Tuesday, October 21, 2008

NBA Western Conference Preview

You knew it was on the way....before I start...The East is coming back this year....but the West is still loaded....and this took me forever to put together.....Without further ado...
  1. Los Angeles Lakers- Where do i begin with the defending West Champs....On paper, they are even stronger than a year ago with a supposedly healthy Bynum added to really the exact same core....The advantages are plentiful...from having Kobe Bean Bryant on your roster, to the huge frontline featuring Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol, and the aforementioned Bynum....to the ridiculously deep bench (10 legit rotation guys before you even get to Sun Yue, who they love reportedly)....I didn't take long to put them in this spot....the issue is really deciding how to use their 3 front-court guys while not burying solid contributors like Luke Walton and the now-healthy (and underrated) Trevor Ariza....but I'm sold on Phil Jackson....I'm sold on Kobe Bean...and I'm sold on the LA Lakers
  2. Utah Jazz- Now this one may shock some people.....Let me break it down.... They led the West in scoring differential last year (yes, that's a Hollinger stat, but that's not where I heard it from), aka they beat people soundly....they were the best Home team in the West by a wide margin.....they bring back the exact same core....who is/was young and is now a year older....What's not to like? There is depth up front with Paul Millsap pushing Okur...Boozer is a legit all-star at the 4 (and top 5 in the NBA at his position)...You have the 2nd best point guard in the world in Deron Williams....I actually don't mind the wing guys (Brewer, Korver, CJ Miles, and Harpring) because they all bring different things to the table....With Korver in the lineup last year, they were fairly dominant, and all indications point to CJ Miles possibly even burying Matt Harpring.....I like this team alot (EDIT: Deron Williams sprains ankle, not serious, but hopefully not pesky)
  3. New Orleans Hornets- This team isn't as good as they were a year ago....there, I said it....and there's a huge depth issue up front....For the Hornets to be a legit Finals contender, they MUST be healthy up front (and obviously Chris Paul too) because their frontcourt depth is pretty awful (sorry Melvin Ely and Hilton Armstrong) unless Julian Wright shows he can be solid (but he's more of a 3).....I didn't hate the James Posey signing because he does what you need in that he defends and knows how to win....Swapping out Devin Brown for Jannero Pargo is a downgrade and while CP3 will make up for most of it, this is a really a 7-man team....and those don't generally work out so well.....Chris Paul is my favorite NBA player, bold statement, but not even he makes this team win the West....
  4. Houston Rockets- First of all, if you were looking for a team that you haven't seen that is the most likely to make a deep run, here they are....on paper, this team looks....stacked? loaded? yea, one of those....Positives first....Tracy McGrady, Ron Artest, Shane Battier, Brent Barr, Luther Head is a pretty darn good wing rotation.....Yao Ming is a top-2 center in the league when healthy (sorry Amare, you aren't a center), and you could do much worse than Luis Scola/Carl Landry giving you what you need at the 4 (energy, defense)....Ron Artest is really, really good at basketball....forget he's crazy for just one minute and look at what he brings....Now to the issues at hand....McGrady and Yao can't stay on the floor....not blaming, just stating...and I can't, in good faith, pick a team to win the West with Rafer Alston, Aaron Brooks, and Steve Francis' corpse at Point Guard...I just can't....but if you can get past it...they have the players
  5. San Antonio Spurs- What can I say that hasn't already been said? This looks a whole lot like the past 2 or 3 year's rosters....you know what you're getting from the big 3 (Ginobili has increasing injury concerns however)....you have the role players up front (Thomas, Oberto) and a rotating door of swingmen....I'm picking this like I know Ginobili is missing 20 games and if he does, where do the points come from? Roger Mason? Ime Udoka? Salim Stoudamire? Pass....They're always a threat....but I don't see the title-winning talent this year...but then again, I'll never doubt Tim Duncan.....ever....
  6. Portland Trailblazers- Well this team is impossible to handicap....I've never seen a roster this deep with young talent....it's ludicrous...they have like 15 players...I've seen them as high as #2 in preseason prognostication...that's too high for me....prove it first....Absolutely unbelievable young frontcourt in Oden, Aldridge, Frye, Diogu and even the Vanilla Gorilla....I love Greg Oden...but please don't tell me he's gonna come out and score 20 a night...he's not...he's a defense-first, rebounding monster that will lock the lane down....The issue for me is in deciding who to play (and who will play effectively) on the wing alongside Brandon Roy....Let me list the options: Nicolas Batum (no one outside of Portland has any idea), Travis Outlaw (can score, most proven of the bunch), Rudy Fernandez (explosive but raw), Martell Webster (can shoot, that's the list).....that's 4 guys....for probably 2 spots in the rotation unless Nate McMillan is on the Doc Rivers plan.....and there's still the Point Guard issue...Steve Blake isn't winning you a title, BUT if Jerryd Bayless can play there....I like the platoon to show him the ropes....
  7. Phoenix Suns- This will be fun....D'Antoni isn't walking through that door...and I don't really know what to make of them...the players are pretty much the same adding in rookies Robin Lopez and Goran Dragic (at key spots) and the veteran Matt Barnes...the roster makeup isn't bad...but Steve Nash can't last forever and Shaq is at the end of his rope...also, they got alot out of Grant Hill and that isn't exactly guaranteed to repeat itself as far as health....lots of questions...but if they put it all together and stay healthy, this is too low for them
  8. Los Angeles Clippers- Here's the dropoff point for me....It's a 7 team conference....LA is deep this year...Kaman and Camby forming the twin towers...Al Thornton/Ricky Davis at the 3.....Mobley/Gordon at the 2....B-Dizzle running things....there's alot to like...but there are numerous injury concerns (BD, Gordon, Camby, even Kaman all have the history), some questionable character guys (Tim Thomas AND Ricky Davis? lol), players generally despise Mike Dunleavy, and without a single legitimate backup to Camby/Kaman there is real trouble if either goes down...but hey...talent is the rule here...once again
  9. Dallas Mavericks- These next 2 are painful for me...I hate their nucleus...but there's a lack options here....Kidd is old...still can be effective in what he does (dish mostly) but he's not an elite guard and giving away Devin Harris for him looks even worse after what everyone saw from Kidd at the end of last year and in the Olympics...Brandon Bass is under-rated but buried behind Dirk...your centers are still Dampier and Diop...I just don't think this is gonna work....
  10. Denver Nuggets- Let me get this straight...you couldn't defend last year...and you gave away a top 5 defender in the league in Marcus Camby for....nothing? That's supposed to make sense? At any rate...we all know what this team is about....lots of shots....no defense...so, given that...I'm going to need more JR Smith...He showed he can score (scoring at a ludicrous 30+ PPG per 48 minutes down the stretch)....so get away from the facade that is Anthony Carter/Chucky Atkins at the point....and play Iverson and Smith together...please....Nene is the key...if he's healthy and effective, there could be a playoff run, but I can't give serious cause to think Kenyon Martin and NeNe can stay on the floor...and there's no depth behind them
  11. Golden State Warriors- Nellie...you're INSANE....there I said it....Word out of GS has Demarcus Nelson getting the starting PG nod...word? The guy who couldn't hold the PG spot in the ACC? lol....Come on....There is oodles of talent on the wing here (Jackson, Maggette, Harrington, Azubuike, Belinelli) but if you don't have a point guard in this system, you're screwed...it's a fact....I think this is a legit top 6-7 team in the West after Monta Ellis gets back...but if you start 10-25 when he's out....you're out of it....and that's where I stand....
  12. Memphis Grizzlies- The young talent is most definitely on display...Rudy Gay made the leap last year and has shed the "lazy" label we all gave him...Mike Conley and Kyle Lowry can both play...and Conley's even been showing off the J in the preseason...scary thought....and oh yea, they had a top-3 pick...OJ Mayo may end up being the ish....but in his rookie year, just look for fairly awesome defense, and too much shooting....That's where it ends though....loaded at the 1,2, and 3....and....not so much up front...I like Hakim Warrick but he isn't a starting NBA 4...and his backup is....Antoine Walker? rookie Darrell Arthur? Ew....and the Center spot is worse... Darko is the penciled in starter...and he'll bring you defense...but that's all....Marc Gasol is the x-factor...if he's as good as reported, this team could excite, if he's average or less....send them to the lottery again
  13. The Team Kevin Durant Plays For- I'm following the lead of Bill Simmons and others....This will be the only time I say the names "Oklahoma City" or "Thunder" in this space....from now on.....Kevin Durant's team or something along those lines....clear? Clear. To the team.... Boy the roster looks similar to last year...trade out Luke Ridnour for lottery guard Russell Westbrook and you're there... Kevin Durant is gonna make the leap this year...but he needs help...I like what Jeff Green gives you, but he's not a 2nd option...or really even a 3rd option...Collison and Wilcox are adequate upfront but no more, and you can't entrust your PG situation to Watson so Westbrook better be good...and I don't see him being good early...too young...not enough PG experience....
  14. Minnesota T-Wolves- On paper, their starting 5 looks...good...Foye/Miller/Brewer/Love/Jefferson are all names you know....Here's the breakdown...Randy Foye isn't a point guard...wasn't they picked him...still isn't...and your other option is Sebastian Telfair...who would be out of the league if his name wasn't Sebastian Telfair....Corey Brewer was...outright awful last year, and while he could definitely be good down the line...his offensive game is very limited....The intriguing piece is Kevin Love....I really enjoy his play...but there are definite athletic question marks with him...there's no mistaking this...and the bench is flat out awful outside of Craig Smith...Rodney Carney? The immortal Rashad McCants? Calvin freaking Booth? lol.....Better luck next year...
  15. Sacramento Kings- I don't even know where to begin....you gave Beno Udrih..yes, that Beno Udrih...lockdown starting PG money....yikes... There are swingmen that I like...Kevin Martin is a legit star...John Salmons and Francisco Garcia are quality players....but up front, you have the worst power forward rotation in the league (Kenny Thomas, Jason Thompson, Mikki Moore), an aging and potentially ineffective Brad Miller, and a promising but under-played Spencer Hawes...that reaks of 20 wins...I feel bad for Kevin Martin....people need to know his name...

Okay then, One more preview post....awards, rookie predictions, etc. to come

1 comment:

Ryan said...

Still have no idea why you hate on Dallas..but list all the bads with the Paper Clips..and I feel Minny is better than Sac,Mem and OKC