NBA Analysis: The Wild, Wild Western Conference

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)

The Spurs are simply too good to ever be overlooked. They have a franchise post player in "Mr. Fundamental" Tim Duncan, their speedy point guard in Tony Parker, and the gem of the 1999 draft in Manu Ginobili (who was taken 57th overall that year).

Simply put: They are built to win championships.

The Spurs have always been in the championship discussion since Timmy came to town. They have won four rings with Duncan in the post. While they may not be the most flashy team in the NBA, they get things done, and that is why they are always contenders.

The Spurs are always among the league leaders in defense, ranking third in this year, allowing 90.4 PPG. This grungy grind-it-out style of play helps them outlast the new era of fast-paced teams like the Suns and Warriors.

Look for the addition of Kurt Thomas to make a big impact down the stretch for San Antonio, teaming him up with the pleasantly satisfying Fabricio Oberto next to TD.

Utah Jazz (40-22)

The Jazz have really come on since adding Deron Williams. For some reason his arrival seemed to put a new spark in a couple of players' careers. Mehmet Okur and Carlos Boozer have really stepped up since Williams came on board.

Now Williams is the undisputed star of the team, and Boozer is a perennial All-Star.

Okur is averaging 13.5 PPG this season and shooting 34.8 percent from downtown. A center shooting that well from beyond the arc?

Oh yes, it's true.

Boozer has been on fire since Williams became the permanent starter. After splitting time with Keith McLeod, Williams became the starter his sophomore year. Since then, Boozer has averaged 21.2 PPG, 11.25 RPG, and has earned two straight All-Star appearances. His career averages are 16.7 PPG and 10.0 RPG.

The Jazz also made an under-the-radar, but very good move this season, shipping off disgruntled wingman Gordan Giricek to the 76ers (who released him) and adding 3-point specialist Kyle Korver.

Korver brought a dimension that the Jazz offense was missing, and while his stats may not be overly impressive (10.2 PPG, 36.9% 3-point), the one number that really tells a tale is the Jazz's record since acquiring Korver: 24-6. That includes a 10-game win streak during January-February.

Houston Rockets (40-20)

I know some New Orleans fans are going to bash me for not putting the Hornets here, but I just couldn't do it in good conscience.

The Rockets have won 16 straight games—four of them without Yao Ming.

They are without a doubt the hottest team in the NBA and are poised to make a deep run into the playoffs with or without Yao in the lineup. Of course, not having a 7-foot-6 center in the lineup doesn't help, but the experience of Dekembe Motumbo, Shane Battier, Bobby Jackson, and Tracy McGrady is helping along young players like Luis Scola, Carl Landry, and Aaron Brooks.

Scola has played like a veteran this season, averaging 9.2 PPG and 5.5 RPG, increasing those numbers without Yao (see my Rockets article for further details). The kid is way ahead of his rookie status...maybe because he is 27.

Carl Landry and Aaron Brooks have both been doing well off the bench, though Brooks stands to see a decrease in his minutes with the addition of Bobby Jackson. Landry has been key coming in and contrasting Scola's classic Fabricio Obero style game with his athletic spark plug play. The Rockets have quite a few pieces that make up the championship puzzle on their squad right now.

Now, I know you've all been dying to know who my pick to come out of the West is, so here you go:

The Los Angeles Lakers

That's right. Los Angeles is poised to go to the Finals this year and will be extremely tough to stop when Bynum and Gasol finally get the chance to team up.

Look for the Mamba to get another ring and feel more at home than ever in L.A.