Presenting Western Conference – Pacific Conference

The new NBA season is just around the corner, and we bring you the preview of the Western Conference, i.e. Pacific division.

After reviewing the Northwest division, it is time to look back on the Pacific division, where the main role should be played by the Phoenix Suns. The biggest story is certainly the trade of Kobe Bryant, and if he remains in the Lakers, it will be interesting to see if they can make it to the playoffs again. The Clippers are left without Elton Brand, and they are expecting a hard season, like the Sacramento Kings who have an injured Mike Bibby. Many teams will take the Golden State Warriors more seriously this season, especially Dallas. Can Davis and company make a new sensation, or will they return to being average? All that can be seen in the following text.

Read more about the Atlantic Division HERE

Read more about the Central Division HERE

Read more about the Southeast Division HERE

Read more about the Northwest Division HERE

Phoenix Suns

This year they will also be the biggest candidates for the title. Phoenix have high ambitions, and rightfully so. Phoenix probably plays the nicest basketball, and often their rivals leave the court after being filled with many baskets. They are the most efficient team of the league, and can thank Steve Nash, the best playmaker of the league for his contribution.

It was a great move to return Nash to the Suns, where before going to Dallas he was a replacement to the then untouchable Jason Kidd. The Canadian player built his name in Dallas, and with his return to Phoenix, he placed the Arizona team at the top of the favourites list. Nash finished last season with more than 50 percent of in-game shots, which is a great result considering his position.

Two years ago they were eliminated from the playoffs by Dallas, but they did not have Stoudemire, and last year they lost from the San Antonio Spurs in a series that was more than dramatic. Let’s take a look at what team they have this season. They did not work much on strengthening their team because there was no need. Their centre line is amongst the best in the NBA. Amare Stoudemire is a terrific centre, but his greatest problem is numerous injured he had in the past. If we are to judge by last season, that is all behind him. Along with Nash, Shawn Marion and Stoudemire will be the Suns’ greatest strength. The only problem could be the slight intolerance between Marion and Amare, as Marion has mentioned that he wants to leave the club because of Stoudemire’s selfish play. The Suns’ other strengths are Raj Bell and Leandro Barbosa. We should also mention the Frenchman Boris Diawa, a player that started at most other clubs, but here he is a replacement for Marion or Stoudemire. The Suns’ newest acquisition is the veteran Grant Hill. If he remains healthy, he will bring more experience and depth to the bench.

The Suns also had a solid draft. The first of two rookies is Alando Tucker, a player that should help in defence, which is the weakest part of the team, and another guard is D.J. Strawberry. No great contribution is expected from them in their first season, but the Suns will gain a wider team that can handle a few injuries. The Suns will give what is expected of them this season, a fast playing tempo that is too fast for most clubs. However, their defence is their weakest point, and they receive amongst the highest amount of points from their rivals in the NBA. If they want to beat the Spurs and Mavs, they will have to address that. The Suns could get 55 wins and first place in the division, then anything is possible in the playoffs.

Expected starting five: Nash, Bell, Hill, Marion, Stoudemire

Golden State Warriors

Last season they were one of the largest surprises in the history of basketball, beating the absolute favourites the Dallas Mavericks. What to expect this season? The same as last season. Don Nelson loves the run’n’gun tactic, and luckily his team is perfect for that. The Warriors play with a short five of which all, besides Biedrins, can shoot three pointers. They play a fast game, and rarely run out of time for offence.

Baron Davis is a great play maker, but his long medical files could present a problem. Davis has problems with his injuries, and the Warriors do not look so competitive without him. Their rise started after trades with Indiana, when they gained Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington. They joined Davis, Richardson and Barnes, and together destroyed their rivals with outside shots.

Richardson has left for Charlotte, but the young Italian Marco Bellineli has come from the draft, who is also a good shooter.

With Richardson gone, the whole defence comes down to Andris Biedrins, a great Lithuanian who plays well under the basket. The rookie Brandan Wright has come to help him, who together with Pietrus and Harrington will do most of the jumping part of the game. It seems that the team from Oakland is not too worried about defence, and their game plan is to score more than their opponents. They gained some new players in the pre-season, and the closest to the starting five is Kelenna Azubuike. Nelson was delighted with him, and considered placing him in the starting five, where he would replace Montu Ellis. Ellis played great at the start of last season, but at the end he had a spree of bad matches and has since been moved to the bench. His quality is unquestionable, and he can also play equally well as a playmaker or shooting guard. The Warriors look great on paper, who could reach the playoffs again, but their neglect of defence could cost them a lot.

Expected starting five: Davis, Ellis, Jackson, Harrington, Biedrins

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers suffered a lot at the start of the season with the injury of their nest player Elton Brand. The centre will certainly not play in the first few months of the new season, and when he returns it is expected that he will not be full strength. Ruben Patterson from Milwaukee has been brought in to replace Brand, and there will also be Tim Thomas who could shine this season. By fighting his way into the top five, Thomas could have a dream season. His largest competition is from the rookie Al Thornton. Some have said that he could be rookie of the year, but it is hard to say this early, but he did play great in the pre-season. He is regularly the highest scorer of the team, and all things say that he could soon be in the starting five. The Clippers have a solid centre with Chris Kaman, a team player and great jumper. He has injury problems, but if he stays healthy, the Clippers can count on him for another good season. Correy Maggette will play short forward this season, and could become the best scorer of the club.

Guard positions could be a problem for them, with Cuttino Mobley getting older and more frequent injuries, and Quinton Ross not getting spectacular results. They have similar problems with their play maker position. Sam Casell plays well but because of injury he played less than 50 games. His replacement Shaun Livingston is also injured, and we probably can not count on him for much. Everything is up to Bravin Knight, who came in from Charlotte. He is a great player, but with one big problem. You guessed it, he is also prone to injury. He played few games last season and it is no surprise the Bobcats let him go.

The team looks good on paper, but their injuries could cost them dearly. If they keep their act together until the All Star weekend, then we will see them in the playoffs.

Expected starting five: Casell, Mobley, Maggette, Thomas, Kaman

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers can be described as Kobe Bryant, and a large number of young talented players that have not started to show what is expected of them. It comes down to Kobe scoring 30-40 points, and all of the others scoring that much together if the Lakers want to beat somebody, or get to the playoffs. There has been much talk about trading Kobe to another club, but the Lakers will not do so without getting three quality players in return. This is something that most clubs would not accept, nor would Bryant want to go to an average team again. We will assume Kobe stays for this text, and because we already know he plays great, we will describe the rest of the team.

Lamar Odom will be the greatest help to Kobe, but he has never reached the level expected of him. This is mostly because of injury. Without him in condition, the Lakers can forget the playoffs. This season could be the key for many young Lakers player. They can either shape up or ship out. The first of them is the young centre Andrew Bynum. The Lakers rejected a trade from the Nets because they were asking for Bynum. This shows how much Los Angeles believes in him. The Lakers have a good front line with Bynum and Odom, who can be replaced from the bench by Kwame Brown and Chris Mihm. They are also great players that dedicate themselves to the team, but have injury problems as well. Luke Walton and Mihm have retuned, which is a great plus for the Lakers. Last season, the Lakers had the most problems with their play makers, where Smush Parker and Jordan Farmar did not feel at home. Parker has gone to Miami, and in return they receive the rookie Javaris Crittenton. A talented player that could make the starting five if Riley does not like Farmar. Derek Fisher has returned to the club, and he brings much needed experience. As far as the bench is concerned, they can count on Brian Cook and Ronny Turiaf. They are a talented team, but how long until they really start playing. Kobe is getting impatient, and if he leaves, this review falls apart because the Lakers will not be the same team.

Expected starting five: Farmar, Bryant, Walton, Odom, Bynum

Sacramento Kings

An old team with a new coach. Reggie Theus has accepted the hard job of coming to a team where things have not been ideal for a number of seasons. Sacramento has a good team, but too much unhappiness and various problems occurred ot have good gameplay and results. An added strike to the Kings was the injury of Mike Bibby, who will most probably miss at least ten weeks. Without him the Kings have lost a leader and player that held everything under control.

Besides Bibby, the rookie Spenser Hawes was also injured, who should have been playing backup for Brad Miller, who is also a good player, but plagued with injuries. Fortunately for the Kings, they gained Kevin Martin, who is a reinforcement for the offence. Nobody expected Martin to have such a successful season. He has turned into the highest scorer of the team, and saved the Kings from another bad season.

Sacramento’s greatest problem is trying to replace Bibby’s 17 points per game. Miller can’t do it, Kenny Thomas and Abdur Rahim are far from offensive condition, and Ron Artest is mainly a good defensive player. Ron is a good player, but not somebody that can score more than 20 points every night.

A lot is left to Orien Green, the player that will replace Bibby. It has yet to be seen how much he will help this team, but even with his good play, it is unlikely Sacramento will make the playoffs. There are too many unsatisfactory players in the team. Quincy Douby, Mustafa Shakur, John Salmons and Justin Williams are not names that will make their opponents shake with fear, so another hard season is in front of the Kings.

Expected starting five: Greene, Martin, Artest, Abdur-Rahim, Miller