playing in an organized tournament with trainers on hand.

Unfortunately for the Grizzlies, the worst did happen, when Pau Gasol broke his foot and will miss the first 3 or 4 months of the season in the Goodwill Games. This means that this overachieving team is screwed. Sorry guys. It's as simple as that.

The Meh Teams

13. Seattle Supersonics
Another example of how good the West is: in the East, the Meh Teams start in fifth place. Here, they start in 13th. Any of these teams would easily compete for the 6-8th playoff spot in the East. I mean, here we have a team with a true superstar in Ray Allen, a borderline All Star in a contract year (ie he is going to BLOW UP this season) in Rashard Lewis, and a decent supporting cast in Ridnoir, Watson, and Wilcox. And they're buried in 13th place. Damn.

12. Golden State Warriors
Sure, I'll buy into the "Don Nelson will improve the Warriors" thing like the mainstream media. The difference is, I'll buy into them finishing in 12th place instead of 13th, unlike those numnutses who think they will make the playoffs. Sure, this team will score 110 points a game this season: and give up 118, and finish just about where they always do. Long live the Don!

11. Sacramento Kings
It's all going to go horribly, horribly wrong for the Kings this year. Why? Glad you asked.

A) Mike Bibby is already missing the first two weeks of the season, and I've got a bad feeling that he's going to spend a lot of time on the injured list (if the NBA had an injured list anymore, that is) this season. Just a hunch.
2) This was an overachieving team last year led by two overachieving players: Ron Artest and Bonzi Wells. Artest we'll deal with in a minute. Wells is now in Houston. That's not good.
Charlie) John Salmons was their big offseason acquisition. That's right, John Salmons. Oh, you haven't heard of him? That's right, you haven't. And there's a reason for that. When even Philly--who's propensity for bad contracts has already been discussed here--says, "Wait, you offered him WHAT? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!@!!! Yeah, good luck with that", well, then you know you're in trouble.
Quatro) Can't you see these start to go bad, and Ron Ron just totally losing it? He played on his best behavior last season, with something to prove to his old team that dumped him, with his best friend Bonzi, on a team that was overachieving and he was getting the credit for that overachievement. Do you see that happening two years in a row with him? Or do you see him biting the finger of an opponent off and his insane career finally come to an end? I know which one I think is much more likely.

All this and I still think Kevin Martin is going to have a career year. Hey, someone has to play and score.

The Middle of the Pack

10. LA Lakers
Am I the only one who noticed that the Lakers got even worse this offseason? Kobe's knee needed surgery and it's already taken MUCH longer to heal than they thought. Lamar Odom is dealing with the death of his infant son, and while I hate that that tragedy happened to him, do you see Lamar as the type of guy who will dedicate this season to his son and play lights out, or start hitting the pipe again and mellow his way through the season? Unfortunately, there's a better chance of the latter, and that's too bad because I like Lamar Odom and respected him for finally turning his life around when he went to the Heat. Their biggest offseason acquisition was Valdmir Rodmanavic, which is without question subtraction by addition. Oh, and Phil had hip surgery and is still running around with a cane.

While everyone around them got better.

Good luck with this one Kobe.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves
I'm trying. I really am. There is finally more overall talent on this team this year; that is true. But I just can't like this team. This is another "team full of gunners who need 3 basketballs". Is Mike James talented? Yes, he is. But is a shoot first, second, and third point guard the right answer here? Maybe. KG did do better with Sam Cassell taking the clutch shots and doing a little bit of everything. But how does that get the rest of the offense involved? We'll see. Add to that the fact that the other two, young, talented guard on the team--Rashad McCants and Randy Foye--are also shoot first guard who need the ball in their hands, then, well, you've got a problem.

There is more talent this year, but to me this is a team without a true identity. They could make the playoffs as the 7th or 8th seed; they could drop down to the 10th or 11th seed. Once again, the Middle of the Pack in the West could go a lot of different ways.

8. Utah Jazz
Remember how I've been making fun of everyone for years over Orlando and how "once Grant Hill gets healthy, they'll compete!" Well, Utah is my Orlando. And once again, I think this is the year that they get healthy and compete.

This team has a lot of talent, and I LOVE their offseason acquisitions. Derek Fischer--while horrendously overpaid--is a perfect veteran mentor to Deron Williams. He's a smart player who doesn't need a ton of minutes and can teach the second year player the game, even while still having enough left in his tank to play significant minutes for you during the season. I think Ronnie Brewer was the perfect pick for the Jazz. He's the athletic swingman that they have never had really, and will be a great gamechanger for them. No, he's not going to win the ROY--if nothing else, Jerry Sloan won't play him enough to do that--but he's a great change of pace player for what can be a very predictable team. The core of the team is still there, and finished last season out strong and healthy. So I think that finally this will be there year.

Again.

I just don't learn.

7. Oklahoma City Hornets
I'm not calling them the New Orleans/Oklahoma City for two reasons: 1) That's PC and gay. 2) New Orleans shouldn't even have a basketball team, so while that team is in OKC they're the OKC Hornets.

Anyway, I'm buying into this team as a playoff team. Why?

1) They've got probably the best crowd/arena atmosphere in the league. The people of OK are thrilled to finally have a pro team, and playing in OKC is a huge advantage to the Hornets.
2) Even though they overpaid for a lot of their offseason acquisitions (Chandler, Jackson, Peja), and I think some of them are overrated as players (Peja), they still added talent to the team. And that's a good thing.
3) As scary as it is, CP3 is going to get even better. And David West is probably going to get even better, too.

Do I think this team is on pace to win a championship? No. But I think they're in the playoffs this year. Congrats!

6. Denver Nuggets
While these guys are a little too good to belong to this group, are they a threat to contend with any of the Great teams? No. Not at all. So here they are.

Bottom line: they still don't have a 2 guard, no one can shoot the three consistently, and George Karl is still crazy and will find a way to piss off his players. Count me among those who think 'Melo will have a monster season, though.

The Enigmas

5. Houston Rockets
If anyone comes up to you and says they know for sure how the Rockets season is going to end up, laugh at them and call them a liar. Let's look at the players:

? Bonzi Wells: Big season acquisition for a great price? Yes, this is true. However, he hasn't played in the preseason at all, and we don't know why. No one is talking. Yeah, that's a great start for a shooting guard who averaged over 20 points and 12 rebounds a game against the Spurs in the playoffs and almost every team in the league still said, "You know what? We still think you're too nuts, we don't want you."
? Little Bobby Sura: A healthy Bobby Sura gives them a quality underrated point guard. An unhealthy Bobby Sura gives them Rafer Alston. Enough said.
? Chucky Hayes: Did you know that this is the 31st best player in the NBA? I swear to God, I couldn't make something like this up. That's what John Hollinger of espn.com has to say. More proof of the age old phrase, "There are lies, damn lies, and then there are statistics."
? Shane Battier: Did you know that Battier could walk on water? I didn't. But apparently, having Shane Battier on your team guarantees you a championship. At least, that's what all the pundits have been saying since draft day. Do I think he's great for this team? Yes. But I think the media needs to take a deep breathe, have a seat, and calm the fuck down.
? Yao Ming: So is Yao going to be a dominant player or not? For the 30th straight year, this is going to be the year that answers that question. Really. This is the year. We get an answer.
? TMac: The same question as always with him: how's the back?

In the end, the last question is really the most important. I'm betting it's going to be okay this year. Hence, fifth.

4. Phoenix Suns
Amare'skneeAmare'skneeblahblahblahAmara'sknee.

It all depends on two things for this team: 1) Does Amare recover? 2) If he does, how does he integrate with the team?

Wait, what? There's a second question? I thought if his knee was okay, we just automatically give the Suns the title!

Not so fast! I've got news for people: this team isn't going to score much more than they did last year. They're not going to average 125 points a game. It's not going to happen. So adding a post player who wants to score 25 points a game and really isn't that great of a rebounder to a team like this isn't the end all be all.

Yes, I know it sounds like I'm outthinking myself here. And don't get me wrong: this is going to be a great team by season's end, whether Amare is healthy or not. But I think it's a little much to ask them to put it all together this quickly and win a championship for a team with no bench. And no, Marcus Banks, the Jones Boys, and Barbosa do not make a good bench.

That being said...I wouldn't want to play them in the playoffs. :-)

3. LA Clippers
I'm really high on the Clips. They return the same team as last year, except they have a healthy Corey Maggette all year, and added Tim Thomas. Now I know what you're thinking: "You think that's a good thing that they added Tim Thomas? You hate him!" And yes, that is true. But would I rather have Tim Thomas for $24 million, or Vlad Rodmanovic for $31 million? Give me Tim over Vlad both for the talent and the money. Add another year of seasoning to Shaun Livingston and the rest of the young talent...another year of brilliance from Elton Brand...the fact that the LA crowd is now behind the Clippers...and this is a great team in the making.

The Elite

2. Your Dallas Mavericks!
I like all the Mavs offseason moves. Not love, but like. The bench got even deeper, and the core is not just in tact, but locked up for several years. This is a team that will be a championship contender for years to come. They only reason I don't have them in first is because I don't think they're motivated to play for that--I think there will be a little bit of "we're just waiting for the playoffs" attitude--and with the new bench faces, it might cost the Mavs a game or two to get adjusted to each other. And a game or two is all that will separate the Mavs & the Spurs.

1. San Antonio Spurs
Then again, I keep waiting for the Spurs to age in dog years and just drop over dead. Timmy was amazing in the playoffs, but the wear and tear is getting worse and worse every year. Manu is finally getting to the age where all of his fake flops and international play are starting to wear on him. TP isn't a kid anymore. Finley was a huge sub for them last year, and he's not getting any younger. Bruce Bowen looked completely washed up in the playoffs last year, and is 35. Horry's already said this will be his last season, and his real last season was two years ago.

So why do have them in first? Because they're still the Spurs. The did a great job of picking up two quality big men--Jackie Butler and Francisco Elson--that should help Timmy rack up not quite as many minutes. Also, no one is talking about it now, but I think the addition of Eric Williams will pay huge dividends for them by season's end. He will be a key guy off the bench for the Spurs. And besides, history is on the Spurs' side: when they lose, they come back and win the championship the next year.

However, while I think they will win the West, I think the Spurs have moved into the Yankee's territory of "team that is past it's prime that enters the playoffs looking like they are still the unstoppable juggernaught they used to be, but are no longer quite as talented/hungry/able".

But like I said: it'll be only a game or two that separates them and the Mavericks, and anything can happen.

So remember kids...the NBA.............it's FANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNTASTIC!!!!!