"You're the best around, no one's gonna ever take you down," may have been a song applied to "The Karate Kid," but it is certainly applicable to the NBA's Western Conference as well.
The only sure thing about the NBA this season is that the champion will come out of the West. It is so loaded, it's not even funny. The top eight teams could easily handle any Eastern team on any given night, although the Eastern squads do have an advantage come playoff time because they only have to play a Western team once, and that's in the finals.
The only chance that the East has, is if the Western teams completely demolish each other in the first three rounds of the playoffs. But even when taking that into consideration, a half of a Western team can still steamroll any pansy from the East.
Jim Byrne and Paul Feuer break down each team in the West in the second part of their NBA preview. Their predicted place of finish for each team in the conference is in parenthesis next to the team names.
Dallas Mavericks (JB-3, PF-2) JB: Soft and weak are two words that pop into my head when I think about these guys. Their leaders, Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash, can't play a lick of defense and that will kill you come playoff time. They may run off to a quick start like last time, thanks in part to an insane offense that has been bolstered in the off season by Antoine Walker and Antawn Jamison, but once it's time to get down and dirty these guys will falter. PF: The Mavs are stacked, although they might run themselves into the ground they are so fast. Haven't seen anybody move this fast since Rosie O'Donnell at the all you can eat buffet. They are the second best team in the league, but will fall to the Lakers because they traded away their best clutch player in Van Exel.
Denver Nuggets (JB-9, PF-9) JB: My, oh my, what a sexy new team. First off they drafted Carmelo Anthony, the real deal of this year's draft. Next up they changed the uni's to a sweet, sweet Carolina blue with yellow. Finally, they juiced themselves up with the addition of pure passer Andre Miller who should thrive now that he has been liberated from Clipper-land. This is the team of the future with so much young talent like Anthony, Nene Hilario, Marcus Camby, Nikoloz Tskitishvili and the rest. Don't expect them to contend this year, but Anthony should grab rookie of the year honors. PF: A mirror image of the Cavaliers in the East. One of the youngest teams with great talent. Brand new logo actually gives them some apparel support around the U.S, even though that old school rainbow skyline was pretty hot.
Golden State Warriors (JB-14, PF-12) JB: Sweet mother of God. Not only does this team play in the abyss known as Golden State, but they lost a massive amount of talent over the summer. Trading away Antawn Jamison for Nick Van Exel was just silly, and letting Gilbert Arenas walk will prove to be a fatal error. The Warriors have no chance of contending until 2010. Wow, does that sound far off. PF: Trumped up their chances of improving anytime in the near future by trading away their best player in Antawn Jamison and letting Gilbert Arenas go. No team has ever let more talent go in the past couple of years than these guys, as there is always a fire sale going on with this team.
Houston Rockets (JB-5, PF-7) JB: If Steve Francis isn't a complete moron, he will heed new coach Jeff Van Gundy's advice and let the offense run through the scary Yao Ming. Yao could be extremely dangerous under the tutelage of Van Gundy and assistant coach Patrick Ewing, he just needs his point guard to get him the darn ball. Now. Francis will realize that his team can contend with Yao as the focal point, and that realization will lead to him becoming a much better team player. Houston will indubitably be dangerous this year under the reigns of Van Gundy. PF: One player away from being a great team. A guy like Shareef Abdur-Rahim would fit in nicely. Jeff Van Gundy and Patrick Ewing should definitely help Yao Ming and return to the playoffs.
LA Clippers (JB-11, PF-10) JB: Well, at least this team will be stable for a few years in terms of contracts. New coach Mike Dunleavy will be able to get this team to play as a team, but unfortunately a lot of talent that would be necessary to compete in the nasty West is gone in Lamar Odom, Andre Miller and the ever-improving Michael Olowokandi. Nevertheless, they have the players to be competitive in Elton Brand, Corey Maggette and the rest of the Clipper crew. PF: Brand might just run away or go into hiding. Odom, Miller and Olowokandi have all escaped Alcatraz. Brand must have been shell-shocked when he learned L.A. matched a six-year 82 million dollar contract offer, which in Clipper's years is equivalent to 56 years.
LA Lakers (JB-4, PF-1) JB: This has failure written all over it. Sure having Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Gary Payton and Karl Malone on the court at the same time looks great on paper, but can these guys really share just one ball? Malone and Payton seem committed to the cause, but the ongoing feud between Shaq and Kobe may very well sink the Diesel's ship come playoff time. PF: Still the team to beat. Shaquille O'Neal is the most dominant player in the league and with a supporting cast that includes Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone and Gary Payton they should easily cruise through the regular season and tear through the playoffs. Shaq is just that darn good.
Memphis Grizzlies (JB-10, PF-13) JB: Hey, if these guys were in the East, I'd say that they could make a run at the finals. But, and that's a very big but, they are in the West, which renders their chances as pretty lame. And I think that is pretty sad. With Pau Gasol, Mike Miller, Stromile Swift and Shane Battier this team is legit, but throw them to the Western powerhouses and they are up the creek with no paddle. PF: Traded away the No. 2 pick (Darko Milicik) for, get this, Otis Thorpe. Even if you don't know who that is the name says it all. They did trade for Troy Bell, who has definite potential to be an all-star in the CBA. These guys are going nowhere.
Minnesota Timberwolves (JB-2, PF-4) JB: I'm in love with the thought of Latrell Sprewell playing with Kevin Garnett. This team will finally get out of the first round thanks to the Sprewell addition as well as the signing of Olowokandi. The one move that I don't like is the bringing in of Sam Cassell. Cassell is not a pass-first point guard, and the T'Wolves already had Troy Hudson who came on strong at the end of the year for them at the point. With that aside, Minnesota has a real good chance at making a run at the finals if they can escape the Western gauntlet. It should prove to be a daunting task.
PF: Had the greatest off season of any team in acquiring Sprewell, Cassell and Olowokandi. They need some time to mesh together which might earn them a fifth or sixth seed finish. This team will advance into the second round this year, guaranteed.
Phoenix Suns (JB-6, PF-6) JB: Stephon Marbury finally became the player that he could become last year. He led his small team to the playoffs and nearly knocked off the would be champion Spurs in the first round. Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion front a tough forward combination, but against the Shaqs, Duncans and Yaos will come the problems. Throw a capable center on this team and they become one of the elite in the NBA. PF: This team would be great if it was in the East. Unfortunately they are mired in the West with the Big four. Can't wait to see Stoudemire in his sophomore year and a healthy Stephon (Star)bury running and gunning. A finish near the bottom is inevitable, but Suns are the favorites for an upset come playoff time. This team can win on any given night.
Portland Trailblazers (JB-8, PF-8) JB: God bless these guys, seriously. Portland always gives you a laugh when you need one due to their illegal antics, and they even play well on the court! Bonzi Wells has apparently come into camp as more of a leader, something the Blazers will need in the wake of Scottie Pippen's departure. Portland has been in the playoffs 18 straight years, and this year will be no different. However, you can expect Rasheed Wallace and Damon Stoudamire to be traded by the deadline. PF: A dangerous team, literally, that can win on any given night. Rasheed is still the best player on this team but look for an all-star season from Wells, who while he may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, is certainly the most dangerous. Sadly their high school draft selection, Travis Outlaw, is not on the opening night roster due to injury.
Sacramento Kings (JB-7, PF-5) JB: Poor, poor Sacramento. Their window of opportunity seems to have closed. While they do still have the core of their team intact with Chris Webber, Peja Stojakovic and Mike Bibby, the other teams in the conference have only gotten stronger. Sacramento seemed to peak out in the conference finals of 2002, but don't count them out yet. New addition Brad Miller should help to replace the aging, but timeless, Vlade Divac. PF: Kings must have the most depressing summers of any team. Getting bounced from the playoffs off questionable calls and injuries is the worst way to go. They will still give any team a tough time in the playoffs though.
San Antonio Spurs (JB-1, PF-3) JB: The best got better. Never a good sign for the others in the league. Although signing Jason Kidd was their top priority in the off season, that failure does not hurt much because they do have a great, and young, point guard in Tony Parker. The classy David Robinson retired, but the additions of "big shot" Bob Horry, Hedo Turkoglu, Radoslav Nestorovic and Ron Mercer more than make up for his loss. A repeat may definitely be in the works. PF: All summer two-time MVP and NBA champion, Tim Duncan, must have sounded like Rodney Dangerfield muttering to himself "I get no respect." Maybe it's because he has the personality of a cardboard cut-out.
Seattle Supersonics (JB-12, PF- 11) JB: Once again, this team is just in the wrong conference. Despite having talent like Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, Seattle has no shot of making the playoffs. In the words of Vince McMahon, the Sonics have "no chance in hell" of success this season. PF: Not the usual star studded roster they had in the past but they do have a bunch of young guys who will have plenty of opportunities for playing time. Allen is the catalyst for this team behind his slick shooting. Hopefully they will get a good draft pick and build from there.
Utah Jazz (JB-13, PF-14): JB: Yikes! This is the beginning of the end for the Utah franchise. Why Utah has a franchise in the first place is an interesting question, but don't expect it to stay there forever. Nobody in their right mind would sign a contract to live in Salt Lake City, Utah, especially a multi-million dollar earning NBA player. PF: No truth to the rumor that the Jazz will let the fans play this season with the first lucky fan over 6'9" getting the nod to start at center. When Karl Malone and the Lakers come to town it's going to look like Angola vs. the Dream Team.
