Behold the Future: 07-08 Pacific Division

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Pacific Division: Lakers or Warriors Will Give Phoenix a Chase through All-Star break


Phoenix Suns

F Grant Hill F Alando Tucker F Eric Piatowski
F Shawn Marion F Sean Marks
C Amare Stoudamire C Boris Diaw
G Raja Bell G Leandro Barbosa G D.J. Strawberry
G Steve Nash G Marcus Banks

A month ago, I was feelin the Suns as likely NBA Champs. Now with a trade request from the Matrix and a knee scope for Amare, I am not so sure.
Ego is everywhere, even in the best of us humans. Generally, I am sympathetic to the human condition, and try not to judge such innate behavior too harshly. But when someone as fortunate Shawn Marion bemoans his fate as the highest paid player on the League’s most enjoyable team as they prepare for a run at a Championship, I gotta shake my head. What are you thinking, Shawn?
With the maestro Steve Nash at the helm, a healthy Amare patrolling the paint, and Leandro Barbosa exploding past the competition, the Suns are in perfect position to bring Phoenix its first Larry O’Brien trophy. . . that is assuming Marion doesn’t pee in the pool. With his defense, rebounding and ability to score without having plays run for him, Marion is the glue guy that allows for the Suns style to flourish. He lines up against 4’s and excels despite giving up 2-3 inches and 20-30 pounds every night. If Marion departs without being adequately replaced (read Andrei Kirilenko), it will not matter what new dimension Grant Hill Mach 3 brings to the Valley of the Sun. Nor will it matter if Boris Diaw discovers his 2006 form.
Though a Nash-Stoudemire led Suns will win a bunch of games with or without the Matrix, any dreams of Championship glory are on hold until this Marion saga is resolved.


Golden State Warriors

F Stephen Jackson F Matt Barnes F Stephane Lasme
F Al Harrington F Brandan Wright F Austin Croshere
C Andris Biedrins C Patrick O’Bryant C Kosta Perovic
G Marco Belinelli G Monta Ellis
G Baron Davis G Troy Hudson

After languishing in extreme suckativity for over a decade, the Golden State Warriors seem to have finally put together a squad capable of winning. Maybe it was the return of Nellie, or maybe Baron Davis’ relatively injury free season, or maybe the crazy one-sided trade with Indiana that brought in gamers Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington. Whatever the cause of their success in 2007, Golden State enters this season with expectations of bigger and better things. Considering they jettisoned a bona fide scorer like Richardson for a rookie who will apparently play very little (Wright), this may be a tall order.
The key to another Warriors playoff run remains the health of Davis. The game’s most explosive point guard, Davis has missed an average of 26 games per season the past 5 years. That said, Davis supporting cast is strong especially playing Nellie’s frenetic style. Despite his shoot first mentality and penchant for off-court trouble, Jackson is as crafty and tenacious as any perimeter player in the League. Throw in Nellie’s prize rookie Marco Belinelli, rising star Monta Ellis, new back-up pg Troy Hudson and versatile forwards Harrington and Matt Barnes, and G-State definitely has the crew to put up major points.
Defense remains a concern. Andris Biedrins is a human pogo stick, with the court speed and shot blocking to be effective for the Warriors. Aside from Biedrins and Jackson, the rest of the squad are mad cap matadors banking on their ability to fill it up. Assuming Davis plays 65 or more games, the Warriors should return to post-season glory. Pulling off another first round upset is another story, probably requiring major contributions from the combo of Belinelli, Ellis and Biedrins.



Los Angeles Lakers

F Luke Walton F Vlad Radmanovic
F Lamar Odom F Kwame Brown F Ronny Turiaf
C Andrew Bynum C Chris Mihm F Brian Cook
G Kobe Bryant G Maurice Evans
G Derek Fisher G Jordan Farmar G Javaris Crittenton

The Kob-ster outdid himself this off-season. He displayed both his unparalleled talent, dominating for Team USA, and his unending selfishness, lambasting his teammates and the Laker front office. Kobe is the best player in the League. His presence alone makes the Lakers competitive. But for the Lakers (or whatever team Bryant might play for) to reach greatness, Kobe has to get over his bad self. Even if it is true that young center Andrew Bynum could have been traded for Jason Kidd, what is the point of publicly berating the 20-year old pivot. Sure Lamar Odom has not been the Shaq replacement the Lakers lack, but is Marion or even Jermaine O’Neal going to improve things that much? Does anyone recall Odom lost a child last summer, and then played through injuries the entire season? Surely Kobe acts like he has forgotten.
I am not saying the Lakers have the requisite talent to challenge the Western elites. But if this team has any chance of a post-season run, Kobe must have an entirely different disposition. Bynum actually has the tools to do some damage in this League. Odom, when healthy, has been better than folks credit him. Point guard remains big question mark, but even an aging Derek Fisher is an improvement over the Smush-master, and the young cats Farmar and Crittenton both seem well suited for Phil’s vaunted triangle. Luke Walton has been a pleasant surprise, and though he will never be an All-Star, he is a legit starter.
Kobe’s game gets LA to the Playoffs. How far they go after that depends on his teammates.



Los Angeles Clippers

F Ruben Patterson F Quinton Ross F Al Thorton
F Tim Thomas F Josh Powell F Elton Brand*
C Chris Kaman C Aaron Williams
G Corey Maggette G Cuttino Mobley G Guillermo Diaz
G Sam Cassell G Brevin Knight G Jared Jordan

Still playing second fiddle in the City of Lights. Dang. When the Clips acquired Sam Cassell two seasons ago to run with up-and-comer Shaun Livingston, they figured they had a three year window to supplant the Lakers as the toast of tinsel town. Snap goes Shawn’s knee. Pop goes Elton’s Achilles. Poof goes the Clippers dreams. The aging backcourt of Cassell and Cuttino Mobley is in big trouble in the ever-tough West. With a weak back court and without Brand to anchor the frontline, the Clips are going to struggle mightily. Look for Corey Maggette to take Mobley’s starting spot to fill the scoring void and the combo of Ruben Patterson and Tim Thomas to battle on the blocks in Brand’s stead.
Chris Kaman will likely have a much better year than last season’s debacle. The young man has serious size and decent tools for the pivot. He is also just 25. If the Patterson/Thomas combo falls short at the forward slot, do not be surprised to see a break out season from journeyman Josh Powell. Though he has hardly logged a meaningful minute in his first two years, Powell has shown signs with all of the teams he has played, err, practiced for.
The long and short of it is that even if Maggette and Kaman has their best seasons ever, the rest of the squad is questionable at best. The Clips are guaranteed lock for a mid-lottery pick.



Sacramento Kings

F Ron Artest F Francisco Garcia
F Shareef Abdur Rahim F Kenny Thomas F Justin Williams
C Brad Miller C Spencer Hawes C Mikki Moore
G Kevin Martin G John Salmons G Quincy Douby
G Mike Bibby G Orien Greene

Has any player aside from Steve Francis fallen off farther than Mike Bibby over the past few seasons? Remember when he was in that Chris Paul/Deron Williams ‘point guard of the future’ category? Doesn’t seem so long ago. But now 29, Bibby finds himself on a downward slide, leading a team of cast-offs, used-to-be’s and role players. . . oh, yeah, and Kevin Martin. I am not sold on Martin. Sure, he can play. So could Jeff Malone and Hersey Hawkins. But how far can high scoring two-guard take a team that is otherwise a drift in a sea of mediocrity?
As for the other notable Kings, Ron Artest is supposedly is super shape and ready to play at a high level again, whatever that means. Artest’s emotional stability remains a significant question mark, and thus he is not to be relied upon. Brad Miller, who in fact does rival Bibby on the descent towards ineffectiveness, seems to have lost his (brief) spark. Never a great shot blocker, his increasingly slow feet do little to guard the King’s painted area. The two-headed shmonster of Abdur-Rahim and Kenny Thomas inspires fear in no one. Reggie Theus is going to wish he was coaching his Hang Time squad by mid-December. Sacramento = Suckramento.


Southwest Division: New Orleans and Memphis are Pretty Decent Teams That Will Get Burried in the SW

Northwest Division: Melo is the Best in the NW. Is Deron Williams Second? Sorta Crazy If Its True