Western Confence Preview

Here are my predictions for the 2007/2008 season:

1) San Antonio Spurs
Champions until proven otherwise. The Spurs have the best defence in the NBA, and you know how the old saying goes. The Spurs also have an underated coach in Greg Poppovich and an incredibly deep roster. Barring injuries or unforseen circumstances it would be foolish not to expect the Spurs to be serious contenders for a repeat.

2) Dallas Mavericks
You think Dirk has something to prove? The Mavs will come out of the gate hot, looking to put the embarasing loss to Golden State far in the past. Dallas has always been a strong regular season team and this year should be no exception.

3) Phoenix Suns
Will this finally be Phoenix's year? They are one of the best three teams in the NBA, but with the playoff format how it is, I think it is just too hard for them to emerge from the West.

4) Utah Jazz
Remember who was in the Western Conference Finals last year facing the Spurs? Yeah, the Utah Jazz. Although they lost Derek Fisher to the Lakers, Deron Williams will do fine at the point.

5) Denver Nuggets
Expect big things in Carmelo and Iverson's first full year together. This team is also strong upfront with Nene, Marcus Camby, and Kenyon Martin. If they can avoid the injury problems that plauged them last year they will be dangerous in the playoffs.

6) Los Angeles Lakers
Some might call this overly optimistic or even bias, but I assure you, the Lakers are not getting as much credit as they deserve. Of course, this ranking assumes that Kobe Bryant remains a Laker (somthing that is getting harder to assume by the day) becuase if he is traded, rebuilding will immediatly commence, and the playoffs will be an afterthought. However, with Kobe, the Lakers are a very solid team. People forget that they got off to a very strong start last year before injuries set in, and yet they still clinched the seventh playoff spot. They upgraded at the Point Guard drastically by replacing the dissapointing Smush Parker with Derek Fisher. The young players (most notably Bynum) are getting better and better. I guarantee this team will suprise alot of people.

7) Houston Rockets
I don't buy into all the hype surronding the Rockets this offseason. They are overly hyped every single year, becuase on paper they always have a great team. Barring injuries, they could be decent, and maybe even make a run for the top of the Western Conference, however it is to optimistic to assume the oft-injured Mcgrady and somewhat soft Yao can go an entire season without injury.

8) Memphis Grizzlies
They can't be as bad as last year, right? Right??

9) New Orleans Hornets
Solid team, would make the playoffs in the East. The fulltime return to New Orleans will take a toll.

10) Golden State Warriors
Last year was exciting, but it was last year. This is not a playoff team. This is a an exciting, fun to watch, team; but they lack the subsitence of the Suns, an exciting and good team.

11) Sonics
Kevin Durant will win Rookie of The Year, but won't be able to carry this depleted squad into the playoffs on his own.

12) Los Angeles Clippers
This is where the conference drops off. The bottom four teams in the west will be lucky to win 100 games between them. The injury to Elton Brand was a diaster, Cassel and Thomas are too old, and Maggette will finally be traded and then immediatly break out into a Star.

13) Sacramento Kings
As with the Clippers, the injury to their star player- Mike Bibby- was devasting. Although he will not be shelved for as long as Brand, this is a much worse team than the Clippers.

14) Portland Trail Blazers
Who will they get with the #1 pick next year to play alongside Greg Oden? This is a very young and excting team, but probably wouldn't have made the playoffs even with Oden.

15) Minnesota Timberwolves
Look at their roster. Seriously, have a look.
If Corey Brewer, Randy Foye, Gerald Green, and Al Jefferson all have break out years, this team has a chance... to win 25 games. When Antoine Walker is your "veteran leadership" you know you have a serious, serious, problem.

Eastern Confrence Preview coming tommorow.