2012-2013 Western Conference Predictions

 

 2012-2013 Western Conference Predictions

 

 1. San Antonio Spurs 

The Spurs know how to win in the regular season.  The rotation is deep, and will essentially be the same as last year.  Splitter and Leonard will be a year older, and much improved.  Boris Diaw and Stephen Jackson will have a full training camp under their respective belts.  Pop will continue to manage the minutes of his vets while Tony Parker has yet another outstanding individual season as leader of the team.  That will be enough to win the West.

 

 

 2. Oklahoma City Thunder

There is a lot to be said for chemistry in team sports.  Durant, Harden, and Westbrook grew up in this league together, and I think they expected to win a ring together in OKC.  The loss of Harden will negatively affect the psyche of the team.  Kevin Martin and Kevin Durant will not gel offensively.  Serge Ibaka will not develop into more than a great shot blocker on the defensive end.  Westbrook will continue to grow, and many more people will come to believe he is the best player on the Thunder.  The Harden trade was a positive move for the future of the team, but it hurt their chances to win this year.

 

 

3. Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers are by far the most talented team in the West.  But talent doesn't always win out.  With all the new personnel and a new offensive system, The  Lakers will use the regular season to experiment and figure each other out.  Steve Nash won't look exactly like the Steve Nash of old, and the Nash-Kobe Bryant alliance will be an uneasy one, especially at first.  We haven't heard the last of Dwight Howard and his back problems.  Ron Artest looks slimmer, but he will continue to struggle to contribute.  The Lakers will figure things out in time for the playoffs, but they will not dominate the West in the regular season.

4. Los Angeles Clippers

Chris Paul will be Chris Paul.  The chemistry of the team will be good, especially with Chauncey Billups back and active.  Eric Bledsoe will prove that he could start for half the teams in the league.  Blake Griffin will continue to expand his game, and the Griffin-Love debate will intensify.  Lamar Odom will wash out, but it won't matter.  Chris Paul knows the value of home court advantage, especially in this loaded West, and he won't take as many games off, which will lead to a major MVP push for him.

 5. Denver Nuggets

This team will be good, but not as good as many people think. Iggy will be exactly as good as he was in Philadelphia.  George Karl will have the team humming on offense.  There will be a lot of inconsistency in the front court, and Javale McGee will continue to be a project. Ty Lawson will have another outstanding season and his legacy will continue to grow, barring injury.

6. Memphis Grizzlies

When the most exciting news around your team is that Justin Timberlake is the new owner, you might be in trouble.  The championship window for the Grizzlies has slammed shut, if they ever had one.  As talented as he is, no team can win a championship with Rudy Gay as the best player.  The Grizzlies will miss OJ Mayo more than people realize.  Marc Gasol has challenged for the title of best Gasol brother in recent years, but Pau will reclaim that title with a vengeance this year. Zach Randolph will continue to put up empty numbers.

 

7. Dallas Mavericks

Dirk is enough.  The German will be as good as ever, and that will be enough for the Mavericks to squeeze into the playoffs, provided they don't resort to tanking.  There is a lot of charm to this hastily assembled roster, and Mavs fans will really latch on to them.  The Mavs will continue to be a solid and underrated defensive collective.  Mark Cuban will do or say something controversial.  I can't believe an NBA team will start Eddy Curry in 2012.

 8. Utah Jazz

The Jazz will be healthy all year, and that is enough to give them the edge over the young Timberwolves for the eighth and final playoff spot.  Mo Williams will take a lot of ill-advised shots, but he will make his fair share of them.  The Jazz frontcourt will continue to terrorize.  Paul Millsap will continue to be underrated.  Derrick Favors will continue to mature, and become inarguably their best player.

Playoffs:

Spurs vs. Jazz - Spurs in 5

Thunder vs. Mavericks - Thunder in 4

Lakers vs. Grizzles - Lakers in 6

Clippers vs. Nuggets - Clippers in 7

Spurs vs. Clippers - Spurs in 6 

Thunder vs. Lakers - Lakers in 7

Spurs vs. Lakers - Lakers in 6