2010-11 Western Conference: Power Ranking the NBA Teams Vying for the No. 2 Seed
This year in the NBA the L.A. Lakers come into the Western Conference as the team to beat and defending champions. After all the moves in the offseason the West is shaping up to be an interesting conference with lots of teams having legitimate shots to become the second seed in the playoffs behind the Lakers. Let's look at which team is most likely to acquire that sought after seed.
14) Minnesota Timberwolves
1 of 14
Notable Additions: Michael Beasley, Martell Webster, Luke Ridnour, Wesley Johnson
Notable Losses: Al Jefferson, Ramon Sessions, Darko Milicic
The Timberwolves season can be summed up in one sentence: Darko Milicic is their starting center coming into the season. This team is poised for failure this year and is looking to try and become contenders in the future, yet again. It seems as if the Wolves are always in a state of rebuilding and by shipping out Al Jefferson it looks like have taken a step back from what was shaping up to be a promising young core.
Even though they lost a franchise player in Al Jefferson, they gained someone who could fit the team better. With guys like Johnny Flynn, Corey Brewer and Wesley Johnson this team can get out and run, but were stifled a bit because of their two quality bigs in Jefferson and Kevin Love, who like to operate out of the half court. The Wolves went out and got the often criticized Michael Beasley, who should help this young team get out on the break more as a more athletic big. The only hang up is that Love doesn't really have the size to guard the five spot so Beasley will be placed at the three. This does give them a solid sixth man off the bench in Brewer, but will slow them down a bit and maybe hinder their progress.
The Wolves will be looking to continue to develop their young talent and figuring out which roster works best for them. They could make a step towards the playoffs this year, but expect them to stay at the bottom of pile for another year or two.
Prediction: Lottery Team
13) Sacremento Kings
2 of 14
Notable Additions: DeMarcus Cousins, Samuel Dalembert
Notable Losses: Sean May, Andres Nocioni
Tyreke Evans is a smaller version of Lebron James in that he does everything well and fills the stat sheet. Pick him up in your fantasy league if you can't get James and you'll get a guy whose going to produce well in every category. With Evans on this team the Kings will often have a chance if the other players can keep it close going into the fourth because he can take a game over, even at young age.
Outside of Evans they don't have a lot of proven talent. They have a few good young athletes in Donte Green and DeMarcus Cousins, but it's yet to be seen how well either of them will be in the League. I expect Cousins to have a good rookie campaign and establish himself as one of the better young bigs, which will give the Kings another option other than Evans and provide them with a solid young core to build around.
That said, unless Evans has an MVP campaign this year the Kings will be looking at another lottery pick. This isn't a bad thing as it gives them a chance to either trade for a quality veteran or pick up another top ten guy to help out Evans and Cousins in the future.
Prediction: Lottery Team
12) Golden State Warriors
3 of 14
Notable Additions: David Lee, Ekpe Udoh, Louis Admundson
Notable Losses: Raja Bell, Kelenna Azubuike, Corey Magette, Anthony Morrow, Ronny Turiaf, Anthony Randolph
Golden State had their head coach, Don Nelson, resign and it would seem that once that happened they also decided to overhaul the roster. During the Nelson era the Warriors were characterized by having young athletes who maybe didn't play the most sound basketball, but could score a lot of points. In shipping out Azubuike, Bell, Randolph and the rest the Warriors staff has decided to focus on building a team that plays tougher defense than the Warriors have in the past.
The overhaul didn't clear out all the talent though because the Warriors kept star guards Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis. When these two are healthy they make a for a devastating combo of scorers who can keep the heat on anybody. Curry has quickly evolved from just a shooter into a solid point guard in his own right and Ellis can score at will. The only knock is that they are both only 6'3'' so bigger two guards are probably going to be a problem. Fortunately they added the double-double machine in David Lee to help shore up the front court. He's got a great game for what appears to be a more defense oriented team and will help Andris Biedrins against the more physical centers.
All in all I like the direction this team is taking and think that Ellis and Curry are both going to be great players in their own right. However, even with the addition of Lee this team is still a little soft and short at mulitple positions. They are going in the right direction, but need at least a year before we talk playoffs.
Prediction: Lottery Team
11) New Orleans Hornets
4 of 14
Notable Additions: Trevor Ariza, Craig Brackens, Marco Belinelli
Notable Losses: Morris Peterson, James Posey, Julian Wright
Chris Paul wants out of New Orleans, and for good reason. This front office is pretty terrible when it comes to the talent they've overpaid in the past; none more glaring than the contract they gave the aging Peja Stojakovic. His contract, among others, have hurt them over the years and I'm not sure they've put enough around Paul to keep him in town.
If Paul doesn't leave at some point in the season it will be fun to watch him run the break with Trevor Ariza. Ariza is a great defender and solid finisher, plus he can step back and hit a three. He should be able to put up solid numbers as Paul's main kick out option when he drives. David West is a bit undersized at the four, but he and Paul have a good chemistry going so look for him to continue to produce solid numbers. He doesn't do a great job rebounding, but will make up for it with a bunch of scoring and hope that Emeka Okafor's defense will bail him out of trouble.
With the fact that Paul wants out hanging over their heads and the fact that this team is just mediocre they will probably be on the outside looking in come playoff time. If Okafor and Ariza have great seasons and Paul stays for the whole year it's not out of the realm of possibility that they could make the playoffs, but their weak bench and solid, but not great starting five probably needs to make a few upgrades before they have legitimate shot at making it.
Prediction: Low Lottery Team/Possible Playoff Team
10) Denver Nuggets
5 of 14
Notable Additions: Al Harrington, Shelden Williams
Notable Losses: Joey Graham, Linas Kleiza, Johan Petro, Carmelo Anthony (by midseason)
I can't see 'Melo staying for the entire year because he wants out and the Nuggets would be stupid not get something out of him while they can. They don't want to do what the Cavs did last year and lose their star player with nothing to show for it.
If Anthony does stay this team will probably challenge for a playoff spot and would shoot up my board because 'Melo is in a contract year so he's playing to get paid, which almost always means a big year for players. They've surrounded him with solid players, the most important being Chauncey Billups. Billups is the veteran leader of this team and will keep them in the hunt with or without Anthony. His most important job though will be to tutor the young stud Ty Lawson in the finer points of the position. The team has a quite a few quality bigs in Nene, Harrington, Chris Anderson and Kenyon Martin. That rotation should help a lot if they make it into the physical play-offs, but really it all comes down to 'Melo.
I wish 'Melo would stay because anytime I get to watch J.R. Smith and The Birdman play it's a good day, but I don't think he will. Look for the Nuggets to trade him for some quality young guys and cap space and start to rebuild around a high draft pick from next year's draft and their quality, but aging bigs.
Prediction: (With 'Melo) top five playoff team, (without 'Melo) borderline playoff team/low lottery team.
9) Los Angeles Clippers
6 of 14
Notable Additions: Blake Griffin (from injury), Al-Farouq Aminu, Eric Bledsoe
Notable Losses: Drew Gooden, Steven Blake, Travis Outlaw
I really want to like this team because they have a lot of young pieces to use and some solid veteran leadership. However, this is the Clippers we're talking about and something always seems to happen to set them back just when they're looking solid.
The return of Blake Griffin is going to be huge for this team. Even though I don't like him because he played his college ball at OU there's no denying that the man can ball. He's going to be a perennial all-star at his position because he does everything well and has solid players around him. The veteran leadership of Baron Davis and Chris Kaman are going to help the younger players on the team by giving them a cool head in big game situations. Davis always seems to play better when he thinks the team is going to be good and this squad has a great chance to play well. Kama is a work horse down low that will take some pressure off of Griffin. Add to those three one of the best shooters in the League in Eric Gordon and you have a solid core to build around. The bench is full of young athletes who are going to give quality minutes and outside of the Lakers this division is fairly weak.
I say all that and I still can't bring myself to put them in the play-offs. I hope to see them take the next step, but when a player has the name Clippers on his jersey I just can't help but think something bad is going to happen to him. Look for them to be on the brink of a play-off berth along with the next four teams.
Prediction: Fringe playoff team.
8) Memphis Grizzlies
7 of 14
Notable Additions: Acie Law, Tony Allen, Xavier Henry, Greivis Vasquez
Notable Losses: Ronnie Brewer
The Grizz are another team that I fully expect to be challenging for a play-off berth. They have a really strong starting five and some quality depth. That said, much like the Clippers it's hard for me to believe in a team with "Memphis" stitched on their jerseys.
In Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol the Grizz have one of the best front courts in the league. Both are All-Star candidates and provide big bodies down low. If these two are both on point the Grizz could go far because they have the ability to destroy smaller teams in the low post. Memphis also has a great scorer in O.J. Mayo. Juice can put up points in bunches and the Grizz have teamed him with the long Rudy Gay on the wing. Gay's defense makes up for Mayo's lack of it and he is a competent scorer in his own right. The only weak length in the starting five in point guard Mike Conley who has yet to see him become a consistently good floor general. Memphis fans are hoping he takes that next step and becomes what they thought they were getting when he was drafted. They've added some good bench players, especially in Tony Allen, who has good play-off experience which should help out this young team.
Memphis will be on the brink all season and could easily make the play-offs. This is a team on the uptick and if they can make it into the play-offs they'll have a chance to do some damage with their star front court.
Prediction: Fringe play-off team.
7) Phoenix Suns
8 of 14
Notable Additions: Hedo Turkoglu, Hakim Warrick, Gani Lawal
Notable Losses: A'mare Stoudemire, Leandro Barbosa
The Suns lost a key player in A'mare Stoudemire, but they might not fall off too much. I'll never be able to count out a Steve Nash led team, no matter how old he is. The Suns have also used to offseason to get Nash even more scorers, so at the very least Phoenix is going to put up lots of points.
The Suns are bringing back their entire back court from last year in Nash, Jason Richardson, and Grant Hill. These three guys are all solid veteran players who will give you solid minutes every game. Richardson and Hill give Nash some shooters on the wing for him to kick out to. Nash will continue to be his reliable self and give the Suns a chance to win every game. They've also added a great shooting power forward in Hedo Turkoglu. This offense seems to fit him well and I expect a resurgence after a less than stellar campaign in Toronto. Hakim Warrick gives Nash another option to go to with his solid mid-range game. The Suns will be weak down in the post because Robin Lopez is the only guy who's not a finesse type guy.
Phoenix should score enough points in the regular season to make the play-offs as a seven or eight seed, but they don't have the defense to really make any progress past that. Look for them to be the same as they've always been, exciting in the regular season, but disappointing in the play-offs. It might be time to think about rehauling the roster since Nash isn't getting any younger.
Prediction: Eighth seed.
6) Houston Rockets
9 of 14
Notable Additions: Yao Ming (from injury), Patrick Patterson, Courtney Anderson
Notable Losses: Trevor Ariza
The Trevor Ariza experiment is over and it's official that, while he's okay as a number one option, it's better for him to be the third. Houston probably would of made the play-offs with Yao, but when he went down so did their play-off chances because they lack size behind him. This year they should be even better, especially if the big man can stay healthy all year.
The combination of Yao and Lois Scola is going to be a tough match-up for many teams, especially if Scola can play up to the level he did in the World Championships this summer. He was playing out of his mind in international play and if he can continue that the Rockets will be a very tough out. The Rockets also feature a great young point guard in Aaron Brooks and an elite scorer (when healthy) in Kevin Martin. These two might actually do better with a more mobile center because their both pretty athletic and can get out on the break, but they will be able to mesh well enough for the Rockets to make the play-offs. Add to this one of the best perimeter defenders in the game in Shane Battier and you have one of the better starting fives in the League. The bench leaves a little to be desired, but they should be able to get it done regardless.
Look for the Rockets to come out and play very well. This is a veteran team that didn't make a lot of changes so they know each other and the offense well, which should lead to a good early start to the season. Houston should then ride that wave into the play-offs where they could do some damage if Yao is healthy.
Prediciton: Seventh seed.
5) Portland Trailblazers
10 of 14
Notable Additions: Greg Oden (from injury), Luke Babbitt, Wesley Matthews
Notable Losses: Martell Webster, Ryan Gomes
A few years ago the Blazers were the NBAs darlings who were the next big thing in the League. Nowadays they've lost a little bit of that thunder to the team in Oklahoma City, but they still have lots of quality players to throw at an opponent. This might finally be the year they make a big run at the Lakers, but, if nothing else, they will be in the play-offs.
This team begins and ends with Brandon Roy, who's one of the best players in the world and can carry this team to the promised land. His game has evolved to that of a mini-Kobe in that he might be the next ultimate closer in the NBA. Roy hits clutch shot after clutch shot and I always expect the Blazers to win if the game is close in the closing seconds. The talent around Roy isn't bad either. They've acquired quite a few quality bigs in LaMarcus Aldridge, Marcus Camby, Joel Przybilla, and, when healthy, Greg Oden. Oden and Camby are two of the best big man defenders in the league and come play-off time will give opposing centers fits. Aldridge has developed a solid all-around game and will drop buckets on any forward in the League. Portland has tons of quality wings to throw at teams and all of them will come in handy against some of the better teams in the West. Nicolas Batum, Wesley Matthews, Rudy Fernandez, and Jerryd Bayless are all athletic wings that will give the Blazers options of who to play alongside Roy on the wing. At point is Andre Miller, who has never completely fit with this team, but must be getting hungry for a title in his old age os you know he's going to give them everything he has.
Portland has the talent to play with any team in the League and they might be able to challenge the Lakers for the Western Conference title. That said, the whole team seems to be injury prone so until they can prove otherwise I'm always going to be a little skeptical.
Prediction: Sixth seed.
4) San Antonio Spurs
11 of 14
Notable Additions: James Anderson
Notable Losses: Roger Mason
The Spurs know that their window is probably closing and will soon be shut because of the age of their players. However, they've decided to basically stand pat and give this squad at least one more year. With one of the most consistent nucleus's in sports I expect them to continue to do what the Spurs do; play boring basketball, but win a lot.
Tim Duncan is one of the best forwards to ever play the game and just having him on your team makes you a virtual lock for the postseason. The Spurs have done a great job surrounding him with great players such as Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. That combination has proven themselves over many years to be a consistently great group of players. The Spurs also have a few other good veterans in Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess who both play like the quality role players they are. With such a proven starting five it's hard to see the Spurs missing the play-offs, but they do have some young bench players in DeJaun Blair and James Anderson that should contribute. Blair is a double-double machine in the making and will continue to get better while learning from Duncan. Anderson was one of the best scorers in the nation last year in college and his game should translate well to the NBA.
San Antonio knows what they're doing. Even as they age you can't count them out and they should be a very tough out in the play-offs. The aging core is going to try and bring it all together for one more championship. I doubt they get that far, but you never know.
Prediction: Fifth seed.
3) Dallas Mavericks
12 of 14
Notable Additions: Tyson Chandler, Steve Novack
Notable Losses: Erick Dampier, Matt Carrol, Eduardo Najera
The Mavs are another team that is getting up there in years and knows that they need to make a move to try and win a championship while the windows still open. The Mavs didn't go out and make any big moves, but with Mark Cuban running the franchise don't surprised if they make a big move sometime during the season.
Dirk Nowitzki is probably the best European player to ever come play in the NBA and, much like Duncan, the Mavs will always have a chance with him out there. Nowitzki has only been to the Finals once and knows that he must up his game even more if he ever wants to get back. Look for him to have a huge year. With Jason Kidd, Caron Butler, and Shawn Marion the Mavs have a great front court combo. All three players are very solid all around and should continue to produce for Dallas. The Mavs added Tyson Chandler in the offseason and that gives them two quality centers, the other being Brendan Haywood. Those two should hold down the middle and make up for any deficiencies in Dirk's defense. Coming off the bench the Mavs have lots of scorers in Jason Terry, J.J. Barea, and Rodrigue Beaubois. All three of those guys are capable of putting up points in a hurry, especially Terry who has made a career out of putting up 20+ points off the bench.
I actually think the window for the Mavs is closing more rapidly than the Spurs just because I think Tim Duncan could play for the rest of his life and still be great. Dallas needs to step up this year and make one last shot at the title. If this team can't do it I might start thinking about an overhaul. They might have a few more years left, but not many. They simply must win now.
Prediction: Fourth seed.
2) Oklahoma City Thunder
13 of 14
Notable Additions: Cole Aldrich, Morris Peterson
Notable Losses: Etan Thomas
The Thunder have become media darlings this year and rightfully so; they have one of the best players in the League and a solid roster around him that got some much needed play-off experience. This roster is loaded with young talent that seems poised to take the next step after giving the Lakers a tough match-up in last year's play-offs.
Kevin Durant is going to be your 2010-11 MVP. Lebron and Wade are going to be splitting stats and Kobe is much more concerned with winning championships. He's coming off of his first of many scoring titles and was the main player on the USA's gold medal winning squad. His game has progressed every year and he's finally getting much deserved media hype. All this will lead to his first MVP trophy. Outside of Durant the Thunder have one of the best young point guards in the League, Russell Westbrook, and one of the most underrated players in the NBA, Jeff Green. These three players make up the best young core in the League. Durant, Westbrook, and Green are young and hungry and will not be denied. The team also went out and addressed it's back court deficiencies by adding Cole Aldrich. Aldrich, along with Serge Ibaka, will help make the Thunder tougher down low, something they needed in the play-offs last year. Look for incumbent Nenad Kristic to lose his starting role at some point in the season because he lacks the rebounding ability they sorely need. Lockdown defender Thabo Sefolosha is going to continue to be one of the best guard defenders in the NBA and second year man James Harden will bring instant offense off the bench and could be a candidate for sixth man of the year.
The Thunder are in a position to challenge the Lakers, but their lack of all-star bigs could hurt them in the play-offs. If Durant evolves into an elite closer this team will be an extremely tough out in the play-offs. Look for them to make big strides towards a championship level team this year.
Prediction: Third seed.
1) Utah Jazz
14 of 14
Notable Additions: Al Jefferson, Raja Bell, Gordon Hayward
Notable Losses: Carlos Boozer, Wesley Matthews, Kyle Korver
The Jazz are the team to beat (besides the Lakers, of course) in the Western conference to me. They have pretty much everything you need and the best coach in the league, Jerry Sloan. Sloan deserves to win a championship before he retires and, as a fan of the NBA, I hope this is finally the year.
Not only does Utah have a great coach, but they have great players to run his half court offense. Deron Williams is the best point in the League and has been for awhile. His ability to play as well as he does on a team that likes to slow it down is amazing. If he played on a faster paced team his stats would be off the charts. His dominance on the court will lead to lots of wins for the Jazz. This past offseason the Jazz lost a star big in Carlos Boozer, but gained a franchise player in Al Jefferson. Teaming Jefferson with Williams seems like a match made in heaven and this could lead to the second coming of Stockton to Malone, I really do think Williams and Jefferson can be that good. Utah also has two other quality bigs to pair with Jefferson in Mehmet Okur and Paul Millsap. Okur is a guy whose going to stretch the defense with his mid range game whereas Millsap will go down low and bang. The Jazz have a do it all small forward in Andrei Kirilenko, who is a great perimeter defender and can finish when Williams gets out on the break. They also have instant offense off the bench in the streaker shooter Raja Bell. He's getting up there in age, but can still get you ten to twelve points a game. Finally Utah lost the smooth shooting Kyle Korver, but added a very similar player in Gordon Hayward who should become a valuable weapon for Williams when he needs to kick out of a drive.
This team has everything you need to win in the play-offs outside of maybe a guy who can close out a game. That said, I've seen Williams step up and do that before and think that he will begin doing it on a regular basis this year. If there's a team to beat the Lakers in the West I think the Jazz are the best bet.
Prediction: Second seed.
