The Suns will run and gun again and take the Pacific with both Los Angeles teams right behind. Abdur-Rahim finally made the playoffs last year, but the Kings won’t be back this year. Expect Nellie to shake things up for Golden State, but they won’t make any major progress this year.
Phoenix Suns: The Suns have shown they can win with the run-and-gun style of play that many pundits have been skeptical of. Amare Stoudemire won’t be at full strength right away, but the Suns have shown they can play well and win in his absence. Diaw’s emergence last season was as relevant to the Suns’ success as Steve Nash’s play. Nash will be Nashty again and with Bell, Marion and Diaw, they will rule the Pacific.
Los Angeles Clippers: The Clippers proved they were no regular season contenders in last year’s playoffs. Brand showed that he can be a franchise player on both ends of the floor. Shaun Livingston has the potential to be a star in this league as a great point guard. Leading with Cassell and coming in with Livingston will be a huge one-two punch. Kaman is a great inside finisher, something most teams in the league are dying for. With Maggette, Livingston and Tim Thomas coming off the bench, the Clippers have the best depth in the West and should finish second in the Pacific.
Los Angeles Lakers: For the second straight season, the Lakers will have to play second fiddle to the Clippers. Kobe and Phil lead this team to the playoffs, but Odom will have to be as consistently good as Brown in the post. Luke Walton’s brain can finally give him some serious minutes. He could be the missing link in Los Angeles’ triangle offense. Kobe makes this team a threat every night, but some of these other players will have to play off Kobe’s passion before they can take things to the next level.
Sacramento Kings: The Kings have one of the best point guards in the league and a ticking time bomb in Ron Artest. When things go nowhere for this team a couple of months into the season, watch out for Artest’s dark side to resurface. Kevin Martin can play, but he’s not Doug Christie. Brad Miller is listed at center, but he plays outside and can’t defend a taller, more athletic five. The Kings have been officially dethroned in the west.
Golden State Warriors: Don Nelson is back from hiatus and will make the Warriors a better team with his unconventional offensive tactics, but the Pacific is too difficult a mountain to climb this season. This is a soft team with Dunleavy and Murphy at four and five. Expect Nellie’s up-and-down philosophy to benefit this team.