2006 - 2007 NBA Preview: Pacific Division
To finish things off, we hit the Pacific Division, one that sent four teams to the playoffs last year. This year, two teams, including one which made the playoffs, have brought in new coaches to help change their fortunes. With a much more competitive landscape in the Western Conference, it is going to be tougher to grab a playoff spot though. I expect only three Pacific teams to make it this year.
Pacific Division:
1. Phoenix Suns (54-28)
Key Additions: Marcus Banks (free agent)
Key Losses: Tim Thomas (free agent), Eddie House (free agent)
For a team expected to be among the top teams in the conference, the Suns have some big questions remaining to be answered. Is Amare Stoudemire healthy? If he is, what kind of production will he give the team? How will his return affect Shawn Marion and Boris Diaw? Will Diaw be able to match his production from last season? Is Steve Nash finally going to slow down? The key for the Suns is that the answer is the same for each question: it does not matter. Mike D’Antoni has proven that he can take lemons and make lemonade. Whatever situations arise, if any, he will adjust the lineup accordingly and the team will move forward without a hitch. The depth on the roster, as well as the flexibility of both Marion and Diaw, helps. Despite losing key contributors Thomas and House, the bench still has a lot of firepower. Banks and Leandro Barbosa make the second unit one of the fastest in the league. If you want to pick on the Suns for something, it would be their decision to not keep either one of the point guards they drafted. It is likely neither Rajon Rondo or Sergio Rodriguez would have contributed this year, but both could have been groomed to be Nash’s replacement.
2. Los Angeles Clippers (47-35)
Key Additions: Tim Thomas (free agent)
Key Losses: Vladimir Radmanovic (free agent)
Since Thomas and Radmanovic bring basically the same thing to the table, the Clippers’ off-season moves cancel each other out. This team will be essentially the same as last year’s edition with an extra year playing together as well as playoff experience. Elton Brand finally broke his postseason drought by putting up his best season thus far while getting strong support from Sam Cassell and Chris Kaman. Cassell was brought in to provide veteran leadership to a team in dire need of it. Despite having earned a reputation as a malcontent, Cassell is a winner and the team benefited from his experience. Now, after spurning free agency to re-sign, he returns to continue his grooming of heir Shaun Livingston. Kaman, on the other hand, broke out last year, nearly averaging a double-double after two seasons of decent numbers in part-time minutes. With his continued improvement, another solid season from Brand, and a breakout campaign from a healthy Livingston, the Clips will outdo themselves by approaching 55 wins.
3. Sacramento Kings (44-38)
Key Additions: Quincy Douby (draft), John Salmons (free agent), Eric Musselman (hired)
Key Losses: Rick Adelman (fired)
Seemingly out of the playoff race as late as January, the Kings made a remarkable run after acquiring Ron Artest from the Pacers. His addition sparked a 26-14 run and helped earn the team the last playoff seed, but was not enough to save Coach Adelman’s job. The Maloof brothers brought in Musselman, who, in his last head coaching position led the Warriors to two of their best seasons in recent memory. He is charged with trying to get the most out of a very talented team, one that I am sure the Maloofs think should challenge Phoenix for bragging rights in the division. They are not at that level, but the Kings will challenge the Clippers for second place. Already a deep team, the additions of Douby and Salmons give them even more flexibility without hindering their ability to run. Douby will remind Kings fans and players of Bobby Jackson by providing offensive spark and occasionally spelling Mike Bibby at the point. Considering some of the best years Sacramento had were with Jackson, I think that is a comparison Kings fans should find very appealing.
4. Golden State Warriors (34-48)
Key Additions: Don Nelson (hired), Patrick O’Bryant (draft)
Key Losses: Mike Montgomery (fired), Derek Fisher (trade)
How dare I have the Warriors finish ahead of a Phil Jackson-coached, Kobe Bryant-led Lakers team? As difficult as that may seem, it does make sense. The Warriors are definitely a more talented team, and now they have one of the game’s best coaches to lead them. Nelson helped deliver the Mavericks from mediocrity to elite status. His goal for this year is just respectability, and he will get this team there. Baron Davis is important to this team, especially if he can rein in his free shooting habits, but Nelson will help them survive if he gets hurt again. Monta Ellis showed promise at the end of last season and looks like he could step in and contribute. There has been talk of playing a small lineup, with Troy Murphy at center, Mike Dunleavy at the four, Mickael Pietrus at small forward, and a backcourt of Davis and Jason Richardson. That lineup will not be able to stop anybody on defense, but that is nothing new. What the team will do is create match up problems for opposing teams, counting on the mismatches to create more points than they allow. After the wonders he worked in Dallas, do not be surprised to see this team show some serious improvements, and pass the Lakers in the standings.
5. Los Angeles Lakers (45-37)
Key Additions: Jordan Farmar (draft), Vladimir Radmanovic (free agent)
Key Losses: None
Here is the flip side of the coin. Yes, the Lakers still have Phil Jackson, Kobe Bryant, and Lamar Odom. That is about all they have though. With most of the lottery teams from the Western Conference showing improvement, the lack of talent on the Lakers will be exposed. There is only so far Kobe can carry this team, especially coming off of knee surgery. Farmar looks like a promising player and good fit for the triangle offense, and it appeared he developed good chemistry with 2005 draft pick Andrew Bynum. With Kwame Brown and Chris Mihm both likely to miss time at the beginning of the season, Bynum will get an opportunity to play, and the Lakers should hope he takes advantage. If he can earn minutes even after Brown and Mihm return, it will be a great sign for a return to playoff contention in 2007-2008. In the meantime, Jackson will get his first taste of lottery land. If he can keep the team in contention in an extremely tough conference though, he will likely have done his best coaching job yet.
Pacific Division:
1. Phoenix Suns (54-28)
Key Additions: Marcus Banks (free agent)
Key Losses: Tim Thomas (free agent), Eddie House (free agent)
For a team expected to be among the top teams in the conference, the Suns have some big questions remaining to be answered. Is Amare Stoudemire healthy? If he is, what kind of production will he give the team? How will his return affect Shawn Marion and Boris Diaw? Will Diaw be able to match his production from last season? Is Steve Nash finally going to slow down? The key for the Suns is that the answer is the same for each question: it does not matter. Mike D’Antoni has proven that he can take lemons and make lemonade. Whatever situations arise, if any, he will adjust the lineup accordingly and the team will move forward without a hitch. The depth on the roster, as well as the flexibility of both Marion and Diaw, helps. Despite losing key contributors Thomas and House, the bench still has a lot of firepower. Banks and Leandro Barbosa make the second unit one of the fastest in the league. If you want to pick on the Suns for something, it would be their decision to not keep either one of the point guards they drafted. It is likely neither Rajon Rondo or Sergio Rodriguez would have contributed this year, but both could have been groomed to be Nash’s replacement.
2. Los Angeles Clippers (47-35)
Key Additions: Tim Thomas (free agent)
Key Losses: Vladimir Radmanovic (free agent)
Since Thomas and Radmanovic bring basically the same thing to the table, the Clippers’ off-season moves cancel each other out. This team will be essentially the same as last year’s edition with an extra year playing together as well as playoff experience. Elton Brand finally broke his postseason drought by putting up his best season thus far while getting strong support from Sam Cassell and Chris Kaman. Cassell was brought in to provide veteran leadership to a team in dire need of it. Despite having earned a reputation as a malcontent, Cassell is a winner and the team benefited from his experience. Now, after spurning free agency to re-sign, he returns to continue his grooming of heir Shaun Livingston. Kaman, on the other hand, broke out last year, nearly averaging a double-double after two seasons of decent numbers in part-time minutes. With his continued improvement, another solid season from Brand, and a breakout campaign from a healthy Livingston, the Clips will outdo themselves by approaching 55 wins.
3. Sacramento Kings (44-38)
Key Additions: Quincy Douby (draft), John Salmons (free agent), Eric Musselman (hired)
Key Losses: Rick Adelman (fired)
Seemingly out of the playoff race as late as January, the Kings made a remarkable run after acquiring Ron Artest from the Pacers. His addition sparked a 26-14 run and helped earn the team the last playoff seed, but was not enough to save Coach Adelman’s job. The Maloof brothers brought in Musselman, who, in his last head coaching position led the Warriors to two of their best seasons in recent memory. He is charged with trying to get the most out of a very talented team, one that I am sure the Maloofs think should challenge Phoenix for bragging rights in the division. They are not at that level, but the Kings will challenge the Clippers for second place. Already a deep team, the additions of Douby and Salmons give them even more flexibility without hindering their ability to run. Douby will remind Kings fans and players of Bobby Jackson by providing offensive spark and occasionally spelling Mike Bibby at the point. Considering some of the best years Sacramento had were with Jackson, I think that is a comparison Kings fans should find very appealing.
4. Golden State Warriors (34-48)
Key Additions: Don Nelson (hired), Patrick O’Bryant (draft)
Key Losses: Mike Montgomery (fired), Derek Fisher (trade)
How dare I have the Warriors finish ahead of a Phil Jackson-coached, Kobe Bryant-led Lakers team? As difficult as that may seem, it does make sense. The Warriors are definitely a more talented team, and now they have one of the game’s best coaches to lead them. Nelson helped deliver the Mavericks from mediocrity to elite status. His goal for this year is just respectability, and he will get this team there. Baron Davis is important to this team, especially if he can rein in his free shooting habits, but Nelson will help them survive if he gets hurt again. Monta Ellis showed promise at the end of last season and looks like he could step in and contribute. There has been talk of playing a small lineup, with Troy Murphy at center, Mike Dunleavy at the four, Mickael Pietrus at small forward, and a backcourt of Davis and Jason Richardson. That lineup will not be able to stop anybody on defense, but that is nothing new. What the team will do is create match up problems for opposing teams, counting on the mismatches to create more points than they allow. After the wonders he worked in Dallas, do not be surprised to see this team show some serious improvements, and pass the Lakers in the standings.
5. Los Angeles Lakers (45-37)
Key Additions: Jordan Farmar (draft), Vladimir Radmanovic (free agent)
Key Losses: None
Here is the flip side of the coin. Yes, the Lakers still have Phil Jackson, Kobe Bryant, and Lamar Odom. That is about all they have though. With most of the lottery teams from the Western Conference showing improvement, the lack of talent on the Lakers will be exposed. There is only so far Kobe can carry this team, especially coming off of knee surgery. Farmar looks like a promising player and good fit for the triangle offense, and it appeared he developed good chemistry with 2005 draft pick Andrew Bynum. With Kwame Brown and Chris Mihm both likely to miss time at the beginning of the season, Bynum will get an opportunity to play, and the Lakers should hope he takes advantage. If he can earn minutes even after Brown and Mihm return, it will be a great sign for a return to playoff contention in 2007-2008. In the meantime, Jackson will get his first taste of lottery land. If he can keep the team in contention in an extremely tough conference though, he will likely have done his best coaching job yet.
posted by Josh at 10:15 AM
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