Predicting the Western Conference 2012-13 Final Standings

The 2012-13 NBA season is just under a month away. The Miami Heat are preparing to defend their crown and a series of memorable off-season acquisitions are about to be put to the test for the entire league.

As it always appears to be, the overall focus of the league appears to have shifted to the Western Conference.

With the Oklahoma City Thunder developing at an unheralded pace and the Los Angeles Lakers becoming as star-studded as any, expectations are high. With the veteran San Antonio Spurs also in the conference, attention continues to be placed upon the battle for the top spot out West.

The question is, who will claim the number one seed? Will it be the favorites who battle it out? Or will a team come up and change the landscape of the league?

At this point, it's mere speculation. But with a thorough evaluation of the paper rosters that have been compiled, the final standings of the Western Conference are beginning to take shape.

Within the following slides will be what one can expect from an unpredictable 2012-13 NBA regular season.

15. Houston Rockets

Regardless of what your polarizing opinion is of Jeremy Lin, there is one fact that cannot be denied. Lin is one of the best young talents in the NBA and could potentially become a star with the abilities he possesses.

Unfortunately, Jeremy Lin is surrounded by youth and inexperience, not Tyson Chandler and a cast of All-Stars.

With a starting lineup that consists of Lin, Kevin Martin, Chandler Parsons, Patrick Patterson and Omer Asik, the postseason doesn't seem to be a realistic goal. Instead, the Houston Rockets appear destined to join the group of teams who will be in contention for the first overall draft choice in the 2013 NBA Draft.

Even if you do switch a few of those starters for other players on the roster, not much can be expected to change.

Four of the Houston Rockets' key players are rookies. That's Jeremy Lamb, Royce White, Terrence Jones and Donatas Motiajunas, who are all expected to compete for playing time. Two starters, Jeremy Lin and Chandler Parsons, are entering their second year of significant playing time.

Omer Asik, meanwhile, has averaged 13.2 minutes per game during his first two years in the league. Patrick Patterson, meanwhile, has displayed questionable production.

One way or another, this young roster appears destined to falter.

As likable a figure as Kevin McHale is, one can't expect anything but failure from the former Boston Celtics great this coming season. Kevin Martin is an elite-level scorer, but his production has been dipping since his fallout with the organization began.

For that reason, it's only fair to project this season as one that has been lost.

Projected Final Record

19-63

14. New Orleans Hornets

The New Orleans Hornets are being billed as the next big thing in the Western Conference. With first overall draft choice Anthony Davis leading the way, rising stars in Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson appear ready to help this franchise make a quick leap.

With questions at the point guard and small forward positions, however, expectations must be tempered. Due to Gordon displaying a tendency to suffer an injury in each and every season he has played, that hesitancy increases marginally.

The fact of the matter is, Anthony Davis is a rookie. Eric Gordon has never come close to a postseason berth. Ryan Anderson has proven that he's not as effective with Dwight Howard out of the picture.

And all of this comes before we acknowledge the fact that Greivis Vasquez and Austin Rivers will be handling the point guard duties.

Rivers may have a group of loyal fans, but that doesn't mean that he's an NBA-ready player. He is not a true point guard and his score-first approach could conflict with his backcourt mates.

Vasquez, meanwhile, has yet to prove his worth as an NBA starter.

The hype might be there, but the substance is not. The New Orleans Hornets are only so much better than they were a year ago in a fierce Western Conference.

Expect another chance at the first overall draft choice.

Projected Final Record

28-54

13. Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings are as frustrating a franchise as the NBA has to offer. Despite a collection of elite youthful talent, the team has yet to find any success with their current core.

Quite the perplexing result for a group of players that includes DeMarcus Cousins, Tyreke Evans and Marcus Thornton.

Evans, who won the 2010 NBA Rookie of the Year award, has yet to solidify himself at any position. He's split time at both guard positions and small forward, failing to find his comfort zone at any slot in the starting lineup.

As a result, disappointment and doubt has mounted as the Sacramento Kings enter yet another season with low expectations.

Alongside Tyreke Evans is DeMarcus Cousins, who finished the 2011-12 NBA season with averages of 18.1 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. This is where the optimism begins, as Cousins led the NBA with 4.1 offensive rebounds per game. For that reason, the Kings have a legitimate belief in their possession of a superstar.

Another bright spot in the underachieving rotation is Marcus Thornton. The former LSU Tiger is coming off of a season in which he averaged 18.7 points per game. Although he's limited in every other statistical category, Thornton's ability to light up a scoreboard offers belief that the ship can be righted.

Upside-ridden young players such as Isaiah Thomas and Thomas Robinson offer further reason for optimism.

At the end of the day, this team simply hasn't displayed the mental toughness necessary to survive the long haul of a postseason run. The Kings appear to be a team that will flirt with .500 for the duration of the season but eventually fall victim to a significant losing streak when the bright lights are on them.

It will take another year for Sacramento to see the playoffs.

Projected Final Record

34-48

12. Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers are led by All-NBA talent LaMarcus Aldridge and rookie point guard Damian Lillard. That's the telling tale for the Blazers, as they will find themselves with moments of brilliance and unfortunate growing pains.

As they always seem to be, Portland remains a year away from the postseason.

New head coach Terry Stotts is likely to turn this franchise around. He has experience as the assistant coach to the 2011 NBA champion Dallas Mavericks and a great mind for the game. With his first year coming at the same time as the team's starting point guard and center, however, early results are not so likely to be positive.

A talented core is in place with Aldridge, J.J. Hickson, Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum. All of those players face questions, however, and none besides Aldridge has performed at a consistently elite level.

Matthews might be the most reliable of all, as his defensive effort and three-point shooting consistently impresses. He is not a top tier talent at the position, though, which appears consistent with the majority of the Trail Blazers' roster.

Nicolas Batum is more hype than production. His length and athleticism would suggest that he has the capacity to be an elite defender and slashing scorer. Batum is consistently found out of position on both ends, however, and has displayed mental immaturity to this point.

As for Hickson, his breakout month with the Blazers is hardly enough to guarantee long-term success.

At the end of the day, this season comes down to how quickly Damian Lillard will adjust to the NBA pace. If he and Meyers Leonard are unable to play at an adequate level, the Blazers could find themselves with a losing record.

Which is what they will see. Apologies to optimistic Portland Trail Blazers fans but sustained success is hard to guarantee with this franchise.

Unless you believe Adam Morrison is the key to success.

Projected Final Record

36-46

11. Phoenix Suns

With the addition of Goran Dragic, Michael Beasley and Luis Scola, fans of the Phoenix Suns appear ready to crown the 2011-12 NBA season as their turnaround campaign. The fact of the matter is, the Suns' roster displays potential but not instant postseason success.

Regardless of how faithful their great fans may be.

The Phoenix Suns starting lineup is likely to see Goran Dragic, Shannon Brown, Michael Beasley, Luis Scola and Marcin Gortat take the floor. Behind them will be weapons such as Jermaine O'Neal, Wesley Johnson, Jared Dudley and Markieff Morris.

Just as the names would suggest, this team is good enough to compete but just not great enough to close out big games. For that reason, they will fall short of a postseason berth.

With that being noted, the upside for this unit is unbelievable. Both Dragic and Beasley have star potential due to their rare combinations of size and athleticism for their position. Dragic is fundamentally sound as a passer, as well, which results in the belief that a solid pick-and-roll game could be established between he and Marcin Gortat.

Luis Scola, meanwhile, is one of the most consistent performers in the NBA. Although he's lost a step with age, he remains a fierce competitor who is good for flirtation with a double-double every time out.

Quality minutes from quality players leads to optimism. A slow start could be in store for a team where three of the starters are new to the current roster, however, thus resulting in an inability to make the postseason.

Close but no cigar.

Projected Final Record

37-45

10. Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors are one of the most talented teams in the Western Conference. They also have three rookies who are expected to see significant playing time and responsibility within this rotation.

Paired with the injury-prone Andrew Bogut and Stephen Curry, the Warriors no longer appear to be as much of a lock to make noise out West.

If this team is able to stay healthy, they have a legitimate shot at the eight seed. Stephen Curry has proven to be one of the most dynamic point guards in the game, pairing elite shooting ability with above-average facilitating skills.

Alongside Curry will be Klay Thompson, who emerged as a legitimate number one scoring option in the second half of the 2012 regular season. Thompson topped 20 points on 9 different occasions as a rookie, with six of those games coming in the final month of the season.

When paired with Brandon Rush and Richard Jefferson, it becomes clear why this sharpshooting team is so heavily favored to make a run at the playoffs.

To complement these scorers is David Lee, who is a virtual lock for 20 points and 10 rebounds per night. Although Lee is a defensive liability, Andrew Bogut is working beside him. Bogut, of course, led the NBA in blocks during the 2011 regular season.

Since then, he has missed 71 games. Prior to that honor, he had missed another 79 games.

Although we cannot predict if or when an injury will occur, history is a great teller of the future. For that reason, it's fair to assume that Bogut will miss his fair share of games, whether for precautionary or injury-related reasons.

With Stephen Curry equally as fragile, it's fair to assume that the Warriors remain one year away.

Projected Final Record

38-44

9. Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz were a surprise entrant into the 2012 NBA postseason. Their deep front-court carried the team to the eight seed and brought in the post-Deron Williams era with a positive result.

Unfortunately, the team simply didn't have anything else to offer. Virtually all positions aside from power forward and center were weak from top to bottom.

As we enter the 2012-13 regular season, that has all changed. Mo Williams has been brought in to hold down the point guard spot, while Randy Foye was signed to provide the Jazz with some perimeter shooting. Marvin Williams, meanwhile, offers an infusion of athleticism that Utah previously lacked on the perimeter.

Consider this year's offseason acquisitions to be just what the doctor ordered.

The unfortunate truth for the Utah Jazz is that they remain a top-heavy team. Their perimeter is amongst the least impressive groups in the game today. Unless Alec Burks and Gordon Hayward make significant strides, that deficiency will remain.

With that being said, this frontcourt is as good as they come. Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap are All-Star worthy talents, while Derrick Favors has emerged as one of the better interior defenders in the game. Although he's yet to prove his worth, Enes Kanter is another able body that has a sky high upside.

For this unit to find success, though, it once again goes back to the perimeter.

If Randy Foye and Mo Williams can stroke it from mid-range and distance, the big bodies inside should be able to work their magic. If they are unable to convert from beyond the arc, however, teams will handle the Jazz just as the San Antonio Spurs did.

Pressure the bigs and force the perimeter to beat you.

Projected Final Record

41-41

8. Minnesota Timberwolves

There is no denying how talented the Minnesota Timberwolves are as a team. With top tier positional players such as Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio, a foundation for success has been built. Talented veterans such as Brandon Roy and Andrei Kirilenko offer the necessary complements that the team had lacked in previous seasons.

Consider this Minnesota's greatest chance at escaping the overwhelming shadow of Kevin Garnett's departure.

Rick Adelman's crew will be led by Kevin Love once again. Love has proven to be a phenomenal individual player, averaging 26.0 points and 13.3 rebounds per game. Unfortunately, the four-year veteran has yet to prove capable of leading a postseason contender.

With Ricky Rubio by his side, however, that appeared to be changing during the 2011-12 NBA season.

Rubio burst onto the scene by averaging 10.6 points, 8.2 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game as a rookie. More importantly, Rubio and Love led the T-Wolves to a 21-19 record to start the season.

A record that was tarnished by Rubio's season-ending knee injury.

Once Rubio went down, the Timberwolves put up a record of 5-21. This came as a result of the fact that depth simply lacked at every position besides point guard, where J.J. Barea actually held his own.

In fact, Barea averaged 16.0 points and 9.3 assists per game during the final month of the season.

As acknowledged, the talent simply wasn't there to support Love and the point guards. This time around, however, Chase Budinger, Andrei Kirilenko and Brandon Roy will help to make up the T-Wolves perimeter. Joining them will be Dante Cunningham and Greg Stiemsma in the frontcourt.

With a multitude of talented players and one of the best coaches in the game, the T-Wolves will return to the postseason for the first time since 2004.

Projected Final Record

42-40

7. Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks are a long way removed from the roster that helped them win the 2011 NBA championship. The fact of the matter is, they still have Dirk Nowitzki which, in turn, guarantees their status as a postseason contender.

Fortunately for Nowitzki, Mark Cuban responded to desperation by piecing together a quality group of players.

The most significant signing in terms of name value had to be O.J. Mayo. Mayo, who averaged 17.5 points per game during the 2010 NBA season, has been a lost cause over the past two years. This has come as a result of fluctuating playing time and a change in role within the Memphis Grizzlies' system.

As he moves to Dallas, expectations are high for Mayo to rediscover that elite scoring form.

What may have been the most significant signing in terms of actual value, however, was the acquisition of Chris Kaman. Although he is not a star by name, his interior toughness on defense is something that the Mavericks have lacked since Tyson Chandler left town.

Between he and Elton Brand, this front-court becomes much more than just Dirk Nowitzki going to work on his own. Dallas now has a legitimate frontline to throw against their opponents.

Other key acquisitions include point guard Darren Collison and shooting guard Dahntay Jones.

The last time Collison played in the Western Conference, he broke out in a major way while replacing the injured Chris Paul in New Orleans. He averaged 12.4 points and 5.7 assists in 27.8 minutes per game, numbers that he roughly duplicated in Indiana.

This time around, however, his teammates are far more offensive minded.

As for Jones, he is one of the more well-rounded 2-men in the game. His shooting and defensive abilities should translate well to a perimeter that also sees Shawn Marion receive serious minutes.

Speaking of Marion, he remains one of the game's elite all-around defenders. He held Kevin Durant to 34.5 percent shooting during the first two games of the Mavericks' first round matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He also forced LeBron James into a dismal 2011 NBA Finals.

His defensive pressure and rebounding abilities will be pivotal to what should be a successful season.

Projected Final Record

44-38

6. Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets have been on the brink of reaching elite status for the past two seasons. With a surplus of perimeter depth and a mix of explosive youth and crafty veterans throughout their rotation, it's not hard to see why.

George Karl's crew is led by the elite point guard tandem of Ty Lawson and Andre Miller. Lawson, who broke out in a major way during the 2012 NBA postseason, is making strides as an individual star. Miller, meanwhile, remains one of the game's best facilitators.

On the wings, the Nuggets put forth a rotation that includes Andre Iguodala, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and Corey Brewer. Rookies Evan Fournier and Quincy Miller also join the fray, thus creating what one can only describe as a limitless group of players.

Iguodala, an All-Star in 2012, suddenly offers the team a top tier all-around defender with explosive athletic ability.

As for their frontline, Denver has plenty to be excited about. Rebounding machine Kenneth Faried is entering his second year in the league while JaVale McGee continues to impress. Since joining George Karl in Denver, McGee has proven to be more than athletic hype.

The fact that he worked with Hakeem Olajuwon this offseason only furthers the belief that JaVale McGee could one day be a top big man in the league.

Behind that duo are quality players in Timofey Mozgov, Kosta Koufos and Anthony Randolph. All three of those players are capable of contributing quality minutes, while many believe Randolph is destined to become a star due to his rare combination of size and athleticism.

Whether or not he becomes one is yet to be seen. How solid this team is both on paper and on the floor, however, is undeniable.

Projected Final Record

48-34

5. Los Angeles Clippers

A year ago, the Los Angeles Clippers were Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and very little else. Injuries and inconsistency in the distribution of minutes created uncertainty throughout the duration of the regular season.

This time around, the Clippers' roster consists of a handful of big names. The regular season results, however, should be relatively similar to what they were a year ago.

The first 12 games of the Clippers' regular season include battles with the Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls. While those are not certain losses, a losing record after those games is possible.

If that's the case, a turnaround season could be difficult for a team with a handful of players whose confidence may have been broken after their respective 2012 campaigns.

Lamar Odom is coming off of the worst year of his career. Jamal Crawford didn't fare much better, as he posted his worst numbers since 2002. Chauncey Billups, meanwhile, is a 35-year-old coming off of season-ending surgery on his Achilles tendon.

Let's call that what it is and label this roster with uncertainty.

With all of this being noted, Chris Paul's presence alone guarantees a solid 40 wins. Paul has established himself as one of the best players at his position on both ends of the ball. The fact that he has Blake Griffin to throw the ball up to certainly doesn't hurt his chances at success.

Griffin took major strides in terms of developing his fundamentals this past season. This resulted in averages of 20.7 points and 10.9 rebounds per game with a Player Efficiency Rating of 23.50.

A number that places Griffin eighth amongst all qualified players.

This season truly hinges on the development of DeAndre Jordan and health of Caron Butler. If both of those factors are to go against LAC, expect more of a struggle than the Clippers had thought they were in for.

Projected Final Record

49-33

4. Memphis Grizzlies

Sometimes subtraction is an even greater way to improve than addition. With O.J. Mayo leaving town, that will prove to be true for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Mayo is an excellent talent that hasn't appeared to be comfortable in Memphis for quite some time. The team had him playing the role of second unit point guard during the 2011-12 season and oftentimes found themselves with lost possessions.

As we enter the 2012-13 NBA season, however, that will no longer be an issue.

The Grizzlies already have one of the better defensive point guards in the game in Mike Conley Jr. Behind him will now be Jerryd Bayless and rookie Tony Wroten Jr., two true point guards who will be comfortable in the roles they play.

In the backcourt with them will be Tony Allen, who remains one of the top perimeter defenders in the game. Sharpshooter Wayne Ellington and Summer League co-MVP Josh Selby will also see time at the position, thus offering the Grizzlies with two players in defined roles.

Something Mayo never had.

Joining them on the perimeter will be borderline All-Star Rudy Gay. Many believe Gay to be one of the elite talents in the game, and have been waiting on his breakout season. With O.J. Mayo gone and the extra shot attempts available, this could be Gay's time to shine.

The true strength of this team, however, can be found down low. The elite combination of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol has proven to be as close to unstoppable as any you'll find. Unfortunately, Randolph missed a majority of the 2011-12 season due to injury.

He never appeared to have fully recovered during the postseason, either.

Behind them will be Marreese Speights, who helps to round out one of the best rosters in the game. Although this may seem like paper speculation, this unit has proven what they're capable of.

With another year under Lionel Hollins, big things could be coming to Memphis.

Projected Final Record

53-29

3. Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder are coming off of a season in which they conquered the Western Conference and entered the NBA Finals. What we cannot forget, however, is that the Thunder finished second in the Western Conference.

A full three games behind the first place San Antonio Spurs with a winning percentage that would reflect 58 victories on the season. As the 2012-13 regular season approaches, expect more of the same from OKC.

Led by their core four of Kevin Durant, James Harden, Serge Ibaka and Russell Westbrook, the Thunder are always a favorite to win the games they play in. Durant, Harden and Westbrook collaborate for nearly 70 points a night, while Ibaka has established himself as the best shot blocker in the game.

Paired with defensive stalwarts Thabo Sefolosha and Kendrick Perkins, it becomes clear why this team is so difficult to defeat.

Although their moves during free agency have not drawn a lot of attention, their selection of Perry Jones III during the 2012 NBA Draft offers insight as to what direction the team is moving in. Having acknowledged their greatest need, interior scoring, it appears as if OKC could make significant strides to improve.

Which is a scary thought considering how good they already are.

As for how they've got to where they are, Oklahoma City's four meetings with the Los Angeles Lakers will determine their battle for position. The March 5th showdown in Oklahoma City just so happens to be the deciding game. One in which the Oklahoma City Thunder will emerge victorious.

It simply will not be enough to take the second seed.

Projected Final Record

58-24

2. Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers have the talent to run through the NBA without batting an eye. With Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant in the back-court, the team already appears to be elite. With Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard up front, they've become the league-wide favorite to make the NBA Finals.

And that's before we address the fact that they have their most bench depth in roughly a decade.

The Lakers put forth an impressive starting lineup. With Nash, Bryant, Metta World Peace, Gasol and Howard, it's reasonable to say that they have the best starting five in the NBA. Behind them, however, is a group of quality players.

Antawn Jamison leads a second unit that appears capable of competing with your average NBA lineup. Rebounding machine Jordan Hill will man the center position, while Steve Blake and Jodie Meeks light it up from the perimeter.

Just as it is with their starting lineup, however, uncertainty at small forward exists with the questionable development of Devin Ebanks.

With that being noted, the Los Angeles Lakers will be on their game. They will flirt with 60 wins and compete for the top spot in the West. The one question mark that offers reason for concern, however, is the fact that Dwight Howard remains inactive due to his recent back surgery.

If this carries over into the regular season, the Lakers could struggle early in the season. If Howard is available, the issue of developing chemistry remains present.

For that reason, it's fair to assume that there will be a learning curve. That's exactly why the most heralded paper roster in the NBA will not finish atop the Western Conference.

Projected Final Record

59-23

1. San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs may be the greatest regular season team this era has ever seen. This is not to discredit their postseason success, which includes four NBA titles since Tim Duncan came to town, but simply to acknowledge Gregg Popovich's never-ending brilliance.

Another year of such dominance is on the way for the two-time defending regular season Western Conference champions.

With Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan leading the way, it's hard to imagine the San Antonio Spurs falling short of 60 victories. What truly makes this team such an impressive force, however, is the depth that they have acquired over the past year.

Boris Diaw, Daniel Green, Kawhi Leonard, Stephen Jackson, Matt Bonner and Gary Neal are all proven role players. Each thrives in the position coach Popovich has thrust them into, thus making this well-oiled machine as consistent as any in the NBA.

With Patty Mills coming off of an outstanding string of performances at the London Olympics, many have come to project he as the next great asset this team has to offer.

Beyond those names are the rapidly improving DeJuan Blair and Tiago Splitter. This helps round out a very solid frontcourt which is capable of holding their own against any opponent they face.

At the heart of this success, however, will be Tony Parker.

Parker is coming off of a 2011-12 NBA season in which he averaged 18.3 points and 7.7 assists per game. Beyond the statistics, however, was the fact that Parker was ending games before the fourth quarter even rolled around. In terms of game management and team leadership, Parker was at the top of the NBA's player spectrum.

We should also note that the Spurs played a majority of the previous regular season without Manu Ginobili. Now that he is healthy, expect even greater things to come out of San Antonio during what should be an outstanding season to watch.

Projected Final Record

61-21