Here's how I believe the Western Conference will play out this season.
Pacific Division
1. LA Lakers
The defending champions will end this season on top of their division as well as the entire West. However I don't believe the addition of Ron Artest is enough to push them over the Celtics and for that reason they will once again perish to the Celts in June.
2. Phoenix Suns
It appears now that Amare Stoudemire will be staying put in the land of the sun, he and Steve Nash are not enough to put them in contention in the West although they will make the playoffs. The Suns are second in their division only because they have a somewhat weak field to get through. Last year they had 46 wins and didn't make the playoffs, which just shows how good the Western Conference is.
3. LA Clippers
The Clippers will be a fun team to watch with Baron Davis back from the DL and the first pick Blake Griffin but they pose no threat to any good team. The Clippers will end up around 10th- 13th in their conference but well outside of the playoffs.
4. Golden State Warriors
The warriors have a good lineup on paper but I don't think they will play well as a team with Monta Ellis healthy all season. Although Ellis is a great player; he's one of those guys that you wind up and just let him go, I don't think Don Nelson will do that. He will try to include Corey Maggette in the offense far too much, I the Warriors as a dysfunctional team which will have major chemistry problems.
5. Sacramento Kings
I am curious to see how Tyreke Evans plays alongside Kevin Martin (In my opinion one of the most underrated players in the NBA). Even if they go as well together as Jordan and Pippen (Chemistry speaking) they will still find themselves as one of the worst teams in the conference if not the worst.
SouthWest Division
1. New Orleans Hornets
The New Orleans Hornets are a very entertaining team to say the least. I love to watch good point guard play and Chris Paul far exceeds that. The Hornets have a very deep team, their starting lineup can go toe to toe with almost anyone and they have two-time NBA champion James Posey to come off the bench. I seriously considered picking the Hornets to go to the Finals but I have a very difficult time seeing them beat any very experienced team. I think they are better than the Spurs, but in a seven game series I'd have to go with San Antonio. Their guys are battle tested and the Hornets did not have an impressive showing in the playoffs last year which was headlined by their 58 point loss at home just before being bounced in the first round. The Hornets will have to prove to me that they can play with the season on the line before I can justify considering them for the title.
2. Dallas Mavericks
The Mavs are a very good team but they do not have the necessary components to get by the Lakers, Hornets, or Nuggets. Adding wingman Shawn Marion was a brilliant off-season move and the re-signing of Jason Kidd was mandatory if they want to remain relevant. For the Mavs to seriously contend; Dirk Nowitzki is going to have to have an MVP caliber year much like he did in the 2006-2007 season. Ultimately I expect the Mavs to be eliminated in the first round by the Hornets.
3. San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs are without question the most boring team in basketball; at times watching them is reminiscent of watching the grass grow on an early spring morning. That being said, nobody can deny that they are a force. Having won 4 titles in the last 10 years they must be considered a formidable foe for anybody in a seven game series. That's what some people don't understand, in a seven game series the more experienced team has a MASSIVE advantage (Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli, all have multiple championship experience), and in a seven game series there are only a few teams in the entire NBA that can conquer them. Unfortunately for the Spurs one of those teams is in the Western Conference and for that reason they will once again be hitting the links before June.
4. Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies have two players in O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay who are always a treat to watch and with rumors of Allen Iverson landing in Memphis the Grizzlies have the potential to be a top news story all season. But that is all that they have potential for, the Grizzlies have a VERY outside chance of making the playoffs and about as good of a chance at winning the championship as Wile E coyote has of catching the Road Runner.
5. Houston Rockets
Losing Yao Ming for likely all next season and Ron Artest to the defending champion Lakers is just too big of a blow for the Rockets to handle. T-Mac has not shown that he can carry a team past the first round and unless Luis Scola starts playing like Kevin McHale I don't see the Rockers winning over 35 games which will land them far outside of the playoffs.
NorthWest Division
1. Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets came a few out of bounds plays short of giving the Lakers a run for their money, unlike last year the Nuggets will not find themselves in the conference finals. I believe that with Chauncey Billups for a full year the Nuggets will win over 50 games but I can't envision them defeating the San Antonio Spurs in the playoffs. They are a very good team but they do not have a championship pedigree.
2. Portland Trailblazers
The Blazers have had a somewhat disappointing off-season. Hedo Turkoglu pulled out of a deal after verbally agreeing and after signing Paul Millsap to an offer sheet; the Utah Jazz matched the offer. It wasn't all bad though with the signing of veteran guard Andre Miller, this gives all league guard Brandon Roy a real point guard to play alongside. I believe that the Blazers will be a championship contender...but not this year. I think it will take Portland one or maybe even two more years until they are ready to take control of the West, which in my opinion is inevitable.
3. Utah Jazz
With rumors concerning Carlos Boozer still circulating the league the Jazz will have a disappointing year. If they keep Boozer all year they will be a playoff team but not a challenger for the O'Brien trophy. If they move Boozer and don't receive a considerable factor in return, they will not make the playoffs and they will struggle immensely. Deron Williams is a great point guard but he cannot carry that load by himself. For now though, I'm assuming that Boozer will be staying in Salt Lake City.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder have a very promising future beyond the horizon, but for now they will be one of the worst teams in the West. Give Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant two more years playing together before expecting them to do some damage in the West. The argument can be made that Durant is already a top ten player in the NBA, but as Kevin Garnett knows, that means absolutely nothing when guys who can’t get it done surround you. Also factor in that Durant is nowhere near the level the KG was at when he was in Minnesota.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves
For now it appears that heralded European point guard Ricky Rubio will be staying in Spain and even if he does make the leap to the NBA he will not be a major factor, not this season anyway. The T'wolves have a great young big man in Al Jefferson and a potential filled guard in Jonny Flynn; the front office in Minnesota needs to focus on building around these two players, with Jefferson as the cornerstone. If I was the GM of the T'wolves I would sign Jefferson to a very long-term contract because once he's a free agent teams will offer the kitchen sink to get him. This season Minnesota will not be relevant in the Western Conference.
Seeding:
1. LA Lakers
2. Denver Nuggets
3. Portland Trailblazers
4. New Orleans Hornets
5. Dallas Mavericks
6. San Antonio Spurs
7. Phoenix Suns
8. Utah Jazz
Conference Semi-Finals
Lakers over Hornets in 5 games
Spurs over Nuggets in 7 games
Conference Finals
Lakers over Spurs in 7 games
NBA Finals
Celtics over Lakers in 5 games
