The 2007-2008 NBA Season PreviewThe Western Conference

The 2008 NBA champion will come from the Western Conference. And I'm torn, to be honest. The safest bet to win the title is the San Antonio Spurs. . . (I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit. . .).

But I don't subscribe to logic when it comes the National Basketball Association. The most appropriate or probable event never happens. Like right now. The Seattle Supersonics, coming off of a loss last night to the Denver Nuggets are up on my beloved, supposed-to-be rested Phoenix Suns halfway through the third quarters. We look rusty, slow, and just plain troubled. . . Is that the way it was supposed to go tonight? No, I don't think so. (A strong fourth quarter was enough to put us ahead for the win, but it was not pretty in the least)

But just wait for it. . .

It's a long season and I believe strongly that we are built for it this year. But I'll get to the SUNS in a minute. . . here is the rest of the Western Conference in the same manner as yesterday's Eastern Conference Preview:


Northwest Division

Denver Nuggets (3)

This team is going to be dangerous. I don't know why more so-called experts aren't raving about these guys. AI and Carmelo are together now for a full year and you better believe they are plenty comfortable with one another. Throw in Marcus Camby, a beast in the paint, and a finally healthy Kenyon Martin, and this team scares me a whole lot more than Dallas or Houston and I think that given a 7-game series, the Nuggets could beat any time in the entire league. I think this is the true dark horse in the league this year that could very well win it all if they stay healthy.

Utah Jazz (6)

Carlos Boozer is an animal. Deron Williams is the future of point guards with Chris Paul of the Hornets and the rest of the team is not so shabby either (Kirilenko, Okur, Millsap, etc.). They won't make a lot of noise come playoff time but they are among the best 6 in the elite conference. Given the right opportunities, they could make a return to the second round of the playoffs, but certainly not the Conference Finals like last season (that just worked out for them perfect with the stupid way that the NBA playoffs are positioned. . . see this post for what it should have looked like).

Seattle Supersonics (10)

Kevin Durant will win the rookie of the year for sure and this team will be better than expected. I think Nick Collison will play well this year and Chris Wilcox (who always gives the SUNS fits) will be much improved as well. They need a good effort from other rookie Jeff Green and the newly acquired Delonte West to make a real push to the playoffs, but give this team a couple years, maybe some more young talent (or a savvy veteran scorer), and they could be playing into May and June in the near future.

Portland Trailblazers (12)

They could have made a push for the 8th spot had Greg Oden played this season, and not because he is that good, but because other people will THINK he is that good. But he's not playing and the offense is going to go through Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge, which is fine, but it's not good enough to make the playoffs in the West. But think about this: the Blazers will get a healthy Oden back next year and if they do finish in the lower half of the West, they could very easily get another top 10 pick in next year's draft! They would then have a very young team, but one filled with potential and that in itself is scary for us older teams.

Minnesota Timberwolves (15)

Sigh. . . This team might not win 20 games this year. Al Jefferson will show that he is good, but he is not KG, and no one will ever fill those giant shoes in Minny. They can hope to get that number one pick next year and that's about it. Not much to hope for the T'wolves this year. . . and not much to watch either.


Southwest Division

San Antonio Spurs (2)

For the record: I hate this team. I cannot stand a single player on this team that is not named Tim Duncan (who I tolerate simply because of his brilliance - you cannot deny his skills as a basketball player no matter who you are!). But you know what? They're good. They always are. They are a year older, but they were a year older last year too and that didn't stop them at all. Like I said earlier, this is the safe bet for the NBA champion, and are certainly capable of winning it all again. BUT, as you will see in the coming playoff predictions, I don't believe that they will. It's too hard to repeat in the NBA and the Spurs won't be doing it.

Houston Rockets (4)

Another trendy pick for the dark horse contender, I feel that T-Mac and Yao need to get out of the first round one year before we can say they will win it all. It's true that they are better this year. Steve Francis (AKA Stevie Franchise back when he was Rocket some years ago) might contribute a little, but it will be big man Luis Scola who makes the biggest mark on this team. They will win more games than the overrated Mavericks, largely because T-Mac WILL stay healthy (God I hope so, just for his sake!) and Yao is going to have an MVP type year, but won't win it because the voters won't give it to him until he has accomplished something (or gotten past the first round!).

Dallas Mavericks (5)

If there is a team that I despise as much as the Spurs, it's a close tie between the always-hated Lakers and this so-called team from Dallas. Dirk is a good player, but he's not a closer. Josh Howard is ridiculously overrated and the guard combo of Jason Terry and Devin Harris was exploited last year in the Warriors series and will continue to be torn down all year. Plus, they aren't deep! Once you get past Stackhouse (who always seems to come through in the clutch), you get to Diop (no good) and newly acquired Eddie Jones (ooh, an almost 40-year-old swingman!). I actually see them bowing out in the first round again this year, but this time it won't be such a surprise.

Memphis Grizzlies (7)

Sleeper pick alert! The West is really strong in the top 6, but after that, it pretty much tapers off. With new head coach Marc Iavaroni, (former SUNS assistant) I think that with a healthy Pau Gasol, an improved Rudy Gay, recently acquired Darko Milicic (who STILL has something to prove), rookie Mike Conley Jr. backing up veteran point guard Damon Stoudamire, and Pau's best friend, one Juan Carlos Navarro, the Grizz will put it all together in a hurry and get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2005-2006 (not a long time, but after last year's debacle, it will be a big deal!). And they might just win their first playoff game while they're at it!

New Orleans Hornets (8)

When you have the best young point guard (Chris Paul), an athletic beast in the paint (Tyson Chandler), a scoring machine (David West) and a veteran three-ball shooter (Peja Stojakovic), I think that's enough to get the final playoff spot ahead of the likes of Golden State and the Lakers. If they make a trade in the next year or two for another top-of-the-line scorer, or even sign a big name free agent over a summer, this team could really make some noise in the future. But not just yet.


Pacific Division

Phoenix Suns (1)

Ok. . . I love my team. This you all knew very well already. But I really love them this year. And here's why:

Our starting five is top-notch. We have the best point guard in the league (Mr. MVP, Steve Nash) and one of the best defenders in the league at the 2 (everyone's favorite, Raja Bell). The always unhappy, but always trying to prove himself, Shawn Marion at the power forward and the big off-season pick-up, the finally healthy Grant Hill (in an interview this summer, he said that this was the first off-season since 1999 that he was not in rehab - - he's ready!). Throw in a rarin' to go Amare Stoudemire and there is not a better top 5 in the league. Coming off the bench we have the returning 6th Man of the Year, Leandro Barbosa and a hopefully returning to form Boris Diaw. The once hated (passionately, at that) by me Marcus Banks worked hard this summer and appears ready to finally listen to the coaches and do as told. We lost Kurt Thomas, but picked up Brian Skinner, a less offensive Kurt, and Sean Marks has improved and may see some time as well (but probably not). And look for the two rookies, Alando Tucker (from Wisconsin) and D.J. Strawberry (from Maryland) to struggle for minutes, but expect Strawberry to actually get some good playing time at some point - he was a steal for us in the second round. I love our chances to finally bring the first title ever to the Valley of the Sun and if we don't well, I guess that's not really an option. It's really Now or Never for us this year, and here's hoping that it's NOW!

Golden State Warriors (9)

They had a nice run into the second round of the playoffs last year (the big upset of the Mavs and then the heartbreak against the Jazz) as the eighth seed, but they won't be able to even try this year. They will miss Jason Richardson, but they will miss Baron Davis more, as he is bound to hit some injury patches this season. I think they might make a deal around February, but it won't be enough to put them over the hump this year (they'll start out 15-30 or something like that and that will be too far down).

Los Angeles Lakers (11)

It gives me great pleasure to announce that the Lakers will not make the playoffs this year. The whole Kobe fiasco right now is just too much for them. Not only will they get off to a bad start (I'm thinking 3-13 through November with wins over Minnesota, either Indiana or Milwaukee on the road, and maybe the home game against Seattle), but they will end up under .500 for only the second time in seven years. They might make a push if they unload Kobe before the trade deadline, but I think it's gonna be a tough year for ol' Jack Nicholson and company. Hollywood and its team: Beware.

Los Angeles Clippers (13)

I read something about a month ago that told me everything I needed to know about the upcoming Clippers season: Elton Brand would not be playing. Well, he might be back post-All Star break, but it won't matter because the Clips will be back to their losing ways without their anchor in the middle. Sorry alien Chris Kaman, you just aren't the same. And neither are you Mr. Tim Thomas. . . Their hopes are again in the lottery and the hope of a better year next year. Ahh, just like the good ol' days. . .

Sacramento Kings (14)

Mike Bibby is hurt. Ron Artest might be on his way out. Brad Miller is old. And Kevin Martin is all alone on a team that if it weren't for the terrible T'wolves, would absolutely be the worst team in the entire conference, and maybe even the league. I hope Martin has another good year (I have him on my fantasy team) but it won't matter in the long run as the once Western heavyweight will completely fall off the map this year and into obscurity. And if they don't make a big change soon, they should just go ahead and make themselves comfortable in the Pacific Division cellar, because they will be there for many years to come.



WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS

FIRST ROUND

(1) Phoenix over (8) New Orleans (4-1)
(2) San Antonio over (7) Memphis (4-1)
(3) Denver over (3) Utah (4-2)
(4) Houston over (5) Dallas (4-3)

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CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS

(1) Phoenix over (4) Houston (4-1)
(3) Denver over (2) San Antonio (4-3)

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CONFERENCE FINALS

(1) Phoenix over (3) Denver (4-2)

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NBA FINALS

(1) Phoenix over (1) Detroit (4-2)

I know that by picking my team to win it all AGAIN is just going to cause all sorts of problems with people calling me a homer or whatever, but it's now or never (like I said earlier) for my beloved SUNS and it all comes down to two number 3's: Grant Hill (who wears number 33). If he can stay healthy and contribute like he did in the first game of the year against Seattle (13 points, six rebounds and five assists - although he needs to cut back on the 3-point attempts; he was 1-7 from behind the arc), then it's ours. It has to be. Steve Nash will not go his entire career without winning a title - he won't allow it! The man wants it too much and that heart is going to put us over the top when all is said and done.

GO SUNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There you go - - the predictions are in!

Let's just hope I'm right this time. . .

Until later,