2010 NBA Outlook: Lakers, Spurs Favorites Out West

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

There haven't been many offseason moves made by the Nuggets to this point, and I honestly don't believe there will. The five-year deal the Nuggets guaranteed to Chris Andersen is about the largest offseason contract the Nuggets have made.

The core players, Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony, will lead the younger players to yet another successful season. High scoring and poor defense will be two factors that will not change for the Nuggets organization next season.

Chris Andersen's outstanding postseason presense will follow over to next season, along with the great play and sharp-shooting of J.R. Smith.

As in the case of the Spurs, the Nuggets will be unable to win the games that matter down the stretch. Poor defensive pressure will again hurt the Nuggets, and what could have been another outstanding postseason could end up being a first round upset.

Home Record: 33-8

Road Record: 23-18

4. Portland Trail Blazers (54-28)

Brandon Roy and the young Trail Blazers will again be a tough outing in the Western Conference. The one key component missing from the starting lineup, however, will be Hedo Turkoglu, who chose the Toronto Raptors over the Trail Blazers.

In what was supposed to be a promising offseason has now turned out to be a disaster. After spending a ton of time trying to draw Turkoglu to Portland and then him choosing Toronto, the Trail Blazers really need to find a large free agent signing and fast.

The fans in Portland must be getting restless, and although I personally am not a Portland fan, I honestly feel for their organization. The huge target was Turkoglu, and thus they really didn't look for anyone past him. After getting turned down, they have no other option to turn to except Paul Millsap.

Although Millsap would be an outstanding signing for Portland, he would most likely sit on the bench and back up LaMarcus Aldridge. It would just be hard to believe that Portland would bench Aldridge over Millsap.

LaMarcus Aldridge will yet again be a key player down the stretch in games, but overall Brandon Roy's play will determine how far the Trail Blazers can go in the post-season.

Another successful season is on the horizon for the up-and-coming Trail Blazers, and post-season success is there for the taking. Although experience may be a factor, the Blazers have enough talent to outweigh their inexperience and march on to the Western Conference Finals.

This team has potential, but can they achieve greatness through inexperience?

Home Record: 32-9

Road Record: 22-19

Western Conference Playoffs:

Western Conference Semifinals:

Lakers def. Blazers: 4-2

Spurs def. Nuggets: 4-1

Western Conference Finals:

Lakers def. Spurs: 4-3

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