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NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW Basketball season is starting up and all over the world, hoop heads are rejoicing. The past few months saw the usual flurry of trades, free agent signings and draft picks and now it’s time to show what teams will gel together in time to contest for the Larry O’Brien trophy. Let’s start with a preview of the Western conference teams.
SOUTHWEST Dallas Mavericks The nucleus of this team is getting up in age, free agent signing Shawn Marion is 31, Dirk Nowitzki 31, Jason Terry 32, and the re-signed Jason Kidd 36 so the emphasis is to win now. Center Eric Dampier is subpar on the offensive end and in an effort to upgrade the Mavericks signed center Marcin Gortat from Orlando, only to have their offer sheet matched by the Magic. Brandon Bass also left for Orlando via free agency and in his place the Mavericks signed journeyman Drew Gooden. Versatile forward Shawn Marion joined the team in a move that will possibly see Josh Howard move to the shooting guard position when he returns from injury, giving the Mavericks two outstanding defenders on the wings.Coach: Rick Carlisle Main players: PF Dirk Nowitzki, PG Jason Kidd, F/G Josh Howard, G Jason Terry
Houston Rockets A team that on paper seems like a legit title contender again faces more questions than answers. The Rockets knew that swingman Tracy McGrady would miss the beginning of the season but were then floored by the news in the summer that Yao Ming would miss the entire season when it was discover that his broken foot was not healing as expected. The Rockets will be led in the backcourt by point guard Aaron Brooks who gained valuable experience starting throughout their inspired playoff run last season and Luis Scola is expected to take on more of a scoring role in the frontcourt with the superstars out. The Rockets signed free agent forward Trevor Ariza from the champion Lakers. Ariza raised his stock tremendously with a good playoff performance during the Lakers title run and he will be out to prove that he is more than a complimentary player now he’s out of the shadows cast by Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. The Rockets will be hoping that their young players continue to improve and the young veteran Ariza can provide some stability until a motivated Tracy McGrady is ready to contribute. Coach: Rick Adelman Main players: C Yao Ming, F/G Tracy McGrady, F Trevor Ariza, PG Aaron Brooks New Orleans Hornets The Hornets were left stung last season after a promising season turned sour with a playoff drubbing by the Nuggets. They have arguably the best point guard in the league in Chris Paul and the luxury of an all-star compliment in David West but the Hornets still lack the quality depth to be considered title contenders. The Hornets looked to improve their front line via trade by sending oft-injured and unhappy center Tyson Chandler to Charlotte in return for center EMEKA OKAFOR. Injury plagued Peja Stojakovic remains on the roster as does his large guaranteed contract; James Posey who failed to make the expected impact last season after coming off a championship with Boston is also back. After a slow start to the season coach Byron Scott was surprisingly fired by New Orleans Hornets’ management. One of the knocks on Scott was his reluctance to play young players and his removal opens the door for increased playing time for impressive rookie guards Darren Collison of UCLA and Marcus Thornton from LSU. IKE DIOGU, a former lottery pick was added in the off-season; he is a bit undersized but has a great post game and excellent footwork. DIOGU suffered a knee injury in training camp but is expected to contribute significant minutes upon his return. The former number two overall draft pick EMEKA OKAFOR has been solid but no spectacular thus far in his NBA career but is expected to make major strides this season playing with Chris Paul. The Nigerian is an excellent shot blocker and rebounder but is still lacking on the offensive end, though Paul should provide him with plenty of opportunities to score points.Coach: Jeff Bower Main players: PG Chris Paul, C EMEKA OKAFOR, PF David West
San Antonio Spurs After last season the Spurs run as contenders was expected to come to an end according to many pundits with reasons ranging from an aging Tim Duncan to Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker’s inability to stay healthy for a full season. However the Spurs do not seem ready to head off into the sunset. In a surprising move the notoriously tight budgeted Spurs went 8 million dollars over the luxury-tax to secure the services of veterans Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess. With Jefferson, the Spurs now have much needed athleticism on the wing. McDyess and rookie Dejuan Blair provide the Spurs with quality depth on the front line. When the season ends, expect the Spurs to be competing for the Western Conference Championship.Coach: Gregg Popovich Main players: F/C Tim Duncan, PG Tony Parker, G/F Manu Ginobili, F Richard Jefferson.
Memphis Grizzlies There seems to be a change of plans in Memphis. After it looked as ifthe Grizzlies were building for the future around the core of O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay and Mike Conley, the Grizzlies added veterans Zach Randolph and Allen Iverson in the offseason. The Iverson experiment did not last long after he complained about coming off the bench and the Grizzles quickly saw Iverson as a problem more so than a solution and he was subsequently released. Randolph will never be mistaken for a consummate team player and it will be interested to see how he meshes with the young nucleus. The Grizzles selected Tanzanian HASHEEM THABEET with the second overall pick in the 2009 draft, however with a solid center in Marc Gasol on the roster THABEET will not be expected to make an immediate impact. The 7’3 THABEET is an excellent shot blocker but is still a very raw prospect, and will likely go through some growing pains this season much like this Grizzlies team.Coach: Lionel Hollins Main players: G O.J Mayo, SF Rudy Gay, C Marc Gasol PACIFIC
The champion Lakers had a few playoff scares last season particularly from the Rockets and the Nuggets but were able to fend off their challengers and win the NBA title. The strategy for a repeat seems to be to keep the successful core together as evidenced by Lamar Odom eventually re-signing with the team after being courted by several teams. The Lakers didn’t agree with the value of Ariza set by his agent and he went to Houston. In Ariza’s place defensive stalwart Ron Artest came from Houston in a swap deal so to speak, one the Lakers felt they received the better end of. Center Andrew Bynum missed the first half of the season with a knee injury and it took him a while to return to shape resulting in his struggling at times during the playoffs and spending large portions of time on the bench. The Lakers hope he can return to pre-injury form where he looked like a potential all-star. Kobe Bryant is still the star of the team and continues to be an MVP candidate season after season but his sidekick, power forward Pau Gasol begins the season sidelined with a hamstring injury. Congolese born D.J. MBENGA re-signed with the Lakers in the offseason but is expected to get limited playing time. He is a force defensively but has to show more improvement on the offensive end of the floor. Coach: Phil Jackson Main players: G/F Kobe Byrant, F/C Pau Gasol, C Andrew Bynum, SF Ron Artest Los Angeles Clippers The Clippers had high hopes last season after signing free agent point guard Baron Davis but those hopes quickly faded as Davis spent most of the season on the shelf. With the Clippers relatively healthy to begin the season, they have hope again. Guard Eric Gordon was one bright spot for the Clippers after working his way into the starting line-up last season and Chris Kaman and Marcus Camby, who missed a sizable amount of time last season due to injury, are healthy once again. Slasher Al Thornton provides a scoring punch for the Clippers but it is the other aspects of his game that often come under scrutiny for Clippers fans. The Clippers boosted their frontline by adding number one overall pick Blake Griffin out of Oklahoma. Griffin is an energy player who is a tremendous force in the post; he should be able to make an immediate impact once he returns from a broken kneecap suffered in preseason. Even with all that, the Clippers will still play like the Clippers and expect to see them in prime position at the NBA draft lottery at the end of the season.Coach: Mike Dunleavy Main players: PG Baron Davis, PF Blake Griffin, C Chris Kaman Golden State Warriors Star wingman Stephen Jackson was not shy about voicing his desire to leave Golden State during the offseason and he finally received his wish from the Warriors via a trade to Charlotte. The move opened the door for some of the Warriors young talent to blossom in what surely will be a rebuilding year. The Warriors drafted former Davidson sensation Stephen Curry with their first draft pick to pair in the back court with Monta Ellis; both guards are undersized and limited on the defensive end which should have opposing guards salivating. In what seems to be a common theme with the Bay Area team, Golden State will be loaded with offensive scoring potential with Ellis, Curry, Anthony Morrow, Corey Maggette and Andris Biedrins but will struggle to make stops on the defensive end. After an outstanding summer league lanky big man Anthony Randolph seems poised to have a breakout season. Watch for KELENNA AZUBUIKE to continue showing fans and coach Don Nelson how he’s advanced from an undrafted free agent and NBDL player into a solid contributor on the Warriors.Coach: Don Nelson Main players: PG Monta Ellis, F/G KELENNA AZUBUIKE, F/C Andris Biedrins, F Anthony Morrow. Phoenix Suns The run and gun Suns are back but this time in cost cutting mode although there is still hope that a playoff run is left in this team. The Suns unloaded Shaquille O’Neal to Cleveland in a strictly pay roll slashing move, gave Steve Nash an extension, re-signed Grant Hill and adding Channing Frye in free agency. Amare Stoudemire, who missed most of last season with an eye injury, is healthy and as a part of the prized 2010 free agent class is very motivated. Although Steve Nash is aging one can’t tell by looking at his impressive numbers and his backcourt mate is Jason Richardson who also had a good year last season. Center Robin Lopez will step in for Shaq, and the Suns added standout rookie Earl Clark from Louisville in the draft. Coach: Alvin GentryMain players: PG Steve Nash, PF Amare Stoudemire, SF Grant Hill
Sacramento Kings Things have been bleak for the Kings since their nice runs in the early part of the decade. Better days may be on the horizons however with the arrival of potential superstar Tyreke Evans. Fellow guard Kevin Martin is one of the top scorers in the league. Sergio Rodriguez comes to Sacramento from Portland to help run the show from the point guard position, a position which they have struggled to fill since the departure of Mike Bibby. The only other acquisitions of note are injury riddled power forward Sean May who is still looking to show that he was worthy of a first round selection and two veterans in Desmond Mason and IME UDOKA.Coach: Paul Westphal Main players: G Kevin Martin, PG Tyreke Evans, F Andres Nocioni.
NORTHWEST Denver Nuggets The Nuggets surprised many pundits with their playoff run last season and after struggling to get past the first round for many seasons the Nuggets made it to the conference finals and managed to give the Lakers a run for their money losing in six games. The Nuggets return their core with MVP candidate Carmelo Anthony leading the way. The Nuggets were thrilled with the production and leadership of point guard Chauncey Billups last season. Billups was probably the best trade of the 2008-2009 NBA season. The Nuggets boast one of the toughest frontlines in the game with Nene, Kenyon Martin and energy man Chris Anderson off the bench. The Nuggets added their point guard of the future in the draft, Ty Lawson from North Carolina who is expected to make an immediate impact as the team’s backup point guard.Coach: George Karl Main players: SF Carmelo Anthony, PG Chauncey Billups, PF Kenyon Martin
Minnesota Timberwolves The Timberwolves are in a period of transition, whether it is for the better or not is left up for interpretation. Longtime general manger turned coach Kevin McHale is gone (many would say years too late) and has been replaced by David Kahn in the front office and Kurt Rambis on the bench. The Timberwolves left many perturbed by selecting Spanish starlet Ricky Rubio and drafting another point guard Johnny Flynn out of Syracuse with the subsequent pick with no plans to trade either. The plan worked out temporarily as Rubio decided to stay in Spain for at least the next two seasons. The good news for Minnesota in their rebuilding phase is that they have a stable front court in place with Al Jefferson and Kevin Love. Jefferson returned to training camp following ACL rehab in tremendous shape dropping thirty pounds on ‘the Subway diet.’ Love who nearly averaged a double-double last season will begin the season on the sidelines after breaking his hand in the preseason.Coach: Kurt Rambis Main players: F/C Al Jefferson, F/C Kevin Love, PG Johnny Flynn
Portland Trailblazers The young Blazers made every effort to bring a veteran presence to Portland. They were sure they had landed Hedo Turkoglu only for the Turkish player to spurn them for Toronto. Power forward Paul Milsap signed an offer sheet with the Blazers only for it to be matched by the Jazz and Portland also courted Lamar Odom, who eventually decided to remain with the Lakers. The Blazers did manage to sign point guard Andre Miller as a complement to Steve Blake, but they will surely be counting on their young nucleus led by Brandon Roy to have matured enough to make a legitimate run at a championship.Coach: Nate McMillan Main players: G Brandon Roy, PF Lamarcus Aldridge, C Greg Oden, G/F Rudy Fernandez.
Oklahoma City Thunder Oklahoma City fans are hoping that this is the season that their young team rises to playoff contender status. The Thunder’s general manager Sam Presti has built a formidable young nucleus of top five draft picks in point guard Russell Westbrook, forward Jeff Green and rising superstar Kevin Durant. It is in surrounding these three with the talent to make a playoff run that is the problem for the Thunder. The team added another high draft pick by selecting shooting guard James Harden from Arizona State with the third overall selection. The Thunder will surely scare a few teams this season but due to a lack of depth they seem to be a year away from a serious playoff run. Congolese youngster SERGE IBAKA is very raw fundamentally but is tremendous athlete with loads of potential. The Thunder selected IBAKA in the first round of the 2008 draft but this will be his first season with the team. IBAKA should see limited minutes this season but is one to watch as the Thunder’s power forward of the future.Coach: Scott Brooks Main players: G/F Kevin Durant, SF Jeff Green, PG Russell Westbrook
Utah Jazz It was widely speculated that last season would be the last for Carlos Boozer in Utah but a trade never materialized. The Jazz did not make any additions but instead focused on re-signing their players- center Mehmet Okur decided to opt out of his contract but remained with the Jazz after signing an extension, backups Kyle Kover and Ronnie Price also return for the Jazz. Paul Millsap signed an offer sheet with the Blazers which the Jazz matched. Point Guard Deron Williams has been Utah’s most consistent player and is now considered to be one of the premier point guards in the league and is the player who the franchise plans to build their team around. Shooting guard Ronnie Brewer is not shooting threat from the outside but has tremendous driving ability and is a lockdown defender. Jerry Sloan and Andrei Kirilenko seem to have patched things up and Kirilenko is expected to return to the starting line-up after the demotion of C.J. Miles.Coach: Jerry Sloan Main players: PG Deron Williams, SF Andrei Kirilenko, F/C Carlos Boozer, F Paul Millsap. |