NBA 2008-9 Predictions: Pacific Division

It is that time of year again.

Rosters are mostly settled. Practice starts soon. Let the prognostications begin.

Let's start where we left off in the NBA Title Series—the Pacific Division

Lakers – 59-23 (Last Year - 57-25)

Say what you want, but Andrew Bynum does make this team better. Bynum and Gasol is far better than Gasol and under-performing Lamar Odom patrolling the middle. Odom is in the last year of a big contract. He could be moved before the year is out.

Odom moving to SF, Kobe Bryant and Jordan Farmer round out a solid starting 5, providing Farmer starts over Fisher. Unlike others, I'm not impressed by their bench.

Phoenix 48-34 (LY - 55-27)

Shaq's decline continues. Head Coach Terry Porter will be challenged to make this team better and to get a system that works for the roster.

D’Antoni's system was tailor made for Nash, who might look more ordinary this season. They will play two different games: 30 minutes with Shaq, 18 Minutes without him.

Golden State 38-44 (LY - 48-34)

Elevator going down. Corey Maggette doesn't equal  Baron Davis' clutch play and leadership. Maggette went for the money instead of a chance for a title with either Boston or San Antonio.

Monta Ellis' bad luck is Marcus Williams' good fortune. Marcus gets his chance to quarterback a decent team as Monta Ellis recovers—providing Williams can get into '38 minute' shape.

Trade rumors for Al Harrington are on the rise.

Clippers 35 - 47 (LY=23-59)

Wow. It all depends on how much Mike Dunleavy can get out of Baron Davis. Dunleavy will never be confused with Don Nelson, who got a lot out of BD.

Does Baron Davis’ leadership/game mean more than Brand’s? Will he go into a funk now that the team he thought he was signing up for is gone?

A Camby and Kaman tandem is an excellent west coast missile defense system. But the idea was to team Davis with Brand (now, that would have been something).

It was said that Brand was stolen out from under them after the Warriors ticked off his agent (Super Agent David Falk) by trying to communicate with Elton directly.

They did a credible job of recovering, by adding Marcus Camby for nothing, (except a $10 million exception).

Newcomers, rookie Guard Eric Gordon, swingman (and journeyman) Ricky Davis, and PG Jason Williams add depth along with Tim Thomas.

My guess is that starting small forward job is Al Thornton’s to lose. A potentially special year almost crash lands before it starts, then picks up some altitude. Will it pick up some attitude as well?

Sacramento 26 – 58 (LY - 38-44)

Ron Artest for Bobby Jackson, Donte Green and picks means a long year for Reggie Theus.

An already challenged defense takes a big hit. A .500 team with Artest, they were 7-14 without him.

It’s Kevin Martin’s team now. The starting smalls, PG Beno Udrih, SG Kevin Martin, and serviceable SF John Salmons are intriguing.

The starting bigs, C Brad Miller and PF Mikki Moore mean more trouble defensively and rebounds will continue to be rare for the second worse rebounding team in the NBA.

Will Jason Thompson step to the front?

Next up: Northwest Division

Tom writes a regular Celtics blog at the Connecticut Post.