Western Conference Predictions
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/stories/MYSA102707.EN.FBCtrinity.millsaps.1b21f550e.html
http://www.azcardinals.com/blog/post.php?author=1&id=488
All in all, I’d have to say it was a pretty good week for the mighty Tigers. Hopefully, they roll that momentum into a big win over Centre College this Saturday.
Back to the preview:
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
Pacific Division
1. Phoenix - (1) They are the perfect team for the regular season. They get out and run and shoot well. They score a bunch of points and beat the teams they are supposed to. Their pace also does not create a lot of wear-and-tear on their players, because of the lack of contact. However, they still are not set up to beat a team with any semblance of a post presence in the postseason. Sorry, Phoenix fans. Maybe something else will happen to your team so you can continue to come up with excuses for why your team has failed to win a title.
2. Golden State - (7) Baron Davis must stay healthy. If he can, and that is a huge ‘if’, then the Warriors are playoff bound. Heck, if Davis plays 75-plus games, he could thrust the Warriors even higher in the postseason standings, and possibly be in the running for league MVP.
3. Los Angeles Lakers - (8*) Notice the lack of a number after their name. *If the Black Mamba stays or goes, this team isn’t making it to the playoffs.
4. Los Angeles Clippers - Losing Elton Brand kills any shot the Clips had at the postseason, which wasn’t much to begin with.
5. Sacramento - This team was going to be bad anyway, but wasting a draft pick on an injured white stiff and losing Bibby earlier than usual has completely demolished this team. They could be the worst team in the league, especially after Artest gets unloaded for chump change.
Northwest Division
1. Denver - (3) Iverson and ‘Melo together for an entire season, plus a healthy Camby, Nene, and K-Mart off the bench should have the Nuggets big and strong. They could be a monster in the playoffs.
2. Utah - (5) I doubt Boozer stays healthy all year (track record), which is why they are not the top seed out of the Northwest Division. However, you already know my love for Fess as Memo Okur’s backup. This is a quality team that is incredibly deep.
3. Seattle - (8) Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Delonte West, Robert Swift (once healthy), and Johan Petro will all be solid pros. They will also play well together with Nick Collison and Chris Wilcox. However, much like Portland, this team is a couple of years away. Too bad the people of Seattle will never see the Durant-era come to fruition.
4. Portland - Losing Oden hurt this team, but it did not kill them. They will still have a solid frontcourt with Pryzbilla, Frye, and Adlridge (who could have a HUGE season). Also, they get Oden back next year, they have a plethora of talent overseas that they purchased from Phoenix, and they’ll get a solid draft pick next year. This team will be scary in two seasons.
4. Seattle - Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Delonte West, Robert Swift (once healthy), and Johan Petro will all be solid pros. They will also play well together with Nick Collison and Chris Wilcox. However, much like Portland, this team is a couple of years away. Too bad the people of Seattle will never see the Durant-era come to fruition.
5. Minnesota - All together Minnesota fans, “Al Jefferson is not K.G. He is gone, and we must move on.” Keep saying that, and eventually you will make it. Your team won’t, but you should be in a better place.
Southwest Division
1. Dallas - (2) Hey, Dallas has the best (or second best) record in the NBA. Hey, Dallas has nothing to show for it. The more things change…
2. San Antonio - (4) …the more they stay the same. What do you expect?
3. Houston - (6) Rick Adelman is the perfect coach for Yao Ming. Expect great numbers from him this season. More on this team in a second
4. New Orleans - Chris Paul is so good, but can he counter what Deron Williams did last year? Unfortunately, Peja will get hurt, and the Hornets have too many games against San Antonio, Dallas and Houston.
5. Memphis - Year one of the change of offenses with a young team to boot. Sorry Iavaroni, it will take time. Steve Nash ain’t walking through that door.
So the playoff standings for the Western Conference should look like this:
1. Phoenix
2. Dallas
3. Denver
4. San Antonio
5. Utah
6. Houston
7. Golden State
8. Seattle (assuming Kobe gets dealt)
Phoenix, Dallas, Denver, and San Antonio would all advance under this scenario. Houston fans welcome to the “Rick Adelman Playoff Collapses” portion of the program. So sorry.
The conference semifinals should be awesome then. San Antonio will defeat Dallas, and I actually think that Denver might have enough firepower to beat the Suns, assuming Iverson and ‘Melo are healthy. Remember all those big guys I rattled off for Denver, yeah, Phoenix can’t do anything about that.
The Western Conference finals will be a slugfest. I hate picking against the Spurs, but I did it last year and they won it all, so…
Denver versus Washington in the NBA Finals, and Iverson gets a ring!!!! Even with George Karl as the head coach and no three point shooting? Oh, I forgot to mention that mid-season deal where the Nuggets unload somebody (read, Chucky Atkins and a draft pick) to pick up a quality deep threat.
Let’s hope the mojo of picking against San Antonio works again.
