The West was much better than the East going into the season and, with many of the top teams making moves to get even better, it's almost impossible to tell who will come out of the conference on top.
With every game like a playoff game, each team knows that a single win could guarantee them a spot, while a single loss could plummet them out of contention.
Note: The order in which I list these teams is not representative of how I think they will finish. That would spoil the fun of you reading this. Instead, I'll make my prediction for Western Conference champion at the end of the article.
Without further ado, let's get started:
L.A. Lakers (43-18)
The Lakers have been stellar this year with the emergence of the young Andrew Bynum helping to take some pressure off of Kobe Bryant's shoulders.
But one other player Bynum has affected—possibly more than Kobe—is Lamar Odom.
Odom is a terrific athlete, easily capable of playing both forward positions, but the Lakers have had to rely on Odom for a back-to-the-basket presence for quite a while since they have not a had a true post player.
Bynum fixed that this season. This year, Odom is averaging the highest field goal percentage of his career at 50.4 percent. He is also averaging a double-double with 13.6 PPG and 10.1 RPG.
When Bynum went down, L.A. traded for Pau Gasol. Jerry Buss and Mitch Kupchak should be charged with grand theft after getting Gasol for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, and two first-round picks. Gasol is currently filling in for Bynum as the Lakers sole post presence, but will slide to power forward when Bynum comes back, giving the Lakers the tallest front court in the NBA with Odom (6'10"), Gasol (7'0"), and Bynum (7'0").
Wow, imagine the possibilities.
Phoenix Suns (40-21)
When the Suns announced that Grant Hill would be their starting small forward at the beginning of the season I almost pulled my hair out, partially because I thought he couldn't handle the load at his age, but also because I felt Boris Diaw got absolutely shafted in the deal.
Well, it turns out the Suns knew what they were doing...of course.
Hill has averaged 14.5 PPG and is shooting 34.1 percent from 3-point range in 32.6 minutes per game this season. Not too shabby for a 12-year veteran who made a miraculous recovery from major ankle surgery and a near-fatal staph infection.
How can I talk about the Suns without mentioning Shaquille O'Neal? The "Big Cactus" is in Phoenix, and it's been very hard to tell so far if the Suns made a good decision or a bad decision in trading for him.
As a Sun, O'Neal has averaged 10.0 PPG, 11.4 RPG, and 29.3 minutes per game. Not bad stats for O'Neal, but the Suns' stats tell a different story.
In the eight games Shaq has played in a Phoenix uniform the Suns are 3-5. While Shaq gives them an undeniable physical presence down low to go along with Amare Stoudamire, the poor record is going to give new life to the questions about whether or not Shaq fits in with the run 'n gun system that Phoenix uses.
Shaq always seems to have a rebirth in the playoffs though, so watch out for him when April rolls around.
San Antonio Spurs (42-17)
10 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Paul Rea about 1 year ago
I go for the Lakers for championship this year. The Laker team with Bynum, Gasol and navigated by Kobe is tough. Its the right time for them to get the championship specially when it's running on their blood. I also go for coach Phil for his effort to bring this team. Go Lakers!!! Win!!!
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
That is right! Lakers V. Celtics in the 2008 Finals. Lakers 2008 NBA Champions, and then they will get the number one draft pick, just like when they picked up James Worthy. They will pick up Michael Beasley and pick up a powerful player next year, such as Gilbert Areans at point, or Shawn Marion, Caron Butler, even Mike Miller would be okay.
2009 Roster: C: Andrew Bynum, PF: Pau Gasol, SF: Lamar Odom, SG: Kobe Bryant, PG: Derek Fisher
Bench: Farmar, Turiaf, Vujacic "The Machine", Mbenga, Mihm, Ariza, Radmanovic, Karl, and Dump Walton, (Imagine adding any of these options as a potential starter or bench player: Gilbert Areans, Shawn Marion, Caron Butler (Former Laker), Mike Miller) and have the rookie of the year: Michael Beasley. Imagine the Lakers winning four years in a row...That's a dynasty.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Lets not pop the champaign corks just yet, folks. We hear it every year, everybody mentions the Spurs in passing but never really seriously think they can win it again. Too old, too slow, too too too too. Too bad, because just like every year they come out of the rodeo road trip and pretty much shut everybody up. Lets see, last year it was the Suns who were going to kick their butts, they ended up mauled and humiliated. This year the annointed team is the Lakers. Lakers look really good, and just might do it. But man, if they do win it all, they will have crawled away from San Antonio bloodied and barely breathing because the Spurs are still getting warmed up for the playoffs and keep getting better every week. Duncan has his Finals MVP, so does Parker, this year its Manu's turn. So, go back to your dreaming guys and girls, keep ignoring the Spurs (they like it that way), and see you in the playoffs.
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Brian Lee about 1 year ago
The Spurs still are the champions and their history is probably the biggest thing they have going for them. Mr. Finals MVP Tony Parker has been awful for me this year on my fantasy basketball team. I just hope that he is turning it around for the better now that he is back from injury.
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Chad Ridgeway about 1 year ago
Oh man, this article has a few dumb comments:
1) The Spurs have won 4 championships
2) For some reason Deron Williams has put a spark in some of his teammates careers? How about because he's making a case for best PG in the league? And Okur was a great 3-point shooter well before this season.
3) The Rockets are poised for a deep playoff run? They've never got out of the first round WITH Yao!
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Greg Haefner about 1 year ago
1) Your right, I didn't include last year's
2) Your proving my point saying he is one of the ebst PG's in the league... good PG's make their teammates better, and he revitalized Boozer's career while leading Okur to his first All-Star appearance
3) The Rockets have never won 17 straight either, but they're doing it now and that's what matters
Peace out God bless.
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Chad Ridgeway about 1 year ago
3) Now is what matters? It's what happens in late April/May/June that matters! Only you and a few people in Houston think the Rockets "are poised to make a deep run into the playoffs."
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Greg Haefner about 1 year ago
By "now" I mean this season. You're talking about history and how they couldn't make a deep run with Yao. But that was in years past, without Scola, Landry, Brooks, or Bobby Jackson for that matter.
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Chad Ridgeway about 1 year ago
I have to admit, I'm expecting my Lakers to get a top seed in the playoffs, and I somehow fear the Rockets more than any other first round matchup. They're playing like a team of destiny right now.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
When the playoffs begin they will choke again. The Rockets are playing out of their minds right now,but that will never last come playoff time
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