Better-Late-Than-Never NBA Preview- Part II
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by Ea34
Yesterday I brought you my official “Better-Late-Than-Never” Eastern Conference preview. Today I submit for your approval, the official “Better-Late-Than-Never” Western Conference preview.
Part II- Western Conference
PACIFIC DIVISION
Phoenix Suns- If they’re healthy, the Suns are a couple of notches above anyone else in the division. Giving away Kurt Thomas (more on this in a minute) leaves them very thin in the paint. But don’t forget, other teams have to match up with them, too!
Golden State Warriors- When Baron Davis is healthy and happy, the Warriors are every bit as dangerous as the Suns- if not more dangerous. They play at a faster tempo than anyone else and are younger and deeper than the Suns.
Los Angeles Lakers- Thanks to Kobe Bryant, the Lakers are capable of playing with anyone on any given night. Unfortunately, the lack of experience on the supporting cast will prevent them from competing with anyone on every night.
Sacramento Kings- This is a team in transition. Things will probably get a little bit worse before they get better in Sacramento, but there needs to be a total commitment to retooling. Expect Mike Bibby, Ron Artest and Brad Miller to all be involved in trade talks during the season.
Los Angeles Clippers- With Shaun Livingston probably out for the season and Elton Brand out until at least February, 2007-08 is a lost cause- the Clippers are playing for the lottery. However, keep an eye on rookie power forward Al Thornton - he is going to be a monster in the paint.
SOUTHWEST DIVISION
San Antonio Spurs- They may be boring, whiney and even a tiny bit dirty, but this is the NBA’s best team, and they are deeper this year than they were last year. By the way, did you even know Tim Duncan and the Spurs were talking about a contract extension? Me either. That’s how top organizations handle these things.
Houston Rockets- The arrival of an offensive-minded coach, a healthy and rested Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming and by far the deepest and most talented Rockets’ roster of the McGrady-Yao era.
Dallas Mavericks- Using their 2006 Finals loss as motivation powered them through the 2006-07 regular season, but last season’s playoff loss to the Warriors crushed the Mavs spirits for the second straight year. That will be too much to bounce back from.
New Orleans Hornets- Chris Paul, the future best point guard in the NBA, is the heart and soul of the Hornets, who are a solid young team that can run with anyone in the league. He will lead this talented crew into the playoffs.
Memphis Grizzlies- The Grizz will be the best last place team in the league (maybe one of the best ever!). Memphis is a hard luck case- a talented young team with a lot of new faces stuck in a brutal division.
NORTHWEST DIVISION
Denver Nuggets- While the Nuggets are not really known for stopping anybody, this team is absolutely loaded on offense and will do enough on the boards to mask their defensive shortcomings. Plus, in Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony, Denver’s starting lineup boasts two genuine superstars, each of whom is capable of dropping 50 on any given night.
Utah Jazz- The Jazz are a team with strong leadership, solid defense and the ability to control the boards. The lack of an explosive offense may cost them a few games in the regular season, but this team is built for playoff success.
Portland Trailblazers- Despite having to wait a year for Greg Oden, the Trailblazers are still one of the NBA’s best young teams. Add Oden and yet another lottery pick to this roster, and you have a championship contender within the next three years.
Seattle Supersonics- This will be a tough year in Seattle, although watching Kevin Durant on nightly basis should help to minimize the pain of all those losses. Hopefully this is not the team’s last season in Seattle, as the fans in the Northwest deserve the chance to watch the development of the NBA’s next great star.
Minnesota Timberwolves- The Minnesota Timberwolves will not be good in 2007-08- at all. However, the trio of Al Jefferson, Randy Foye and Corey Brewer (the steal of the draft) has to be considered among the top young foundations in the NBA. Add a top 5 pick from the 2008 Draft into the mix, and the situation in Minnesota is not hopeless.
PLAYOFF SEEDINGS
- PHOENIX SUNS
- DENVER NUGGETS
- SAN ANTONIO SPURS
- UTAH JAZZ
- HOUSTON ROCKETS
- DALLAS MAVERICKS
- NEW ORLEANS HORNETS
- GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
CONFERENCE FINALS
San Antonio Spurs over Utah Jazz in 6.
ALL-STAR TEAM
G- Kobe Bryant*
G- Allen Iverson*
G- Chris Paul
G- Steve Nash
F- Tim Duncan*
F- Shawn Marion
F- Carmelo Anthony*
C- Yao Ming*
*- Starter
BREAKOUT SEASON
Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets)- Chris Paul is a superstar. On top of being the most skilled and fundamentally sound point guard to enter the league in more than a decade, his leadership and basketball intellect rank with the greats. He never seems to make a mental mistake, never lets his team quit and always plays within himself- you could watch a game in which Chris Paul scores 25 points and be hard-pressed to remember him taking more than a few shots.
TOP ROOKIE
Kevin Durant (Seattle Supersonics)- This is a no-brainer. Kevin Durant is the most talented offensive player to enter the league since Allen Iverson. While 2007-08 will probably be a rough season for the Sonics, Durant will have plenty of chances to showcase his sublime skills.
TOP OFF-SEASON MOVE
The Seattle Supersonics trading Ray Allen and the #35 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft ( Glen “Big Baby” Davis) to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak and the #5 overall pick in the 2007 Draft ( Jeff Green). There’s no doubt that Ray Allen is one of the top two-guards of his generation, but you can’t blame a team that has no near-term hopes of competing for a title for trading a 32 year-old shooting guard coming off ankle surgery (plus a second-round pick) in exchange for a top 5 draft choice, a solid point guard and future cap relief (Szczerbiak’s contract, which pays him $13 million in 2008-09, expires next season).
WORST OFF-SEASON MOVE
The Phoenix Suns trading Kurt Thomas and TWO first-round picks (2008 and 2010) to the Seattle Supersonics for a future second-round pick and cash. This has to stop! I understand that the Phoenix Suns ownership would sooner lose a limb than pay the luxury tax, but how on earth does the league office sign off on this debacle of a trade? A contending team giving away a serviceable big man (who did an admirable job guarding Tim Duncan in the playoffs) and MULTIPLE first-round picks in exchange for a second-rounder? C’mon!
Well, that’s it! That does it for the “Better-Late-Than-Never” NBA Preview- my takes on how the 2007-08 NBA season will play out. Here’s to a great season dominated by stories of on-the-court greatness, not off-court controversy!
1. Dallas plays in a much tougher division than Denver. It is not inconceivable that both San Antonio and Houston could have better regular season records than Dallas. Denver on the other hand, plays in what effectively a two-team division, which will help them pad their record.
2. Deron Williams is a really good point guard, but on a healthy and talented team (which he should have this year), I'll take Chris Paul every time (just a personal preference thing)
3. You're absolutely right. I actually had the same realization after I posted this. T-Mac will be an All-Star this year, probably over Marion.
4. I was torn between Paul and Aldridge for my breakout season pick. I went with Paul because I think this year he will pick up where his rookie year left off and go to a whole new level. That said, I expect Aldridge to have a fantastic year as well. Who says they can't both have big breakout years?